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Whisker Menu vs jgmenu: catalog facts
Whisker Menu	jgmenu
Best for: Xfce desktop users who want a searchable start menu	Best for: Openbox, i3 and other window manager users who want a traditional application menu
Free Free and distributed as an Xfce panel plugin.	Free Free to use.
Linux	Linux
Search starts as soon as the menu opens and also matches descriptions Favorites, recently used and category browsing in one menu All 3 strengths for Whisker Menu Search starts as soon as the menu opens and also matches descriptions Favorites, recently used and category browsing in one menu Drag and drop to reorder favorites	Works with many window managers rather than one desktop Customizable look and menu content All 3 strengths for jgmenu Works with many window managers rather than one desktop Customizable look and menu content Lightweight enough for minimal setups
Only works as a plugin for the Xfce panel	X11 only, not built for Wayland sessions Configuration is manual rather than through a full settings app
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Offline features available	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Whisker Menu docs.xfce.org/panel-plugins/xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin/start Catalog checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for jgmenu github.com/johanmalm/jgmenu Catalog checked October 2, 2026

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