AppBreakup

Brooklyn alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 30, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Brooklyn: mac only, and no clock, date or other information on screen. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Brooklyn, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Aerial currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Aerial logoAerialOpen sourceYesmacOS5 of 566.5
2Fliqlo logoFliqloFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS5 of 562.6
  1. Aerial logo

    1. AerialTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want Apple's aerial videos as a screensaver with more control than macOS offers

    Open sourcemacOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Brooklyn

    Free Mac screensaver with aerial video, overlays and your own clips if you want more variety.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no telemetry
    • Plays your own videos and live camera feeds as well as Apple's
    • Clock, weather and caption overlays
    • Doubles as a live desktop wallpaper

    Cons

    • Mac only
    • Latest version needs macOS 26 or later
    • High-quality video downloads use a lot of disk space
    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 Aerial a good Brooklyn alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 30, 2026aerialscreensaver.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS only
    Checked Oct 30, 2026aerialscreensaver.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later
    Checked Oct 30, 2026aerialscreensaver.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Own videos
    Yes, .mov and .mp4
    Checked Oct 30, 2026aerialscreensaver.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Fliqlo logo

    2. Fliqlo

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

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Brooklyn

    Free flip clock screensaver for those who want the time on screen, on Mac or 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
    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 Fliqlo a good Brooklyn 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)

The best Brooklyn alternative for…

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

Aerial logo

Best Brooklyn alternative for most people

Aerial

Free Mac screensaver with aerial video, overlays and your own clips if you want more variety.

Aerial logo

Best Brooklyn alternative for a free option

Aerial

Free Mac screensaver with aerial video, overlays and your own clips if you want more variety.

Fliqlo logo

Best Brooklyn alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Fliqlo

Free flip clock screensaver for those who want the time on screen, on Mac or Windows.

Aerial logo

Best Brooklyn alternative for open source

Aerial

Free Mac screensaver with aerial video, overlays and your own clips if you want more variety.

Aerial logo

Best Brooklyn alternative for Mac

Aerial

Free Mac screensaver with aerial video, overlays and your own clips if you want more variety.

Wallpaper Engine logo

Best Brooklyn alternative for Windows

Wallpaper Engine

Large library of animated scenes for Windows users who want more choice.

Brooklyn alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Brooklyn?

Aerial ranks first right now. Free Mac screensaver with aerial video, overlays and your own clips if you want more variety. Fliqlo and Wallpaper Engine follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Brooklyn?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Brooklyn?

Yes: Aerial.

Why do people switch from Brooklyn?

The complaints we hear most: mac only; no clock, date or other information on screen; updated only occasionally.

How is this list ranked?

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