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Best Alternative Menus for KDE Plasma 5

Unlike Windows and Mac OS, Linux has more rich desktop environments you can choose to deliver best desktop experience. There are some major desktops now commonly used: KDE, GNOME, XFCE and MATE. Every desktop offers their own beauty and features.

I've explored all those beautiful and unique desktops and in the end, I choose KDE Plasma as my main, daily desktop to deliver best Linux desktop experience. 

While GNOME offers its own unique Linux experience, KDE has layout similar to Windows desktop: a panel, menu, taskbar and system tray. Both looks good and easy to use, but I personally love the KDE menu at the left bottom panel. 

KDE plasma comes with a default menu called Kickoff. The latest Kickoff is already gorgeous and simple and efficient. But there are also alternative menus for KDE you can install easily from KDE Store. In this post, I want to share three most beautiful alternative menu for KDE Plasma.

Installation

It is super easy to install altenative menu to your KDE Plasma: 

1. Right click at the KDE Panel, click Add widget.

2. Click Get New Widgets, click Download New Plasma Widgets.

3. At the search bar, type "menu". There will be available menus you can install.

Avalon Menu 

Avalon menu is a beautiful menu, resembles Windows 7 layout. There is applications shortcuts at the left, clock and power button at the right. It is simply beautiful and reminds me to Windows 7-like menu. Unfortunately, there is no option to view Favorite shortcut so the shortcut list look little bit messy.



Menu 11

Just like the name, Menu 11 is an alternative menu trying to deliver Windows 11 menu layout to KDE Plasma. If you want to deliver Windows 11 like menu on your KDE Plasma, Menu 11 is a good choice.

Ditto Menu

By far, this is the best alternative menu for KDE Plasma. It doesn't resemble Windows menu. It's unique, clean, really simple, but also gorgeous. There is also an option to put your favorite app shortcut at the first window, so the menu will look clean, sleek and gorgeous.

There are still alternative menus available in the KDE Store you can explore and find the menu that suits you. If you can't find one, KDE default menu (a.k.a Kickoff) is already beautiful.

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