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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Lively Wallpaper	Open source	Yes	Windows	4 of 4	51.2

1. Lively WallpaperTop pick
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.

Best Aerial alternative for most people

Fliqlo

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

Best Aerial alternative for a free option

Brooklyn

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

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.

Best Aerial alternative for open source

Lively Wallpaper

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

Best Aerial alternative for Mac

Fliqlo

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

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.