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Aerial alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Aerial: mac only, and latest version needs macOS 26 or later. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Aerial, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Fliqlo currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Fliqlo logoFliqloFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS5 of 566.5
2Brooklyn logoBrooklynOpen sourceYesmacOS3 of 362.6
3Backdrop logoBackdropFree plan + paidNomacOS5 of 554.5
4Lively Wallpaper logoLively WallpaperOpen sourceYesWindows4 of 451.2
  1. Fliqlo logo

    1. FliqloTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants a clean, readable clock on an idle desktop or a spare iPad

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Aerial

    A simpler free screensaver that shows just a big flip clock, and also runs on Windows.

    Pros

    • Free on Mac and Windows
    • Large digits that are easy to read from a distance
    • Can show the clock on every connected Mac display
    • Very few settings, so it is quick to set up

    Cons

    • Shows only the time: no date, weather or photos
    • The iOS version is a paid app and cannot act as a real screensaver
    • Current builds need macOS 14 or Windows 11 and later
    • Closed source
    Visit Fliqlo Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Fliqlo a good Aerial alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Desktop price
    Free
    Checked Oct 29, 2026fliqlo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows requirement
    Windows 11 or later
    Checked Oct 29, 2026fliqlo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    iOS app price
    $0.99 USD
    Checked Oct 29, 2026fliqlo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Clock formats
    12-hour and 24-hour
    Checked Oct 29, 2026fliqlo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer
    Yuji Adachi, indie developer in Japan
    Checked Oct 29, 2026fliqlo.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Brooklyn logo

    2. Brooklyn

    Best for: Mac users who want playful animated Apple logos on an idle screen

    Open sourcemacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Aerial

    Another free open-source Mac screensaver, with animated logo designs instead of video.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Lightweight and simple to install
    • Lets you pick which animations play

    Cons

    • Mac only
    • No clock, date or other information on screen
    • Updated only occasionally
    Visit Brooklyn Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Brooklyn a good Aerial alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Type
    Screensaver
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Project status
    Active
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Backdrop logo

    3. Backdrop

    Best for: Mac users who want moving video wallpapers on the desktop and Lock Screen without tinkering

    Free plan + paidmacOS

    54.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Aerial

    Mac live wallpaper app with thousands of community scenes and Lock Screen support, if you want more variety than aerials.

    Pros

    • Sets video wallpapers on the Lock Screen as well as the desktop
    • Large community library plus support for your own videos
    • Per-display scenes and scheduled playlists
    • Lifetime licence available as an alternative to a subscription

    Cons

    • Free tier is limited to three watermarked wallpapers
    • Mac only, and needs macOS 15 or later
    • Community library features need an iCloud login on the Mac
    Visit Backdrop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Backdrop a good Aerial alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 3 watermarked wallpapers, no time limit
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cindori.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing
    $1.99/month, $14.99/year or $29.99 lifetime
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cindori.com(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirements
    macOS 15 Sequoia or later
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cindori.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lock Screen support
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cindori.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer
    Cindori AB
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cindori.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Lively Wallpaper logo

    4. Lively Wallpaper

    Best for: Windows users who want animated wallpapers for free without Steam

    Open sourceWindows

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Aerial

    Free Windows app for video wallpapers and screensavers, for those leaving the Mac.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Video, web page and interactive wallpapers
    • Pauses during games and fullscreen apps
    • No Steam or account required

    Cons

    • No large shared wallpaper library like Steam Workshop
    • No scene editor
    • Windows only
    Visit Lively Wallpaper Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Lively Wallpaper a good Aerial alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Screensavers
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Built with
    WinUI 3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Aerial alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Fliqlo logo

Best Aerial alternative for most people

Fliqlo

A simpler free screensaver that shows just a big flip clock, and also runs on Windows.

Brooklyn logo

Best Aerial alternative for a free option

Brooklyn

Another free open-source Mac screensaver, with animated logo designs instead of video.

Backdrop logo

Best Aerial alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Backdrop

Mac live wallpaper app with thousands of community scenes and Lock Screen support, if you want more variety than aerials.

Lively Wallpaper logo

Best Aerial alternative for open source

Lively Wallpaper

Free Windows app for video wallpapers and screensavers, for those leaving the Mac.

Fliqlo logo

Best Aerial alternative for Mac

Fliqlo

A simpler free screensaver that shows just a big flip clock, and also runs on Windows.

Wallpaper Engine logo

Best Aerial alternative for Windows

Wallpaper Engine

The pick on Windows for animated video scenes as a wallpaper or screensaver.

Aerial alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Aerial?

Fliqlo ranks first right now. A simpler free screensaver that shows just a big flip clock, and also runs on Windows. Brooklyn and Backdrop follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Aerial?

Yes. Fliqlo (free plan + paid), Brooklyn (open source), Backdrop (free plan + paid) and Lively Wallpaper (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Aerial?

Yes: Brooklyn and Lively Wallpaper.

Why do people switch from Aerial?

The complaints we hear most: mac only; latest version needs macOS 26 or later; high-quality video downloads use a lot of disk space.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Aerial, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.