Compare software

rofi vs bemenu: catalog facts
rofi	bemenu
Best for: Tiling window manager users who need a fast keyboard launcher and menu	Best for: Tiling window manager users who want a dmenu-style menu that also works on Wayland
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Linux	Linux, Command line
Launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement in one tool Scriptable menu for your own shell scripts All 3 strengths for rofi Launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement in one tool Scriptable menu for your own shell scripts Theming support and text-file configuration	Works on Wayland, X11 and in a terminal via curses Drop-in style replacement for dmenu in scripts All 4 strengths for bemenu Works on Wayland, X11 and in a terminal via curses Drop-in style replacement for dmenu in scripts Signed releases Usable as a library in other programs
Configuration and theming take some effort Linux and Unix-like desktops only	Minimal interface with no icons or previews Configured through command-line options rather than a settings window
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License: GPL-3.0 (client), LGPL-3.0 (library)
No account needed	No account needed
Offline features available	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for rofi github.com/davatorium/rofi Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for bemenu github.com/Cloudef/bemenu Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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