Backdrops Free plan 9.4 Visit 
Lively Wallpaper
rocksdanister.com
What it is
Lively Wallpaper is a free, open-source animated wallpaper application for Windows. It supports video and GIF wallpapers through mpv or VLC, with filters and hardware acceleration, and can load HTML files or web addresses running WebGL and JavaScript. Other wallpaper sources include GLSL shaders, Shadertoy URLs, video streams, and Unity or Godot games; GUI application support is limited. Wallpapers can span or duplicate across any number of monitors, including HiDPI and ultrawide displays, and any wallpaper can be used as a Windows screensaver. Command-line arguments and third-party scripting software such as AutoHotkey provide control options. Playback pauses when fullscreen applications or games run, reaching approximately 0% CPU and GPU usage. Lively says it does not collect, store or share personal information, while operational window and process data remains local. The listed plan is free and requires Windows 10 version 1903 or above with a 64-bit installer. Only the latest release receives security patches, and vulnerabilities can be reported by email.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Lively Wallpaper sets animated wallpapers and screensavers on Windows desktops.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Purpose
- Lively is an animated desktop wallpaper application.Read 30 Sep 2026 · rocksdanister.com
- Privacy
- The application says it does not collect, store, or share personal information; operational window and process data is kept local.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- License
- The source code is released under the GNU GPL version 3.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Application wallpapers
- Unity or Godot applications and games can run as interactive wallpapers in the installer build.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Automation
- Command-line controls allow terminal automation and integration with Python or AutoHotKey.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Changelog news
- The 29 November 2025 beta update added libVLC, wallpaper search by tag and description, a lock-screen restart option, dependency security updates and Windows 10 crash fixes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · rocksdanister.com
- Developer API
- The API exposes hardware readings, audio graphs and music information for interactive wallpapers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Distribution difference
- The Microsoft Store build does not support application or game wallpapers or additional wallpaper plugins, and screensavers require the app to remain running.Read 15 Oct 2026 · phillipring.com
- Documentation depth
- The GitHub wiki includes getting-started, video, API, interaction, system-data, command-line, building and troubleshooting guides.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Game integrations
- Lively supports Unity and Godot games as wallpapers and has limited support for GUI applications as wallpapers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Independent recommendation
- Cinco Días recommends Lively as a free, open-source way to add live wallpapers to Windows 11.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cincodias.elpais.com
- Limit: memory usage
- Windows Central measured about 245.5–255 MB RAM for ordinary use and about 800 MB with a YouTube video wallpaper.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
- Limit: rendering issue
- MemstechTips reports occasional wallpaper rendering failures on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 after installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · memstechtips.com
- Limit: YouTube experience
- Windows Central found YouTube wallpapers awkward because users must deal with ads and maximize the video.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
- Machine learning
- The project documents machine-learning inference for creating dynamic wallpapers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maker identity
- LinkedIn lists Lively Wallpaper as a self-employed software-development operation with one employee, Dani John.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Multi-monitor
- Lively supports any number of monitors, spanning or duplicating wallpapers and supporting HiDPI and ultrawide resolutions.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Open source
- Lively is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).Read 30 Sep 2026 · rocksdanister.com
- Pause behavior
- Playback can pause for fullscreen apps, foreground applications, battery power and remote-desktop sessions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Performance
- Wallpaper playback pauses when fullscreen applications or games run, reaching approximately 0% CPU and GPU usage.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Praise: customization
- Independent coverage highlights support for GIFs, videos, webpages, multi-monitor setups and user-added wallpapers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · memstechtips.com
- Praise: free and open source
- Windows Central and MemstechTips praise the product for being free, open source and a strong alternative to paid Wallpaper Engine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 3.9 out of 5 from 155 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Microsoft Store
- 4.5 out of 5 from 6,319 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · dicas.zone
- Rating on Softpedia
- 4.5 out of 5 from 51 votesRead 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
- Rating on Windows Store (AppAgg)
- 4.6 out of 5 from 18,448 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · appagg.com
- Repository scale
- The public GitHub repository shows about 19.8k stars, 1.4k forks and 1,099 commits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Review-platform presence
- CheckThat reports no Lively Wallpaper reviews on G2, Capterra or Trustpilot and says feedback is concentrated in enthusiast communities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · checkthat.ai
- Screensavers
- Any wallpaper can be used as a Windows screensaver, including on multiple monitors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Security support
- Only the latest release receives security patches, and vulnerabilities can be reported by email to [email protected].Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Shaders
- Lively runs GLSL shaders in a browser and supports Shadertoy.com URLs as wallpapers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Shadertoy integration
- Shadertoy.com URLs are supported as wallpapers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- System requirements
- The documented minimum is Windows 10 1903 for the installer or Windows 10 1803 for Store builds, an Intel i3-equivalent CPU, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD 4600-or-better graphics, DirectX 10 and 1 GB storage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Video and GIF support
- Video and GIF wallpapers use mpv or VLC, support filters, and support hardware acceleration.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Video and GIF wallpapers
- It supports video and GIF files as desktop wallpapers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Video engines
- Supported playback engines include mpv, VLC and Windows Media Foundation, with customizable video filters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Video streams
- Users can drag and drop stream links, adjust video quality, and have wallpaper data autofilled.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Wallpaper properties API
- LivelyProperties.json lets webpage wallpapers expose persistent sliders, colors and other customization controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Web wallpapers
- Lively can load HTML files or web addresses as wallpapers and runs WebGL and JavaScript content.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Webpage wallpapers
- Webpages can be used as interactive wallpapers through its Chromium-based renderer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Lively Wallpaper Free Windows 10 1903 or above · Windows 64-bit installer Read 30 Sep 2026 · rocksdanister.com
Lively Wallpaper Free No paid tiers or feature paywalls stated · Windows desktop software Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free and open-source Windows application
- Video, GIF, HTML and shader wallpapers
- Supports any number of monitors
- Works with Unity and Godot games
- Pauses playback during fullscreen use
Limits
- Windows 10 version 1903 or newer required
- GUI application wallpaper support is limited
- Only the latest release receives security patches
- Windows-only platform coverage
Who it suits
Lively Wallpaper suits Windows users wanting animated, interactive or multi-monitor wallpapers. It also fits users who need screensaver support, scripting control or local privacy handling.
Verdict
Lively Wallpaper offers broad wallpaper sources, multi-monitor support and scripting options at no cost. Windows requirements and limited GUI-application support define its main boundaries.
Where Specifiction places it
- Desktop Wallpaper Software#7 of 348.4
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