The best desktop themes, according to hackers
5 desktop themes were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended desktop theme with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Authentic classic Windows 95 look
Free theme that makes XFCE look like classic Windows 95 with familiar icons. Critics note it is only an XFCE theme and lacks the original's attention to detail.
All 5 desktop themes, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago95 theme for XFCE | 18 | 1 | 95% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 2 | Zac-OS-9 | 8 | 1 | 89% | 1 | — | — |
| 3 | Platinum Mac OS 8 theme | 6 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 4 | Breeze KDE Plasma theme | 5 | 2 | 71% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 4 | AeroThemePlasma | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same desktop theme in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to desktop themes that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.