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Variety alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Variety: still images only, no animated or video wallpapers, and in maintenance mode, with little new development. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Variety, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Hidamari currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Hidamari logoHidamariOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 366.5
  1. Hidamari logo

    1. HidamariTop pick

    Best for: Linux desktop users who want a looping video or web page as their wallpaper

    Open sourceLinux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Variety

    Moves from rotating still images to looping video or web page wallpapers on 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 ×0.3100
    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 Hidamari a good Variety 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)

The best Variety alternative for…

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

Hidamari logo

Best Variety alternative for most people

Hidamari

Moves from rotating still images to looping video or web page wallpapers on Linux.

Lively Wallpaper logo

Best Variety alternative for a free option

Lively Wallpaper

Free animated and video wallpapers if you're on Windows.

Hidamari logo

Best Variety alternative for open source

Hidamari

Moves from rotating still images to looping video or web page wallpapers on Linux.

Wallpaper Engine logo

Best Variety alternative for Windows

Wallpaper Engine

Animated wallpapers with playlists and a huge Workshop library, on Windows.

Hidamari logo

Best Variety alternative for Linux

Hidamari

Moves from rotating still images to looping video or web page wallpapers on Linux.

Variety alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Variety?

Hidamari ranks first right now. Moves from rotating still images to looping video or web page wallpapers on Linux. Wallpaper Engine and Lively Wallpaper follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Variety?

Yes. Hidamari (open source) 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 Variety?

Yes: Hidamari and Lively Wallpaper.

Which Variety alternatives work on Linux?

Hidamari runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Variety?

The complaints we hear most: still images only, no animated or video wallpapers; in maintenance mode, with little new development.

How is this list ranked?

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