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SPECIFICTION
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Fresco

fresco.dibbayajyoti.com

Free plan Linux
Visit fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Spec score 7.8 #13 of 34 in Desktop Wallpaper Software

What it is

Fresco is a Linux desktop app for setting video, GIF, slideshow, image, and playlist wallpapers as animated backgrounds. Slideshows can use transitions, and the app includes a catalog of curated, licensed wallpapers. Each monitor can have its own wallpaper, selected from a wallpaper’s context menu. Four widgets are available: synced lyrics, a clock, an audio visualiser, and album art on a turning record. Lyrics follow media over MPRIS, checking local .lrc files before LRCLIB. Video playback uses GPU hardware decoding through mpv with VA-API or NVDEC. Fresco supports X11 and the Wayland layer-shell compositors COSMIC, Hyprland, Sway, and KDE Plasma 6. On GNOME Wayland it displays a still frame, and widgets are unavailable because there is no live wallpaper surface. It can pause on battery or when a window goes fullscreen on a display. A daemon keeps wallpapers running after the app closes and restores them after reboot. Fresco is free forever, licensed under GPL-3.0, and made by Dibbayajyoti Roy. Distribution options include a one-line installer, a .deb release, and the deepin App Store.

Spec sheet

What it does
Fresco sets video, GIF, image, slideshow, and playlist wallpapers as animated Linux desktop backgrounds.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Maker
The product site names Dibbayajyoti Roy as Fresco’s maker.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Automation
A daemon keeps the wallpaper running after the app closes and restores it after reboot.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Desktop support
Fresco supports X11 and the Wayland layer-shell compositors COSMIC, Hyprland, Sway, and KDE Plasma 6; GNOME Wayland shows a still frame only.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Distribution
The site offers a one-line installer and a .deb release, and says Fresco is also available in the deepin App Store.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
License and price
Fresco is described as free forever and licensed under GPL-3.0.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Multi-monitor
Each monitor can run its own wallpaper, selected from a wallpaper’s context menu.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Music integration
Lyrics follow media playing over MPRIS, using local .lrc files first and LRCLIB afterward.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Notable limitation
Widgets are unavailable on GNOME Wayland because it has no live wallpaper surface, according to the site.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Playback
It uses GPU hardware decoding through mpv with VA-API or NVDEC.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Power features
Fresco can pause on battery and automatically pause a monitor’s wallpaper when a window on that display goes fullscreen.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Privacy-related behavior
The audio visualiser asks before listening to audio, and the site says user and country counts include installs that opted in to anonymous telemetry.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Wallpaper catalog
Fresco includes a catalog of curated, licensed wallpapers that users can browse in the app.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Wallpaper features
It supports video and GIF wallpapers, image slideshows with transitions, and video playlists.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
Widgets
Its four wallpaper widgets are synced song lyrics, a clock, an audio visualiser, and album art on a turning record.Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free forever · GPL-3.0 Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com

Every Fresco plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports video, GIF, slideshow, and playlist wallpapers.
  • Each monitor can use a separate wallpaper.
  • GPU decoding uses mpv with VA-API or NVDEC.
  • Can pause on battery or when a display goes fullscreen.
  • Free forever under GPL-3.0.

Limits

  • Available for Linux only.
  • GNOME Wayland shows a still frame only.
  • Widgets are unavailable on GNOME Wayland.

Who it suits

Fresco suits Linux users who want animated or changing desktop backgrounds, especially across multiple monitors. Those using GNOME Wayland should note that it shows a still frame and does not provide widgets there.

Verdict

Fresco offers several wallpaper formats, multi-monitor selection, widgets, and playback controls for Linux desktops. GNOME Wayland has substantial limitations: wallpapers are still images there, and widgets are unavailable.

Where Specifiction places it

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