The best replacement for kde is gnome.

The best alternatives to kde are rated as following:
★★★★★  gnome
★★★★  xfce
★★  cinnamon
★  unity
★  genome
★  mate
★  gnome desktop
★  gnome linux
★  lxde
★  gnome 3
★  gnome which is better
★  gnome opensuse
★  knome
★  gnome backtrack
★  gnome desktop environment
★  gnome how to check
  gnome 2013
  xfce mint
  openbox
  gnome fedora
  gnu
  gnome debian
  gtk
  gnome ubuntu
  gnome backtrack 5
  fluxbox
  gnome better
  gnome faster
  gnome comparison
  kde 4
  gnome 2012
  gde
  gnome window manager

Your alternative for kde is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about kde, one probably shouldn't forget about openbox.

Other search terms related to kde and their ratings are:
★★★★★ openbox
★★★★★ plasma
★★★★ cygwin
★★★★ compiz
★★★ ubuntu
★★★ vnc
★★★ kwin
★★★ i3
★★★ awesome
★★ ubuntu 12.04
★★ lightdm
★ kdm
★ fluxbox
★ debian
★ fedora
★ gdm
★ kubuntu
★ gentoo
★ kdevelop
xgl
xfce
You have in mind a companion for kde and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of kde in all years. Click on graph for more.
kde
gnome
xfce