Compare software

Pop Shell vs PaperWM: catalog facts
Pop Shell	PaperWM
Best for: GNOME users who want keyboard-driven auto-tiling without leaving GNOME	Best for: GNOME users who want keyboard-driven scrollable tiling
Free Free to use; the source is published on GitHub by System76.	Free Free and open source.
Linux	Linux
Automatic tiling inside a regular GNOME session Keyboard-driven window navigation All 3 strengths for Pop Shell Automatic tiling inside a regular GNOME session Keyboard-driven window navigation Backed by System76 and shipped with Pop!_OS	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
Works only with GNOME Shell Development follows the GNOME version used by Pop!_OS	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 Pop Shell github.com/pop-os/shell 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.