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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Hidamari	Open source	Yes	Linux	3 of 3	59.4
2	Variety	Open source	Yes	Linux	3 of 3	57.5

1. HidamariTop pick
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)
2. 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.

Best Wallspace alternative for most people

Wallpaper Engine

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

Best Wallspace alternative for a free option

Lively Wallpaper

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

Best Wallspace alternative for open source

Hidamari

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

Best Wallspace alternative for Windows

Wallpaper Engine

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

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.