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i3 Review

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Should I use i3?

I3: improved tiling X11 window manager - i3wm.org

· 2 days ago

I3 is a free, keyboard-driven tiling window manager for Linux users who edit config files. Point-and-click buyers and Windows or macOS users skip it.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 18 public sources. The i3wm.org page fetch itself returned a not-found error.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security postureNo public advisories or audits in sources

Pricing

Free

i3 (open source)

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Linux power users
  • Keyboard-driven workflows
  • Developers who edit config files

Not for

  • Windows and macOS users
  • Anyone wanting point-and-click defaults
  • Beginners without command-line comfort
  • Teams needing vendor support or SLAs

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Major updates have ignored previous config files, forcing rewrites.

medium

No vendor support; help comes from forums and GitHub issues.

medium

X11 only; Wayland users need a different manager like Sway.

medium

No native Windows or macOS build exists.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free and open source with no license fees.
  • Documentation earns rare praise from users.
  • Tiling layout fills all screen space automatically.
  • Clean, documented code plus a shortcut reference card.
  • Active community on Reddit, GitHub, and forums.

Cons

  • Version updates have broken existing config files.
  • Installation fails often for new users.
  • You assemble a full desktop from extra tools.
  • Users report input, display, and graphics bugs.
  • Some users find it slower than Xfce.

Sources & method

- 18 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x7review x10security x1

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 18

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free, open source, no paid tiers
  • Ease of use: 2/5. Steep learning curve, frequent setup failures
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Window manager only; assemble the rest yourself
  • Support quality: 2/5. Community forums only, no vendor support
  • Security posture. No public advisories or audits in sources
  • Free Price Open source, no paid plans
  • Yes Free tier Whole product is free
  • 10+ years Track record Public forum posts date back to 2014

Pricing

i3 (open source)

Free

  • Full tiling window manager
  • Source code on GitHub
  • Community support only

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Users love the tiling workflow and documentation but report frequent setup and configuration problems.

“I tried i3 and it is the best computing experience I have ever experienced.”
Reddit, r/i3wm
“i3 has the best documentation there is.”
Reddit, r/linuxmasterrace
“i3 is slower than Xfce for me.”
Reddit, r/i3wm

Alternatives

Compare i3 with each alternative.

  • Sway

    Tiling for Wayland desktops; i3-style workflow.

  • Xfce

    Full point-and-click desktop with less tinkering.

    i3 vs Xfce

  • GNOME

    Complete desktop with defaults, no config writing.

    i3 vs GNOME
Full analysis

Based on 18 public sources. The i3wm.org page fetch itself returned a not-found error.

Free, keyboard-driven Linux tiling WM; great for power users, painful for anyone wanting a normal desktop.

Methodology

Based on 18 public sources. The i3wm.org page fetch itself returned a not-found error.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. i3: improved tiling X11 window manageri3wm.org
    official
  2. i3 User's Guidei3wm.org
    official
  3. i3 downloadsi3wm.org
    official
  4. i3 Reference Cardi3wm.org
    official
  5. i3 GitHub Discussionsgithub.com
    official
  6. i3 GitHub Issuesgithub.com
    official
  7. Debian source package i3-wmpackages.debian.org
    official
  8. i3wm.org security page (returns not-found)i3wm.org
    security
  9. i3wm praise thread, r/linuxmasterracereddit.com
    review
  10. What's the deal with i3?, r/i3wmreddit.com
    review
  11. i3wm does not display windows anymore, r/i3wmreddit.com
    review
  12. i3 installation error, r/i3wmreddit.com
    review
  13. What do I need other than a window manager?, r/i3wmreddit.com
    review
  14. I struggle with i3, r/i3wmreddit.com
    review
  15. i3 for MS Windows?, r/i3wmreddit.com
    review
  16. i3-wm config broken after latest update, Arch forumsbbs.archlinux.org
    review
  17. Install and use i3wm, Hacker Toolbeltmedium.com
    review
  18. You need to know about i3, dev.todev.to
    review

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