Polybar vs Waybar
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A customizable status bar for Linux desktops, mainly used with X11 window managers.
Open source · MIT
A customizable status bar for Wayland desktops like Sway and Hyprland.
The short answer
Choose Polybar if you need…
- Linux users who run a tiling window manager such as i3 or bspwm
- People who want a custom desktop bar without writing much shell code
- Users who want built-in modules for audio, music player, network and battery
- Users who want a lightweight bar and are comfortable editing a config file
Choose Waybar if you need…
- Sway or Hyprland users who want a configurable status bar
- People comfortable editing JSON and CSS-style config files
- Users who want modules for battery, network, audio, or media on a Wayland setup
- Tiling window manager users on wlroots-based compositors
Side-by-side
| Polybar | Waybar | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 15.4k | 12.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | C++ | C++ |
| Last code update | 14 months ago | 9 days ago |
What each one is
Polybar
Polybar is a program that draws a status bar along the edge of your Linux desktop. The bar can show things like workspaces, the window title, volume, battery, network, CPU and memory load, and the time. It is configured through a settings file rather than by writing scripts, and the README says it is built to avoid needing shell-scripting skills.
Waybar
Waybar is a top bar for Linux desktops that use Wayland, the newer display system that replaces X11. It shows workspaces, the clock, battery, network, audio, and many other status items, and you control what appears and how it looks through config and style files. It is aimed at people who run tiling window managers such as Sway and want a bar they can fully customize.
Best for
Polybar
- Linux users who run a tiling window manager such as i3 or bspwm
- People who want a custom desktop bar without writing much shell code
- Users who want built-in modules for audio, music player, network and battery
- Users who want a lightweight bar and are comfortable editing a config file
Waybar
- Sway or Hyprland users who want a configurable status bar
- People comfortable editing JSON and CSS-style config files
- Users who want modules for battery, network, audio, or media on a Wayland setup
- Tiling window manager users on wlroots-based compositors
Strengths
Polybar
- The README describes it as fast and easy to use, and it has built-in modules for many common services
- It is free and open source under the MIT license
- It is packaged for many Linux distributions, so it is often installable with the system package manager
Waybar
- Supports many compositors, including Sway, River, Hyprland, and Niri, per the README table
- Large library of modules documented on the project wiki
- Released under the MIT license, which permits free use and modification
Not ideal for
Polybar
- Users on macOS or Windows, since the README and topics focus on Linux and X11 window managers
- Users who want a bar that works out of the box with no configuration, because the README points to the wiki for setup and configuration
- Users of Wayland-only desktops, since the README does not describe Wayland support
Waybar
- Users on X11, since the README describes it as a Wayland bar
- Users who want a bar that works without editing config files, since it expects manual setup
- Users on GNOME or KDE desktops, since it is built for Sway and wlroots-based compositors
Trade-offs
Polybar
- Setup depends on editing configuration and reading the wiki, which the README sends users to for details
- The README focuses on X11 and window managers such as i3 and bspwm, so fit with other environments is unclear from the text provided
Waybar
- Setup requires editing config and style files, and the README points to a wiki for details
- Many optional modules need extra libraries, so the dependency list is long
- The latest release is 0.15.0 and the README notes no binaries are provided, so you typically build or install from a distribution package
Getting started
Polybar
Debian or Ubuntu install
sudo apt install polybarArch Linux install
sudo pacman -S polybarWaybar
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Alexays/WaybarEnter the project folder
cd WaybarFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Polybar and Waybar?
Polybar: A customizable status bar for Linux desktops, mainly used with X11 window managers. Waybar: A customizable status bar for Wayland desktops like Sway and Hyprland. Polybar suits linux users who run a tiling window manager such as i3 or bspwm, while Waybar suits sway or hyprland users who want a configurable status bar.
Are Polybar and Waybar free?
Polybar: Free and open source. Waybar: Free and open source.
Is Polybar or Waybar more popular?
Polybar has more GitHub stars (15.4k) than Waybar (12.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Polybar and Waybar?
Other options people compare them with include eww, AeroSpace, Amethyst, sway.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.