Compare software

Forge vs PaperWM: catalog facts
Forge	PaperWM
Best for: GNOME users who want i3 or sway style tiling without switching desktops	Best for: GNOME users who want keyboard-driven scrollable tiling
Free Free to use; the source is published on GitHub.	Free Free and open source.
Linux	Linux
i3 and sway style tiling inside a regular GNOME session Keeps the GNOME desktop instead of replacing it All 3 strengths for Forge i3 and sway style tiling inside a regular GNOME session Keeps the GNOME desktop instead of replacing it Source code published on GitHub	Scrollable tiling keeps windows at useful widths Runs inside GNOME Shell, no separate window manager needed All 3 strengths for PaperWM Scrollable tiling keeps windows at useful widths Runs inside GNOME Shell, no separate window manager needed Settings pane for keybindings and per-app window rules
Project is looking for a new maintainer Works only with GNOME Shell All 3 limitations for Forge Project is looking for a new maintainer Works only with GNOME Shell Extension compatibility can lag behind new GNOME releases	GNOME Shell only Scrolling layout takes time to get used to All 3 limitations for PaperWM GNOME Shell only Scrolling layout takes time to get used to Extensions can break with new GNOME Shell releases
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	No account needed
Offline features available	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Forge github.com/forge-ext/forge Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for PaperWM github.com/paperwm/PaperWM Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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