Awesome Shells

A curated list of desktop shells for Linux Wayland compositors.
This repository compiles projects that provide cohesive user-interface: panels, launchers, notifications, wallpapers, indicators, and other desktop-shell components, on top of modern Wayland compositors.

Contributions welcome!
Feel free to submit PRs for missing shells, screenshots, updates, or new comparison categories.

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📋 Feature Comparison

Shorthand for Compositors, for Readability Reasons:

• H -> Hyprland
• N -> Niri
• M -> MangoWC
• L -> LabWC
• D -> DWL
• S -> Sway
• W -> Wayfire

Legend

• ✅-> Officially supported
• ❓-> Not Officially supported but might work/Limited Functionality
• ❌-> Known Bugs

Shell Name	H	N	M	L	D	S	W	Underlying Technology	Link	Example Image
Aelyx Shell	✅	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	Quickshell	Link
	Notes:
Ax-Shell	✅	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	Fabric	Link
	Notes:
Caelestia Shell	✅	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	Quickshell	Link
	Notes:
DankMaterialShell	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❓	Quickshell	Link
	Notes: Features a Plugin System
Modus	✅	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	Fabric	Link
	Notes:
Noctalia Shell	✅	✅	❓	❓	❓	✅	❓	Quickshell	Link
	Notes:
OkPanel	✅	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	❓	Ags	Link
	Notes:

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🧭 What Counts as a “Shell”?

This repository includes projects that offer at least one of the following:

• Desktop panels or taskbars
• Application menus / launchers
• Wallpaper or background control
• Notifications and system indicators
• Lock screen / login UI
• Integrated window-management UI
• Cohesive desktop “environment” elements

Lightweight components (e.g., standalone bars) are only included when part of a broader shell experience.