Top LXQt Alternatives: Discover Your Next Lightweight Desktop Environment
LXQt is renowned as a lightweight, modular, blazing-fast, and user-friendly desktop environment, born from the merge of LXDE-Qt and Razor-qt projects. It's the Qt port and the upcoming version of the Lightweight Desktop Environment (LXDE). While LXQt excels in providing a minimalist and efficient experience, users often seek alternatives for various reasons, including different feature sets, specific customization needs, or simply exploring other desktop environments that offer a similar or enhanced experience. If you're looking for an excellent LXQt alternative, you've come to the right place.
Top LXQt Alternatives
Whether you prioritize performance, extensive customization, or a specific user interface, there's a desktop environment out there that can perfectly serve as your LXQt alternative. Let's dive into some of the best options available.
Xfce
Xfce is a free and open-source desktop environment for Unix-like platforms like Linux and BSD. It's an excellent LXQt alternative for users seeking a lightweight and modular system, offering extensibility through plugins and extensions while maintaining a focus on being fast and resource-efficient.
GNOME
GNOME 3 offers an easy and elegant way to use your computer, designed to put you in control and get things done. As a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and BSD, GNOME provides an optimal performance and is highly extensible by plugins and extensions, making it a robust LXQt alternative for those desiring a more feature-rich experience.
KDE Plasma
KDE Plasma is a cross-device work environment by the KDE Community, known for its extensive customizability and user-centric design. Available as free and open-source software for Linux, BSD, and postmarketOS, Plasma is a powerful LXQt alternative for users who prioritize a highly customizable desktop environment with features like blurry transparency, full text search, and optimized fastboot mode, all while remaining lightweight.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a Linux desktop providing advanced innovative features and a traditional user experience, with a layout similar to classic desktop environments. As a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and BSD, Cinnamon serves as a great LXQt alternative for those who appreciate a blend of modern features with a familiar interface.
MATE
MATE is a fork of GNOME 2, catering to users who prefer the classic GNOME 2 interface over GNOME 3. This free and open-source desktop environment is available for Linux, BSD, FreeBSD, OpenIndiana, and GhostBSD. MATE is an excellent LXQt alternative if you're seeking a stable, traditional desktop experience that is reminiscent of older, beloved Linux environments.
LXDE
The "Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment" (LXDE) is known for its extremely fast performance and energy-saving capabilities. As a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and BSD, LXDE is a direct spiritual predecessor and a solid LXQt alternative, especially if you prioritize the absolute lightest possible footprint on your system, complete with an X server.
Budgie
Budgie is the flagship desktop of the Solus OS, focusing on simplicity and elegance for the modern user. This free and open-source desktop environment for Linux is a compelling LXQt alternative for those who appreciate a clean, intuitive, and modern interface that doesn't sacrifice performance.
Cairo Shell
Cairo Shell is a desktop environment for Windows, aiming to increase productivity and advance current technology standards with its customizable and multi-desktop features. While not a direct Linux desktop environment, for Windows users seeking a more customizable and feature-rich shell replacement, Cairo Shell can serve as a unique desktop environment alternative to the lightweight feel LXQt offers on Linux.
Enlightenment
Enlightenment is not just a window manager but a whole suite of libraries for creating beautiful user interfaces with less effort. As a free and open-source desktop environment for Mac, Linux, and BSD, Enlightenment is a lightweight LXQt alternative for users who desire a highly visually appealing and customizable environment without heavy resource consumption.
Emerge Desktop
Emerge Desktop is a replacement Windows "shell" for Windows 2000 and above. Similar to Cairo Shell, it offers a desktop environment for Windows users. For those on Windows looking for a lightweight and customizable alternative to their default shell, Emerge Desktop provides a different kind of desktop environment experience, comparable in spirit to the alternative exploration LXQt users undertake.
Exploring these LXQt alternatives allows you to find a desktop environment that perfectly aligns with your workflow, hardware capabilities, and aesthetic preferences. Each offers a unique blend of features and performance, so experiment to discover your ideal fit!