Software Alternatives & Startups

i3 VS Go Button

Compare i3 VS Go Button and see what are their differences

i3

A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Go Button

Go Button is a mobile audio app designed to provide professional playback of music and sound effects for live shows. It provides a creative, self-contained show control system that runs on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, i3 seems to be a lot more popular than Go Button. While we know about 93 links to i3, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Go Button.

social mentions
93 vs 3
Window Manager popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
112 vs 51

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

i3
Go Button
Website i3wm.org gobutton.app
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

i3 6 features
Go Button 5 features
  • Efficient Window Management
    i3 allows for highly efficient window management using a tree data structure, making it easy to snap windows into grids and manage multiple applications simultaneously.
  • Lightweight
    i3 is deliberately simplistic and lightweight, which allows it to run efficiently on older hardware or systems with limited resources.
  • Customizability
    Users can extensively customize keybindings and behavior through a plain text configuration file. This allows for a personalized workflow.
  • Keyboard-Centric
    i3 is designed to be used primarily through keyboard shortcuts, which can lead to increased productivity for advanced users.
  • Scriptability
    i3 supports various scripting languages through its IPC (Inter-process Communication) interface, enabling automation of complex workflows.
  • Community and Documentation
    i3 has strong community support and extensive documentation, making it easier for new users to learn and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find i3 difficult to learn and configure, especially if they are accustomed to traditional desktop environments.
  • Lack of GUI Configuration Tools
    i3 relies heavily on manual edits to text files for configuration, lacking user-friendly graphical interfaces for setup and customization.
  • Limited Out-of-the-Box Features
    i3 does not come with many built-in features available in more comprehensive desktop environments, such as app launchers or system tray support, requiring additional setups.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some applications may not play well with tiling window managers like i3, requiring workarounds or alternative software choices.
  • Minimal Default Appearance
    Without customization, i3 offers a very minimalistic and barebones visual experience, which may not be appealing to all users.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Go Button offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all experience levels to manage their events and shows.
  • Reliable Playback
    The app provides reliable audio playback capabilities, ensuring that each track plays smoothly without interruptions, which is crucial during live performances.
  • Flexible Cue Management
    Go Button allows for comprehensive cue management, enabling users to set up, organize, and play their audio cues easily and in a flexible manner.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    It's available on multiple platforms, ensuring that users can access and use the app across various devices, increasing its versatility and reach.
  • Customizable Settings
    The app offers a variety of customizable settings, allowing users to tailor the experience according to the specific needs of their event or performance.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Free Features
    While Go Button offers a free version, some users might find the features limited and may feel compelled to purchase the premium version for full functionality.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Though generally user-friendly, mastering all the advanced features and settings may require some time and effort, particularly for users not familiar with cue-based software.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users have reported compatibility issues with certain devices or operating systems, which can hinder the app's usability and overall effectiveness.
  • Performance on Older Devices
    The app may not perform optimally on older devices, potentially leading to slower response times or crashes during critical moments.
  • Resource Intensive
    Go Button can be resource-intensive, necessitating high processing power, which could be a drawback for users with limited device capabilities.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

i3
Go Button

Overall verdict

  • Yes, i3 is considered a very good window manager for users who appreciate its minimalist and efficient approach. Its lightweight design keeps resource usage low, which can improve performance on less powerful machines.

Why this product is good

  • i3wm is known for its simplicity, speed, and efficient use of screen space, making it a popular choice among power users and developers who prefer a keyboard-driven workspace. Its tiling feature allows for the seamless organization of multiple windows, enhancing productivity and multitasking. Furthermore, it is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their specific needs.

Recommended for

    i3wm is recommended for advanced users, developers, and anyone who prefers a keyboard-centric interface. It is ideal for users who like to customize their environment extensively and are comfortable with configuring software via text files. New users with a willingness to learn may also find it rewarding.

No analysis of Go Button yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

i3 5 videos + Add
Go Button 2 videos + Add

30k Miles with the BMW i3 - End of Lease Review

More videos

  • - 2016 BMW i3 - Review and Road Test
  • - 2018 BMW i3s Range Extender (REx) Review - The Future Of Cars?
  • - Gaming With Intel's Core i3 9100F - The First Turbo Boosted Desktop i3
  • - The best EV for the money? Used BMW i3 Review

Go Button | App Review

More videos

  • - Training - Go Button App walkthrough

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
i3
Go Button
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using i3 and Go Button. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

i3 no reviews yet
Go Button no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of Go Button yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

i3 93 mentions
Go Button 3 mentions
  • My journey to "I use arch btw"
    In my case, I decided to go with a compositor instead of desktop environment. I have already used others windows tilling managers such as i3wm. This time, I want something that has more features out-of-the-box. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Why I traded my custom "Opinionated Linux" for Omarchy
    I've been using Omarchy as my main setup since June 26, 2025, the day DHH released the first version. Before that I had my own custom Opinionated Linux, mclovin-ARCHived: an Arch + i3wm installer set up exactly the way I liked. It was... - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Omarcacca
    Then few years back, in 2015, I got shown i3wm and used it on my ubuntu-netinstall until 2020, then I switched to Budgie and my personal laptop has been using that ever since. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago

View more

  • Tech illiterate seeks halp
    I would use Go Button from Figure 53 (only works on Apple devices) for your playback. Free if you only are doing one show. Works with a variety of remotes, which you could sew into your costume or something. Turn-key solution and rock... Source: over 4 years ago
  • App for tracks on ipad
    Go Button, by the same people who make QLab. Good enough that I've run a couple of simple shows on it. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Possible to use Android tablet for live backing tracks, and control with MIDI?
    My usual suggestion would be gobutton but it's iOS only. I'd be surprised that you couldn't use some similar keywords to come up with an Android app. Source: over 5 years ago

Alternatives to i3 and Go Button

When comparing i3 and Go Button, you can also consider the following products.

  • Sway

    Sway is a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager, but for Wayland instead of X11.

    Compare Sway to i3 or Go Button:

  • LiveTrax

    LiveTrax is an app by MasterMedia Productions through which musicians can control the playback of their favorite track during live performances by using simple controls.

    Compare LiveTrax to i3 or Go Button:

  • dwm

    dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.

    Compare dwm to i3 or Go Button:

  • AudioBus

    With Audiobus, the revolutionary new inter-app audio routing system, you can connect your...

    Compare AudioBus to i3 or Go Button:

  • Openbox

    Openbox is a highly configurable, next generation window manager with extensive standards support.

    Compare Openbox to i3 or Go Button:

  • Setlists

    Setlists app enables users to prompt lyrics of the desired song by synchronizing the data with all the other musicians on stage, and they can change the order of tracks in their song catalog.

    Compare Setlists to i3 or Go Button: