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Tactile vs Pop Shell: catalog facts
TactilePop Shell

Best for: Keyboard-oriented GNOME users who arrange windows into custom layouts

Best for: GNOME users who want keyboard-driven auto-tiling without leaving GNOME

Free

Free and open source under the GPL v3 or later.

Free

Free to use; the source is published on GitHub by System76.

Linux Linux
  • Keyboard-driven placement onto a custom grid
  • Keeps the standard GNOME desktop
All 3 strengths for Tactile
  • Keyboard-driven placement onto a custom grid
  • Keeps the standard GNOME desktop
  • Free software under the GPL
  • 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
  • Works only on GNOME Shell
  • Small single-developer project
  • Works only with GNOME Shell
  • Development follows the GNOME version used by Pop!_OS
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Open source Open source
License: GPL-3.0-or-later License not stated
No account needed No account needed
Offline features available Offline features available
Sources for Tactile

Catalog checked October 1, 2026

Sources for Pop Shell

Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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