Lively Wallpaper alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Lively Wallpaper: no large shared wallpaper library like Steam Workshop, and no scene editor. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Lively Wallpaper, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Wallpaper Engine currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Hidamari	Open source	Yes	Linux	3 of 3	62.6
2	Variety	Open source	Yes	Linux	3 of 3	59.6

1. HidamariTop pick
Best for: Linux desktop users who want a looping video or web page as their wallpaper
Open sourceLinux
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Lively Wallpaper
Similar free video and web wallpapers if you move to Linux.
Pros
Free and open source
Plays local videos, streams or web pages as wallpaper
Pauses when windows cover the desktop to save resources
Cons
No wallpaper editor or built-in wallpaper library
Support varies across desktop environments and Wayland
Small one-developer project
Visit Hidamari 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 Hidamari a good Lively Wallpaper alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
What it does
Video wallpaper for Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Written in
Python
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Variety
Best for: Linux users who want a fresh still wallpaper on a schedule from online sources
Open sourceLinux
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Lively Wallpaper
Rotates still wallpapers from online sources on Linux, a lighter option than animated ones.
Pros
Pulls wallpapers from many online sources automatically
Works on most Linux desktops and window managers
In major distribution repositories
Free and open source
Cons
Still images only, no animated or video wallpapers
In maintenance mode, with little new development
Visit Variety Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
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 Variety a good Lively Wallpaper alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
What it does
Wallpaper downloader and manager
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platform
Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Lively Wallpaper alternative for…

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

Best Lively Wallpaper alternative for most people

Wallpaper Engine

Paid, but adds a scene editor and a huge free Workshop library of wallpapers.

Best Lively Wallpaper alternative for a free option

Hidamari

Similar free video and web wallpapers if you move to Linux.

Best Lively Wallpaper alternative for open source

Variety

Rotates still wallpapers from online sources on Linux, a lighter option than animated ones.

Best Lively Wallpaper alternative for Windows

Wallpaper Engine

Paid, but adds a scene editor and a huge free Workshop library of wallpapers.

Best Lively Wallpaper alternative for Linux

Hidamari

Similar free video and web wallpapers if you move to Linux.

Lively Wallpaper alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Lively Wallpaper?

Wallpaper Engine ranks first right now. Paid, but adds a scene editor and a huge free Workshop library of wallpapers. Hidamari and Variety follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Lively Wallpaper?

Yes. Hidamari (open source) and Variety (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Lively Wallpaper?

Yes: Hidamari and Variety.

Which Lively Wallpaper alternatives work on Linux?

Hidamari and Variety run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Lively Wallpaper?

The complaints we hear most: no large shared wallpaper library like Steam Workshop; no scene editor; windows only.

How is this list ranked?

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