Backdrop
Live video wallpaper app for the Mac desktop and Lock Screen, with a community wallpaper library.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Backdrop
Backdrop is a Mac app from Cindori, the Swedish developer behind Sensei, that plays animated video wallpapers behind your desktop icons and, on recent macOS versions, on the Lock Screen too. You pick scenes from a built-in browser of community-made wallpapers, grouped into curated collections and searchable by style, colour, mood or resolution, or you turn your own video clips into a wallpaper and optionally share them back. It handles several displays, so each screen can show a different scene or one scene can be mirrored, and playlists can rotate wallpapers on a schedule or at random. Playback pauses when an app goes full screen and is reduced on battery power to limit the hit on performance. The download is free with no time limit, but the free tier allows only three watermarked wallpapers; removing the watermark and opening the full library needs a monthly or yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime licence. It only runs on macOS and needs a recent release of the system. People coming from Wallpaper Engine on Windows tend to look at it first on the Mac.
Best for: Mac users who want moving video wallpapers on the desktop and Lock Screen without tinkering.
Pros and cons
What works
- Sets video wallpapers on the Lock Screen as well as the desktop
- Large community library plus support for your own videos
- Per-display scenes and scheduled playlists
- Lifetime licence available as an alternative to a subscription
Why people leave
- Free tier is limited to three watermarked wallpapers
- Mac only, and needs macOS 15 or later
- Community library features need an iCloud login on the Mac
Top Backdrop alternatives
See all 4- 1
Wallpaper Engine64.8The best-known live wallpaper app with a huge Steam Workshop library, for anyone who also uses a Windows PC.
- 2
Lively Wallpaper61.8Free and open source with video and web wallpapers, a good pick if you move from a Mac to Windows.
- 3
Hidamari59.4Free open-source video wallpaper player for Linux users who want the same moving-desktop look.
- 4
Aerial54.5Free and open source, focused on Apple's aerial footage and your own videos, with overlays and screensaver mode.
Why people left Backdrop
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Backdrop: common questions
Is Backdrop free?
Backdrop has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Up to 3 watermarked wallpapers, no time limit (checked on Backdrop's own site).
Is Backdrop open source?
No, Backdrop is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Lively Wallpaper, Hidamari and Aerial.
What platforms does Backdrop run on?
Backdrop is available for macOS.
What are the best alternatives to Backdrop?
The highest-ranked Backdrop alternatives right now are Wallpaper Engine, Lively Wallpaper and Hidamari. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.