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Wallspace alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Wallspace: mac only, and needs macOS 15 or later, and custom videos and lock screen wallpapers are Pro features. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Wallspace, 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

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Wallpaper Engine logoWallpaper EnginePaidNoWindows, Android5 of 564.8
2Lively Wallpaper logoLively WallpaperOpen sourceYesWindows4 of 461.8
3Hidamari logoHidamariOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 359.4
4Variety logoVarietyOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 357.5
  1. Wallpaper Engine logo

    1. Wallpaper EngineTop pick

    Best for: Windows users who want the largest library of animated wallpapers and an editor to make their own

    PaidWindows, Android

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Wallspace

    The biggest live wallpaper library, with Steam Workshop content, for people who also use Windows.

    Pros

    • Huge free wallpaper library on the Steam Workshop
    • Built-in editor for animated scenes
    • Pauses automatically during games and fullscreen apps
    • One-time purchase, unlimited PCs

    Cons

    • Windows only on desktop
    • Needs Steam to get wallpapers and updates
    • Closed source
    Visit Wallpaper Engine Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Wallpaper Engine a good Wallspace alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Pricing
    One-time purchase, no subscription
    Checked Oct 29, 2026wallpaperengine.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows 10, Windows 11
    Checked Oct 29, 2026wallpaperengine.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Wallpapers
    Free via Steam Workshop
    Checked Oct 29, 2026wallpaperengine.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Device limit
    None
    Checked Oct 29, 2026wallpaperengine.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Android app
    Free companion app
    Checked Oct 29, 2026wallpaperengine.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Lively Wallpaper logo

    2. Lively Wallpaper

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

    Open sourceWindows

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Wallspace

    Free and open source on Windows, with video, web and interactive wallpapers.

    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 ×0.377
    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 Wallspace 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)
  3. Hidamari logo

    3. Hidamari

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

    Open sourceLinux

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Wallspace

    Free, open-source video wallpaper player for Linux desktops.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Hidamari a good Wallspace 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 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Variety logo

    4. Variety

    Best for: Linux users who want a fresh still wallpaper on a schedule from online sources

    Open sourceLinux

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Wallspace

    Open-source Linux wallpaper changer for rotating still images from online sources.

    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 ×0.363
    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 Variety a good Wallspace 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 Wallspace alternative for…

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

Wallpaper Engine logo

Best Wallspace alternative for most people

Wallpaper Engine

The biggest live wallpaper library, with Steam Workshop content, for people who also use Windows.

Lively Wallpaper logo

Best Wallspace alternative for a free option

Lively Wallpaper

Free and open source on Windows, with video, web and interactive wallpapers.

Hidamari logo

Best Wallspace alternative for open source

Hidamari

Free, open-source video wallpaper player for Linux desktops.

Wallpaper Engine logo

Best Wallspace alternative for Windows

Wallpaper Engine

The biggest live wallpaper library, with Steam Workshop content, for people who also use Windows.

Variety logo

Best Wallspace alternative for Linux

Variety

Open-source Linux wallpaper changer for rotating still images from online sources.

Wallspace alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Wallspace?

Wallpaper Engine ranks first right now. The biggest live wallpaper library, with Steam Workshop content, for people who also use Windows. Lively Wallpaper and Hidamari follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Wallspace?

Yes. Lively Wallpaper (open source), 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 Wallspace?

Yes: Lively Wallpaper, Hidamari and Variety.

Which Wallspace alternatives work on Linux?

Hidamari and Variety run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Wallspace?

The complaints we hear most: mac only, and needs macOS 15 or later; custom videos and lock screen wallpapers are Pro features; closed source, unlike Plash or Hidamari.

How is this list ranked?

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