Backdrops vs EarthDesk
Backdrops
backdrops.ccEarthDesk
xericdesign.comSide by side
| Figure | Backdrops | EarthDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $1.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 11 | 7 |
| Spec score · Desktop Wallpaper Software | 9.4 (#1) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Headquarters | Tamarac, Florida, United States | Xeric Design is based in Incline Village, Nevada, on Lake Tahoe's north shore. |
| Purpose | Backdrops is a wallpaper app featuring curated collections and regularly added wallpapers. | EarthDesk turns the desktop into a continuously updating image of Earth from space. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings | Not displayed because Apple says the app has not received enough ratings or reviews; count not stated. |
| Support | The Google Play listing provides support at [email protected]. | The maker directs users to review the product support page and offers a contact form for help. |
| What it does | Backdrops is a wallpaper app offering curated, regularly refreshed backgrounds for device screens. | EarthDesk replaces a Mac or Windows desktop with a continuously updating rendered view of Earth from space. |
Plans
Backdrops
- FreeFree
- Acid Pop Collection$1.99, paid once
- Animal Riot Collection$2.99, paid once
- Dunes Day Collection$2.99, paid once
- Lost in the Void Collection$2.99, paid once
- Optic Odysseys Collection$2.99, paid once
- Shades of Saturn Collection$2.99, paid once
- Synth Wavez Collection$2.99, paid once
- Backdrops Pro$4.99, paid once
- Backdrops Pro + Big Tip$6.99, paid once
EarthDesk
- EarthDesk 7 upgrade$12.99, paid once
- EarthDesk data subscription$14.99 a year
- Single-user data subscription$14.99 a year
- EarthDesk 7 with 1-year subscription upgrade$20.99, paid once
- EarthDesk 7 single-user license$24.99, paid once
- Five-user data subscription$24.99 a year
- Small-business data subscription$39.99 a year
In their own words
Backdrops
Backdrops is a wallpaper app with curated collections and new wallpapers added regularly. Its team creates original designs for Android devices, including exclusive artwork available in the app. Users can submit wallpapers, artwork, or photos for review and possible placement in the Community section. Wall of the Day highlights a newly created design or a selected favorite. Google sign-in can sync favorites across devices, and favorites can be paired with Muzei to rotate on a chosen schedule. The app is available for Android, iOS, and macOS. The free plan costs nothing and includes ads, with in-app purchases available. Backdrops Pro costs $4.99, paid once and removes ads, permits saving Explore wallpapers, and includes a Pro Pack of exclusive backgrounds and future Pro features. The terms say purchases are non-refundable and limit sharing Backdrops-owned Explore wallpapers outside the app; saved copies are for personal use. The Google Play listing warns that regular use may consume substantial data and that carrier or internet charges may apply.
EarthDesk
EarthDesk turns a computer desktop into an updating view of Earth from space, with near-real-time clouds, sun and moon depictions, and city lighting. It offers 12 map projections, including Mercator, Azimuthal, Equirectangular, and a globe with optional starfield. Maps can be centered using latitude and longitude, relative to the sun or moon, or on one of 10,000 locations; a data subscription adds other centering choices. On multiple displays, it can show a different map on each screen or span one map across them. Standard cloud imagery is global, 2-megapixel, and refreshed every six hours. The data subscription adds geo-located, parallax-corrected imagery from 23 satellites at 32-megapixel detail, refreshed every three hours, plus earthquake, tropical storm, and International Space Station information. The maker offers a free Mac or Windows trial before purchase. A single-user license starts at 24.99 USD once and covers two Mac or Windows computers. An upgrade costs 12.99 USD once and requires a previous license key; the data subscription costs $14.99 a year. Minimums are macOS 10.14, Windows 7, or tvOS 13.2.