Compare software

PaperWM vs Tiling Shell: catalog facts
PaperWM	Tiling Shell
Best for: GNOME users who want keyboard-driven scrollable tiling	Best for: GNOME users who want FancyZones-style window zones
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Linux	Linux
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	Custom tiling layouts in the style of FancyZones Windows 11 style snap assistant All 3 strengths for Tiling Shell Custom tiling layouts in the style of FancyZones Windows 11 style snap assistant Multiple monitor support
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	GNOME Shell only Extensions can break with new GNOME Shell releases
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-3.0	License: GPL-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Offline features available	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for PaperWM github.com/paperwm/PaperWM Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Tiling Shell github.com/domferr/tilingshell Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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