# Niri vs PaperWM: the real differences (and what runs on a Mac)

Source: https://chainyourmac.com/niri-vs-paperwm-mac  
Updated: 2026-09-18 · Author: Ahmed Gagan (maker of ChainYourMac)

Both put your windows on an endless horizontal strip. **The difference is what sits underneath** — and that decides which one fits you. If you're on a Mac, neither runs; skip to the Mac section.

> **tl;dr:** Same scrolling-strip idea, different foundations. [Niri](https://github.com/niri-wm/niri) is a standalone Wayland compositor written in Rust — minimal, fast, you log into it. [PaperWM](https://github.com/paperwm/PaperWM) is a GNOME Shell extension — you keep the whole GNOME desktop. Neither runs on macOS; on a Mac the equivalents are [ChainYourMac](https://chainyourmac.com/), [OmniWM](https://chainyourmac.com/chainyourmac-vs-omniwm) (macOS 26+) and [PaperWM.spoon](https://chainyourmac.com/paperwm-spoon-setup).

## What they share

Both are [scrolling window managers](https://chainyourmac.com/what-is-a-scrolling-window-manager). Windows sit side by side on a strip that continues past the edges of your screen. Opening a window adds a column next to the focused one; nothing else resizes. You move through your work by scrolling the strip, not by rearranging a grid. If you like one, the other will feel familiar within minutes.

## Niri vs PaperWM: the differences that matter

|  | Niri | PaperWM |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Standalone Wayland compositor | GNOME Shell extension |
| Written in | Rust | JavaScript (GNOME Shell) |
| Desktop around it | None — bring your own bar, launcher, notifications | All of GNOME |
| Configuration | Text config file | GNOME extension preferences |
| Setup | Install, pick the Niri session at login | Enable the extension |
| Depends on | Nothing but itself | Your GNOME version being supported |
| Runs on macOS | No | No |

### Foundations decide the feel

Because Niri *is* the display server, it draws every frame itself. That's why people describe it as smooth and tight — there's no host environment to negotiate with. The cost is that you assemble the rest of the desktop yourself.

PaperWM lives inside GNOME Shell. You get GNOME's settings, app grid, notifications and extensions for free, and PaperWM rearranges the windows. The cost is coupling: when GNOME ships a new major version, PaperWM has to catch up.

### Configuration

Niri is configured in a text file, which suits people who keep dotfiles in git. PaperWM exposes its options through GNOME's extension preferences, which suits people who'd rather click than edit.

## Who should pick which (on Linux)

- **Pick Niri** if you want a minimal, standalone setup, you're happy to choose your own bar and launcher, and you like a config file.
- **Pick PaperWM** if you're already on GNOME and want the strip without giving up the rest of your desktop.

## On a Mac? Here's what actually runs

Neither Linux original will ever run on macOS — Apple's compositor can't be replaced and there's no GNOME. What you can install are Mac implementations of the same model:

|  | ChainYourMac | OmniWM | PaperWM.spoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Native app (SwiftUI + Rust engine) | Native app, open source | Lua script for Hammerspoon |
| macOS | 13 Ventura and later | 26 Tahoe and later | Any version Hammerspoon supports |
| Closest to | Niri's strip, stacks and tabbed columns | Niri (plus a Dwindle layout) | PaperWM |
| Configuration | GUI, applies instantly | GUI + TOML | init.lua |
| Price | $9.99 one time | Free | Free |

If you liked **PaperWM** and enjoy scripting, [PaperWM.spoon](https://chainyourmac.com/paperwm-spoon-setup) is the faithful free recreation. If you liked **Niri**'s calm strip and want it to feel built into macOS — GUI settings, a trackpad swipe that follows your fingers, stacks, tabbed columns — that's what [ChainYourMac](https://chainyourmac.com/) is for, and it runs back to macOS 13. On macOS 26 Tahoe, [OmniWM](https://chainyourmac.com/chainyourmac-vs-omniwm) is a strong free alternative. The full Mac rundown lives at [Niri for Mac](https://chainyourmac.com/niri-for-mac).

**The Niri/PaperWM strip, as a Mac app.** No Hammerspoon, no SIP, no config file — a native app with a trackpad swipe that follows your fingers. Price and checkout: https://chainyourmac.com/#pricing (one-time purchase, lifetime license; macOS 13+ on Apple silicon).

## FAQ

### Is Niri better than PaperWM?

Neither is strictly better — they share the scrolling model. Niri is a standalone Wayland compositor, so it controls every frame and doesn't need a desktop environment. PaperWM runs inside GNOME, so you keep GNOME's apps, settings and extensions. Pick Niri for a minimal, fast, standalone setup; pick PaperWM if you want to stay on GNOME.

### Did Niri copy PaperWM?

PaperWM popularised the scrolling strip on the Linux desktop, and Niri's own README credits PaperWM as its inspiration. Niri rebuilt the idea as a standalone compositor written in Rust.

### Can I run Niri or PaperWM on a Mac?

No. Niri is a Wayland compositor and PaperWM is a GNOME Shell extension — both need Linux. On macOS you use a Mac implementation of the same model: [ChainYourMac](https://chainyourmac.com/), [OmniWM](https://chainyourmac.com/chainyourmac-vs-omniwm) (macOS 26+) or [PaperWM.spoon](https://chainyourmac.com/paperwm-spoon-setup).

### Is PaperWM.spoon the same as PaperWM?

No. PaperWM.spoon is a separate project: a Lua recreation of PaperWM's layout for Hammerspoon on macOS, not a port of the GNOME extension. The strip model is faithful; the environment is completely different.

### Which is easier to set up?

PaperWM, if you already run GNOME — it's an extension you enable. Niri means installing and logging into a new session and writing its config file. On a Mac, the easiest is a native app you drag to Applications.

## Related

- [Niri for Mac](https://chainyourmac.com/niri-for-mac) — Every way to get the Niri workflow on macOS, compared.
- [PaperWM for Mac](https://chainyourmac.com/paperwm-for-mac) — The GNOME original, the Hammerspoon port, and the native option.
- [Scrolling window managers, explained](https://chainyourmac.com/what-is-a-scrolling-window-manager) — The strip model, and how scrolling differs from tiling.
- [Best scrolling window managers for Mac](https://chainyourmac.com/best-scrolling-window-managers-for-mac) — Every option in 2026, ranked honestly — free ones included.