Ubuntu desktop managers (GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, MATE, Cinnamon, LXQt) trade off polish, resource use, and customizability. The team that picks GNOME gets the Ubuntu default and modern touchpad gestures; KDE Plasma gets Windows-like customizability; XFCE gets a desktop that runs on 1GB RAM; MATE gets a classic GNOME 2 feel; Cinnamon gets Linux Mint’s polished workflow; LXQt gets the lightest full desktop. The team that picks randomly has a desktop they will hate in three months.
Table of contents
- GNOME: the Ubuntu default
- KDE Plasma: the Windows-like powerhouse
- XFCE: the lightweight classic
- MATE, Cinnamon, and LXQt
- How to switch desktops on Ubuntu
- FAQ
GNOME: the Ubuntu default
GNOME is the default Ubuntu desktop and the most polished Linux experience. Modern workflow with Activities overview, dynamic workspaces, and integration with GNOME apps (Files, Calendar, Terminal, Text Editor). The team that runs GNOME on a recent laptop with 8GB+ RAM gets a desktop that feels as polished as macOS.
Resource use: GNOME needs 2GB RAM minimum, 4GB recommended. Wayland is the default display server on Ubuntu 22.04+, with X.Org as fallback. The team that runs GNOME on a 10-year-old laptop with 4GB RAM has a usable but sluggish experience.
Customization: GNOME extensions. The team that wants a dock, app indicators, or custom keyboard shortcuts installs GNOME extensions from extensions.gnome.org. The downside: extensions can break on GNOME upgrades and the team has to find replacements. The team that does not want extension maintenance picks a different desktop.
KDE Plasma: the Windows-like powerhouse
KDE Plasma is the most customizable Linux desktop. Every panel, every widget, every shortcut is configurable. The team that wants Windows-like customizability (move panels, pin widgets, customize titlebar buttons) gets it from KDE Plasma without extensions.
Resource use: KDE Plasma needs 2-3GB RAM. Slightly heavier than XFCE, slightly lighter than GNOME on most workloads. The team that runs KDE Plasma on 4GB RAM has a polished experience; on 2GB RAM it is sluggish.
The downside: too many options. The team that wants a desktop that ‘just works’ out of the box has to ignore most of KDE Plasma’s settings. The team that likes to tweak spends hours configuring. The team that picks KDE Plasma for its customization should accept that configuration is part of the experience.
XFCE: the lightweight classic
XFCE is a lightweight desktop that runs on hardware GNOME chokes on. 1GB RAM is enough; 512MB is workable for basic tasks. The team that runs XFCE on a 10-year-old laptop with 2GB RAM has a usable desktop where GNOME would be unusable.
Look and feel: classic GTK desktop, similar to Windows XP / GNOME 2. Panels at the top and bottom, a taskbar, system tray, file manager. The team that wants a familiar layout without modern touchpad gestures gets it from XFCE.
Customization: settings manager with sane defaults. The team that does not want to configure much gets a working desktop out of the box. The team that wants deep customization finds XFCE less configurable than KDE Plasma but more than GNOME.
MATE, Cinnamon, and LXQt
MATE is a fork of GNOME 2, maintained by the Linux Mint team. The team that wants the classic GNOME 2 feel (traditional menus, panels, taskbar) gets it from MATE. MATE runs lighter than GNOME and is more familiar to users who came from GNOME 2 / Windows XP.
Cinnamon is the Linux Mint default. Modern desktop with traditional layout (panel at bottom, system tray, menu). The team that wants a polished, traditional desktop gets it from Cinnamon. Cinnamon is heavier than XFCE but lighter than GNOME.
LXQt is the lightest full desktop environment, a merger of LXDE and Razor-qt. Runs on 512MB RAM, useful for very old hardware. The team that runs LXQt on a Raspberry Pi or 10-year-old netbook has a usable desktop; the team that runs GNOME on the same hardware has a slideshow.
How to switch desktops on Ubuntu
Install the desktop metapackage. sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop for KDE Plasma, sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop for XFCE, sudo apt install ubuntu-mate-desktop for MATE, etc. The metapackage pulls in the desktop, its default apps, and its session manager.
Log out and pick the desktop at the login screen. Ubuntu’s login screen (GDM) shows a gear icon that lets the team pick the desktop session before logging in. The team that wants to keep GNOME as default picks ‘GNOME’ on login; the team that wants to try KDE picks ‘Plasma’.
Remove a desktop you don’t use. sudo apt purge kubuntu-desktop removes KDE Plasma and its dependencies. The team that has multiple desktops installed wastes disk space and updates time; pick one and uninstall the rest.
FAQ
Which desktop is best for Ubuntu?
GNOME is the default and most polished for modern hardware. KDE Plasma for customization. XFCE for low-resource hardware. MATE for classic GNOME 2 feel. Cinnamon for Linux Mint workflow. The team that has a 4-year-old laptop with 8GB RAM picks GNOME; the team with a 10-year-old laptop with 2GB RAM picks XFCE.
Can I install multiple desktops on Ubuntu?
Yes. Install multiple metapackages, then pick at the login screen. The team that has multiple desktops installed wastes disk space; pick one and uninstall the rest unless the team has a specific reason to switch.
Does the desktop affect performance?
Yes, significantly. GNOME on 1GB RAM is unusable. XFCE on 1GB RAM is fine. LXQt on 512MB is usable. The team that picks a desktop based on hardware specs gets a usable experience; the team that picks based on aesthetics alone gets a slow experience.
What is the difference between a desktop environment and a window manager?
A desktop environment includes the window manager plus panels, file manager, settings tools, and default apps. A window manager just manages windows. The team that uses a full desktop (GNOME, KDE, XFCE) gets everything configured; the team that uses a window manager (i3, Sway, Openbox) builds the rest from scratch.
Is Wayland stable on Ubuntu?
Yes, on Ubuntu 22.04+ Wayland is the default for GNOME. The team that uses NVIDIA proprietary drivers may have issues; the team that uses AMD or Intel graphics has a smooth Wayland experience. Most apps work fine on Wayland; screen sharing and some games are exceptions.
What is the smallest desktop for Ubuntu?
LXQt is the lightest full desktop, running on 512MB RAM. A window manager like i3 or Sway is even lighter but requires manual configuration of everything else (panel, file manager, settings). The team that wants a usable desktop on minimal hardware picks LXQt; the team that wants to learn Linux picks a tiling window manager.
How this fits the rest of the stack
For a sense of what the full project costs before it commits, the RunxBuild hosting calculator shows the line items together. The API, the database, the storage, the worker, the bandwidth - each one is a separate number, and the team’s mental model for the platform is the sum of those numbers.
Useful related references: