Compare software

labwc vs Sway: catalog facts
labwc	Sway
Best for: Openbox users moving to a light Wayland setup	Best for: Use an i3-style tiling workflow on Wayland
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source. Hosting, hardware and any external services are separate.
Linux	Linux
Lightweight stacking compositor for Wayland Familiar to Openbox users All 3 strengths for labwc Lightweight stacking compositor for Wayland Familiar to Openbox users Works with separate panels and tools of your choice	Supports much of the i3 configuration format Arranges windows with keyboard-driven layouts
Needs other programs for a complete desktop Wayland only	Some X11 applications and workflows need compatibility layers or alternatives.
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: MIT
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for labwc labwc.github.io Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Sway swaywm.org github.com/swaywm/sway Catalog checked September 22, 2026

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