Linux Wallpaper Engine vs Vivid Walls
Linux Wallpaper Engine
github.comVivid Walls
vividwalls.appSide by side
| Figure | Linux Wallpaper Engine | Vivid Walls |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Desktop Wallpaper Software | 7.4 (#21) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Video wallpapers | Video wallpapers are supported through MPV. | MP4, MOV and other AVFoundation-compatible videos can be used as looping desktop wallpapers. |
| Web wallpapers | Web wallpapers have basic support through CEF, but settings are not implemented. | The app can run interactive HTML, CSS and JavaScript content as desktop wallpapers. |
Plans
In their own words
Linux Wallpaper Engine
Linux Wallpaper Engine has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Vivid Walls
Vivid Walls is a native macOS app for Wallpaper Engine scene files and video, web, GIF, and image wallpapers. It renders scenes on Apple Silicon with a Metal scene engine. Wallpapers can react to cursor movement, clicks, system audio, or focus modes. Users can span a scene across displays or set independent scenes, then schedule them by time of day or focus mode. The app pauses when the desktop is fully covered or another app is fullscreen, reduces its frame rate on battery, and respects Low Power Mode. Eight animated 1080p wallpapers are loaded into the library at first launch. A free Windows Companion transfers a Wallpaper Engine library to the Mac over local Wi-Fi using a four-character code. The free plan keeps the bundled wallpapers; the Full Library costs $9.99, paid once. The app requires macOS 14.0 or later and Apple Silicon M1 or later, and does not support Intel Macs. The maker says some scenes may render incorrectly because of their varied effects and content.