Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Waybar VS ADeskBar

Compare Waybar VS ADeskBar and see what are their differences

Waybar logo Waybar

Highly customizable Wayland bar for Sway and Wlroots based compositors. :v: :tada: - GitHub - Alexays/Waybar: Highly customizable Wayland bar for Sway and Wlroots based compositors.

ADeskBar logo ADeskBar

a lightweight application launcher for Openbox, written in Python and GTK.
  • Waybar Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-18
  • ADeskBar Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-06-30

Waybar features and specs

  • Highly Customizable
    Waybar provides extensive customization options that allow users to modify almost every aspect of its appearance and functionality to suit their personal preferences.
  • Support for Multiple Modules
    It supports a wide range of modules including system status indicators such as CPU usage, memory consumption, network activity, and more, offering users comprehensive system monitoring.
  • Supports Wayland Compositors
    Waybar is specifically designed for use with Wayland-based compositors, making it an ideal choice for users transitioning away from X11.
  • Active Development
    The project is actively maintained and regularly updated, ensuring compatibility with the latest software updates and the continuous improvement of features.
  • Community Support
    Waybar has an active community on GitHub and other platforms, providing users with the opportunity to engage, ask questions, or seek help with any issues.

Possible disadvantages of Waybar

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration of Waybar can be complex and overwhelming, especially for users who are not familiar with JSON or configuration files.
  • Limited Out-of-the-box Functionality
    New users may find that Waybar requires significant customization to be fully functional, as its out-of-the-box settings may not meet everyone's needs.
  • Wayland-Only
    Since Waybar is designed specifically for Wayland, it may not be suitable for users who rely on X11 or systems that do not support Wayland.
  • Dependency on Third-party Tools
    Many Waybar modules rely on external tools and scripts for information, requiring users to install and configure additional software to make full use of its capabilities.

ADeskBar features and specs

  • Customizability
    ADeskBar offers a high degree of customizability, allowing users to configure the appearance and behavior to suit their preferences. This includes adjusting size, position, and the addition of various applets.
  • Resource Efficiency
    ADeskBar is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it an excellent choice for systems with limited resources. It provides a functional desktop bar without demanding significant CPU or memory usage.
  • Plugin Support
    The application supports plugins, which extends its functionality. Users can add plugins to increase the capabilities of the bar, making it more versatile in handling different tasks.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, ADeskBar allows users to view, modify, and distribute the code. This encourages community contributions and ensures greater trust and transparency in the software.

Possible disadvantages of ADeskBar

  • Limited Documentation
    Users might find the available documentation to be sparse or incomplete, making it challenging to take full advantage of all the features without some trial and error.
  • Compatibility Issues
    As with many open-source projects, there can be compatibility issues with newer versions of desktop environments or distributions, requiring users to troubleshoot or wait for updates.
  • Development Activity
    The project might not have as active development as some other alternatives, possibly resulting in slower updates and fewer new features over time.
  • User Interface Design
    While functional, the user interface of ADeskBar might not be as polished or visually appealing as some proprietary options, which could be a downside for users looking for a slick, modern appearance.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Waybar and ADeskBar)
Productivity
63 63%
37% 37
App Launcher
60 60%
40% 40
Note Taking
63 63%
37% 37
LMS
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Waybar and ADeskBar, you can also consider the following products

wf-shell - wf-shell is a repository which contains the various components needed to built a fully functional DE based around wayfire. Currently it has only a GTK-based panel and background client.

Yambar - Modular status panel for X11 and Wayland, inspired by polybar.

slstatus - slstatus is a status monitor for window managers that use WM_NAME or stdin to fill the status bar.

xfce-panel - Xfce componet to switch between opened windows, launch applications, switch workspaces and menu plugins to browse applications or directories.

Polybar - Status bar for Unix-like systems.

Quickshell - A Flexible toolkit for making desktop shells with QtQuick, targeting Wayland and X11.