Open source alternatives to Wallpaper Engine

4 projects on starwire do the same job. Ranked by how much of what Wallpaper Engine does each one covers, read from its README and website. Ties go to the most active.

What Wallpaper Engine does

  1. Animated desktop wallpaperscore
  2. Library of community wallpaperscore
  3. Video and web wallpapers
  4. Create your own wallpapers
  5. Pause when apps are fullscreen
  6. Multi-monitor support
  7. Audio-reactive wallpapers

Each dot in the table is one job, in this order. Square dots are core jobs and count double. Full means yes, half means partly. "See the evidence" under a project shows the line behind each one. Coverage is what a project documents, not how well it works or how hard it is to move to. How we score this

ProjectCoversStarsCommits, 12 weeksLast releaseClosed vs openedSetupLicense
octosEngine for animated web-based wallpapers on Windows Replaces it100%783+1
0
 15 months agoToo few Install like an app MIT
Covers everything on the checklist.See the evidence
  • Animated desktop wallpaperscoreYesCreate and share live, interactive wallpapers
  • Library of community wallpaperscoreYesdownload community wallpapers
  • Video and web wallpapersYesSupports games, websites, videos
  • Create your own wallpapersYesCreating your own live, interactive wallpapers has never been easier.
  • Pause when apps are fullscreenYespausing when an app is in fullscreen
  • Multi-monitor supportYesCustomize multiple monitors easily in the Octos app.
  • Audio-reactive wallpapersYesAdd music visualizations
phospheneVideo wallpaper app for macOS that can import Wallpaper Engine files Covers one part72%935+4
73
 17 days ago67% Install like an app MIT
Covers 1 of 2 core jobs. Partly: Library of community wallpapers; Video and web wallpapers. Not shown: Audio-reactive wallpapers.See the evidence
  • Animated desktop wallpaperscoreYesYour videos on the desktop and lock screen.
  • Library of community wallpaperscorePartlyturns Wallpaper Engine wallpapers from the Steam Workshop into video wallpapers
  • Video and web wallpapersPartlyMP4, MOV, and other AVFoundation-readable inputs
  • Create your own wallpapersYesBring your own videos; the app includes no catalog.
  • Pause when apps are fullscreenYesPause playback under covered desktops
  • Multi-monitor supportYesWallpaper selection per display or Space
  • Audio-reactive wallpapersNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.
MuroFree native macOS app for live video wallpapers with low CPU use Covers one part67%521+23
232
 yesterday97% Install like an app Custom license
Covers 1 of 2 core jobs. Partly: Library of community wallpapers; Video and web wallpapers; Create your own wallpapers. Not shown: Audio-reactive wallpapers.See the evidence
  • Animated desktop wallpaperscoreYesLive video wallpapers. Looping, seamless, on every display at once.
  • Library of community wallpaperscorePartly551 live wallpapers, and more every week.
  • Video and web wallpapersPartlyplays looping video wallpapers on every display
  • Create your own wallpapersPartlyImport your own. Drop in any video
  • Pause when apps are fullscreenYesPauses itself on full screen apps
  • Multi-monitor supportYesLooping, seamless, on every display at once.
  • Audio-reactive wallpapersNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.
DesklandAdaptive animated wallpaper app for Windows Covers one part33%544+513
11
 7 days ago0% Install like an app GPL-3.0
Covers 1 of 2 core jobs. Not shown: Library of community wallpapers; Video and web wallpapers; Create your own wallpapers; Multi-monitor support; Audio-reactive wallpapers.See the evidence
  • Animated desktop wallpaperscoreYesAdaptive Windows wallpaper
  • Library of community wallpaperscoreNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.
  • Video and web wallpapersNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.
  • Create your own wallpapersNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.
  • Pause when apps are fullscreenYesautomatic pause when a window is maximized or full-screen
  • Multi-monitor supportNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.
  • Audio-reactive wallpapersNot shownNeither the README nor the website mentions it.

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