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Comparison

LXDE vs Xfce

LXDE and Xfce both land on Worth it.

Xfce

xfce.org

Worth it
Confidence: High

Buy if you run modest or aging hardware and want a fast, stable, free Linux desktop . that is exactly what Xfce delivers.

Read the full report

LXDE versus Xfce
CompareLXDEXfce
VerdictWorth itWorth it
Best forReviving old or low-RAM PCsOld or low-RAM hardware
Who it's not forAnyone wanting modern visuals . users call the icons datedUsers wanting maximum features . some leave for KDE
PrivacyNo known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.⁷Active CVE history including one high-severity RCE; fixes ship upstream, and no dedicated advisory team is confirmed in sources.16
Support qualityCommunity-only; stale SourceForge pages return 404s.Community forums only, no vendor
Public sentimentReviewers consistently praise its speed and light memory usage but describe it as plain and unremarkable.³Users consistently praise Xfce's speed, lightness, and stability; a minority leave for KDE's richer feature set.12
Biggest gotchaNo official security policy or advisories . patches depend on distro maintainers⁷Support is community forums only . no vendor SLA exists

Pick LXDE when

  • Reviving old or low-RAM PCs
  • Raspberry Pi and single-board computers
  • Users wanting a minimal Linux desktop
  • Distro builders needing low resource use

When LXDE is not a fit

  • Anyone wanting modern visuals . users call the icons dated
  • Windows/macOS users; Linux/Unix only
  • Teams needing vendor support or SLAs
  • Users expecting frequent updates . openSUSE lists it as legacy

Pick Xfce when

  • Old or low-RAM hardware
  • Lightweight, no-nonsense desktops
  • Stability-focused daily drivers
  • Privacy-conscious small offices

When Xfce is not a fit

  • Users wanting maximum features . some leave for KDE
  • Anyone needing a vendor SLA or paid support
  • People wanting polished Wayland today

Sources

  1. LXDE official sitelxde.org
    official
  2. LXDE . Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    official
  3. The Linux desktop-a-week review: LXDEnetworkworld.com
    review
  4. LXDE Review: Light as a Feathermaketecheasier.com
    review
  5. LXDE: This Lightweight Distro Isn't Missing Muchlinuxinsider.com
    review
  6. Please renew the ugly LXDE menu iconreddit.com
    review
  7. lxde-icon-theme security overviewgithub.com
    security
  8. LXDE SourceForge security page (404)lxde.sourceforge.net
    security
  9. Archive: LXDE (Legacy Page) . openSUSEen.opensuse.org
    official
  10. LXDE . Gentoo Wikiwiki.gentoo.org
    official
  11. Xfce homepagexfce.org
    official
  12. Xfce Products | G2 Reviewsg2.com
    review
  13. I used Xfce for weeks, but I'm going back to KDEhowtogeek.com
    review
  14. Linux Mint 20 Ulyana Xfce . Not quite therededoimedo.com
    review
  15. Linux at the Office (Xfce on 512 MB RAM)bluefoxconsultant.com
    review
  16. CVE-2022-32278: Xfce Exo RCEsentinelone.com
    security