Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LXQt VS MATE

Compare LXQt VS MATE and see what are their differences

LXQt logo LXQt

The LXQt team is proud to announce the release of qtermwidget and qterminal, both in version 0. 8. 0. Read more..

MATE logo MATE

The MATE Desktop Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
  • LXQt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-24
  • MATE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-03-06

LXQt features and specs

  • Lightweight Performance
    LXQt is designed to be a lightweight desktop environment, which means it consumes fewer system resources compared to other environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma. This makes it an excellent choice for older hardware or systems with limited resources.
  • Modularity
    LXQt is highly modular, allowing users to pick and choose the components they need. This flexibility can lead to a more customized and efficient system.
  • Quick and Responsive
    Due to its lightweight nature, LXQt tends to be very quick and responsive, leading to a smoother user experience, especially on less powerful machines.
  • Qt Framework
    Being based on the Qt framework, LXQt benefits from Qt’s powerful libraries and tools, leading to a potentially richer and more consistent user experience.
  • Active Development
    LXQt is under active development, which means it receives regular updates, bug fixes, and improvements, ensuring it remains relevant and stable.
  • Customizability
    The environment offers a significant level of customizability, allowing users to tweak the interface to their liking without consuming too many resources.
  • Better Integration with KDE Applications
    LXQt can integrate better with KDE applications due to its use of the Qt framework, making for a more seamless experience if you rely on those applications.

Possible disadvantages of LXQt

  • Lack of Features
    Compared to more extensive desktop environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma, LXQt may lack certain advanced features and functionalities, which some users might miss.
  • Aesthetics
    While functional, LXQt's default aesthetic might be seen as less polished or modern compared to other desktop environments. Users may need to invest time in customizing the look.
  • Smaller Community
    LXQt has a smaller user base and community compared to major desktop environments. This can mean fewer available resources, themes, and community support.
  • Application Ecosystem
    The ecosystem of applications specifically designed for or optimized for LXQt is smaller compared to environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma.
  • Potential Qt Issues
    Being based on the Qt framework can sometimes lead to compatibility issues or inconsistencies, especially when mixing and matching applications from different desktop environments.
  • Complex Customization
    Though customizable, LXQt’s customization options can sometimes be less straightforward or user-friendly compared to other environments, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    While under active development, LXQt doesn't receive updates as frequently as some other desktop environments, which might lead to slower integration of new features.

MATE features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    MATE provides a simple and intuitive interface, which is especially appealing to users who are familiar with traditional desktop environments. It mimics the look and feel of GNOME 2, making it easy for new users to adapt.
  • Lightweight Performance
    The MATE desktop environment is designed to be less resource-intensive compared to other contemporary desktop environments, which makes it suitable for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Highly Customizable
    MATE allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the desktop environment to their personal preferences, from panel configurations to themes and extensions.
  • Active Development
    MATE is actively maintained and developed, ensuring regular updates, security patches, and new features that keep the environment modern and compatible with the latest software.
  • Stable and Reliable
    As a fork of GNOME 2, MATE has a well-established codebase that emphasizes stability and reliability, making it a solid choice for users who value consistency in their desktop environment.

Possible disadvantages of MATE

  • Less Modern Features
    While MATE is stable and reliable, it may lack some of the modern features and visual effects found in more contemporary desktop environments, which could be a downside for users seeking the latest desktop innovations.
  • Community and Support
    Although MATE has an active development team, it may not have as vast a community or as many resources for troubleshooting and support as more popular desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.
  • Default Appearance
    The default appearance of MATE might feel dated to some users who prefer a more modern or sleek design, though this can be mitigated through customization.
  • Limited Integration with Cutting-edge Technologies
    MATE may have limited integration with the latest technologies and applications compared to other desktop environments that prioritize early adoption of new features and standards.

LXQt videos

Lubuntu 18.10 Review - Now with LXQt Desktop

More videos:

  • Review - LXQt review!
  • Review - Debian 10.2 LXQT the Most Up-To-Date Desktop Environment
  • Review - Lubuntu 21.04 overview | Welcome to the Next Universe.

MATE videos

Mate Endurance PE Treatment - Two Month Review

More videos:

  • Review - Yerba Mate Review- The Next Drink Craze?
  • Review - Ubuntu MATE 20.04 Review: MATE Has Never Been This Better

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LXQt and MATE)
Linux
66 66%
34% 34
Desktop Environments
59 59%
41% 41
Operating Systems
60 60%
40% 40
Window Manager
74 74%
26% 26

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LXQt and MATE

LXQt Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
LXQT is another fantastic lightweight desktop environment. LXQT is a modern edition of LXDE that is suited for cloud servers and outdated infrastructure owing to its low RAM and CPU usage. LXQT is unmatched in its capacity to perform on even the most primitive devices.
Source: geekflare.com
The 8 Best Ubuntu Desktop Environments (22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Linux)
LXQt is a default desktop environment on Lubuntu. One of the features of LXQt is that it has comparatively low resource requirements.
Source: linuxconfig.org
The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
LXQt is one of the lightest Linux desktop environments on the list, so it is created by the merger between LXDE’s Qt port and Razor-Qt. In case you don’t like Lubuntu, it will be hard to build interest in LXQt because it is quite similar to Lubuntu.
Source: linuxhint.com
The Best Desktop Environments For Linux (We Tested Them So That You Don’t Have To)
Even though LXQt tries to present a modern look without comprising the performance, it is still not the most intuitive experience out there. Of course, if you need performance over the look and feel, LXQt is an impressive choice.
Source: itsfoss.com

MATE Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
MATE is actively being developed in order to enable new technologies while maintaining a conventional desktop experience. Ubuntu MATE features low system requirements, making it appropriate for current workstations, single-board PCs, and older systems. The MATE desktop environment improves the performance & appearance of your machine.
Source: geekflare.com
The 8 Best Ubuntu Desktop Environments (22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Linux)
Development of Mate was started by Arch Linux as a fork and continuation of GNOME 2 in response to the negative reception of GNOME 3. Therefore, this desktop is the first choice for many users that liked GNOME 2.
Source: linuxconfig.org
Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
MATE was created as a response to the drop in user experience when Gnome 3.x was launched. Being a fork, it’s very similar to Gnome’s predecessor and adds more features along with additional community support. This desktop environment caught attention when Linux Mint used MATE instead of Gnome 3 for its user interface.
The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
The story behind Mate’s creation is that when the Gnome community decided to move forward from Gnome 2 to Gnome 3, then many developers of Gnome decided to use Gnome 2 existing codes and created Mate. Therefore Mate does not have different extensions like Gnome 3, but it is easy to use, faster and customizable. Developers of Mate have invested a good effort and time to...
Source: linuxhint.com
The Best Desktop Environments For Linux (We Tested Them So That You Don’t Have To)
Ubuntu MATE is one of the official flavors of Ubuntu that utilizes the MATE desktop. Some other popular Linux distributions like Linux Mint, Manjaro, etc, also offer MATE editions of their distributions.
Source: itsfoss.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LXQt and MATE, you can also consider the following products

Xfce - Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

LXDE - Why will you like it? Less resource needs. You can use it on your less-pricey embedded board or salvaged computer. Component-based design. Don't want something in LXDE, or you don't want to use LXDE but only part of it?

KDE Plasma Desktop - Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.

GNOME - An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.

i3 - A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

KDE - The KDE® Community is a free software community dedicated to creating an open and user-friendly computing experience, offering an advanced graphical desktop, a wide variety of applications for communication, work, education and entertainment and …