Compare software

dwm vs cwm: catalog facts
dwm	cwm
Best for: Use a small dynamic window manager for X11 with tiling and floating layouts	Best for: A minimal keyboard-driven X11 window manager on Linux
Free Free and open source. Hosting, hardware and any external services are separate.	Free Free to download and use from its public GitHub repository.
Linux	Linux
Keeps the core implementation compact Supports keyboard-driven window arrangement	Small and simple, with a single text configuration file Keyboard-driven window handling All 4 strengths for cwm Small and simple, with a single text configuration file Keyboard-driven window handling Tracks upstream OpenBSD cwm development Signed releases
Many customizations require editing and recompiling the source.	X11 only, no Wayland support Minimal by design, with no panels or desktop extras
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for dwm dwm.suckless.org Catalog checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for cwm github.com/leahneukirchen/cwm Catalog checked October 2, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.