Best Lively Wallpaper alternatives for Mac (Live & dynamic wallpapers)

A high-quality static image for your background is great, but nothing beats the vibe of a moving wallpaper that really brings your screen to life. That's something I really enjoyed when I had a Windows computer, so I set out to find a Lively Wallpaper equivalent for Mac. Mac users often search for tools similar to popular Windows apps, but the good news is that there's usually a macOS alternative ready to go!

In this article, I'll be showing you a couple of ways you can enjoy a Lively Wallpaper alternative without having to resort to a Windows device.

What Is Lively Wallpaper? (Features: video, gif, interactive wallpapers)

Rather than simply providing dynamic wallpapers, the Lively Wallpaper app turns static backgrounds into interactive ones. You can get anything from GIFs to videos or even sound-reactive wallpapers. It's a popular free app because it can add motion to your desktop and change up your computer environment.

Is there a Lively Wallpaper for Mac? (And why it doesn't exist)

There isn't a version of Lively Wallpaper built for the Mac because of the widely different technical makeups and system architecture of the two platforms. However, macOS does have plenty of dynamic wallpapers available, and there are a range of third-party apps to help you jazz up your background.

Quick comparison: Best Lively Wallpaper Alternatives for Mac (Features + price)

Before we dive into details, here’s the comparison of Lively Wallpaper alternatives on a Mac:

Below is a quick overview before I dive into each app:

Lively Wallpaper alternative	What it offers
24 Hour Wallpaper	5K wallpaper options that sync in real-time.
iWallpaper	Broad range of wallpapers with different ratio options and some with sound.
Splashify	Unsplash-powered static wallpaper app.
Aerial	Dynamic aerial videos from Apple TVOS.
Backdrops	Daily wallpaper updates.

For more information on how to customize your Mac's background, including options for dynamic live wallpapers, check out this guide on changing desktop background and screensaver on Mac.

Best live wallpaper apps for Mac (Lively Wallpaper alternatives)

No matter whether you're in the mood to see glittering city skylines or are more of a nature scenery person like I am, these amazing apps have HD-quality backgrounds and responsive features to keep your screen fresh and engaging. Here's where to look when you want Lively Wallpaper for macOS.

24 Hour Wallpaper — Best time-synced dynamic wallpaper for Mac (5K, multi-monitor)

Best for: Dynamic wallpapers that shift naturally with the time of day Platforms: Mac Pricing: Included in Setapp Membership from $9.99 + tax/mo, or get a standalone app for $39.99/year on Setapp Marketplace. Available on Setapp: Yes

24 Hour Wallpaper offers over 100 high-definition images in 5K that change according to the time of day. Especially if you're constantly on your computer like I am, these fun and exciting mini-journeys let you see places from different angles, enjoy different lighting conditions and moods, and create your own personal mixes. Browse through the gallery, and you can see how the scene plays out throughout the day, from sunrise to evening.

Wins:

• Dynamic images based on time of day, seasons, or personal preferences
• Natively built for macOS: supports Mission Control, Expose, Login and Lock Screens, and Spaces
• Rated 97% by 1,300+ users on Setapp. Plus, 24 Hour Wallpaper is free to try for 7 days.

Woes:

• Choices can be limiting compared to other apps
• Lacks some level of customization

iWallpaper — Best for Animated Live Wallpapers (Video/GIF + optional sound)

Best for: A broad range of animated wallpapers, including artistic and themed options Platforms: Mac Pricing: Free, or $1.99/month Available on Setapp:  No

iWallpaper features a broader range of motion wallpapers beyond the simple landscapes and cityscapes. You'll find a moody bedroom overlooking Toronto's CN tower, Van Gogh's Starry Night, and even cartoon or animé style backgrounds — a great variety to accommodate any preference or mood that strikes. You can filter by category and ratio, and even find ones with sound incorporated into them.

Wins:

• Advanced occlusion algorithms make it dynamic when seen and static when not seen, saving energy
• Wide variety of live wallpapers

Woes:

• Can be a significant drain on battery life, especially when the animations are complex or change frequently
• Older Mac models might struggle to handle animated wallpapers smoothly

Splashify — Best free high-quality unsplash wallpapers (Static)

Best for: Users looking for a huge library of professional-quality static wallpapers Platforms: Mac Pricing: $3.99 one-time Available on Setapp: No

Admittedly, live wallpaper apps are few and far between as they aren't as commonplace as static wallpaper apps. If you're more interested in vivid desktop wallpapers than anything else, you can try out Splashify, which features over 500,000 photos taken by photographers worldwide from Unsplash. No more browsing the web for quality images — just download the app and set any in the library as your background with one click.

Wins:

• Collections of wallpapers that fit specific moods, seasons, or themes
• Multiple display support

Woes:

• No dynamic backgrounds available
• Requires internet access for some features

Aerial — Best free Apple TV aerial videos (Screensaver + wallpaper feel)

Best for: Setting stunning video footage as a screensaver Platforms: Mac Pricing: Free (open-source) Available on Setapp:  No

Aerial is a free, open-source screen saver that plays videos from Apple TVOS's screen saver collection. I'm talking about beautiful aerial videos shot over various famous locations, ISS Earth videos, and even underwater videos that'll make it feel like you're traveling, even from your desk chair. You can allow videos to coincide with real-time, where the footage will adapt to day or night, place overlays like location and clock, and even add videos from your Mac.

Wins:

• Apple sourced footage
• Menu bar companion to control desktop background and screen saver settings

Woes:

• More technical than other apps and requires a bit of a learning curve
• Limited selection compared to other apps

Aerial is free, but it’s also a bit limited. If you want to expand the selection of videos, Magic Window Air is an alternative with 100+ destinations. It supports all native macOS screen saver features like hot corners and lock screen playback, so it fits right in.

Backdrops — Best for daily curated static wallpapers

Best for: Users who want fresh, high-quality wallpapers delivered daily without any manual searching Platforms: Mac / iOS Pricing: $29 one-time Available on Setapp: No

What makes Backdrops stand out is its cool selection of curated, high-res images that fit all kinds of styles — from simple, minimalist looks to eye-catching, vibrant landscapes.

One of the cool things about Backdrops is its Wall of the Day collection. Every day, it updates with fresh backgrounds, so you never have to stare at the same one for too long. Plus, the images are usually really high quality, showing that a lot of care went into picking them out.

Wins:

• Refreshes its wallpaper collection daily
• Allows you to crop and adjust wallpapers to fit your screen

Woes:

• Can sometimes feel a little slow or unresponsive
• Does not offer live wallpapers

If you want to use your own photos as wallpapers or just enhance some that you like, try Luminar Neo. It’s an AI-powered editor that makes complex tasks like sky replacement and color grading quite easy. It can help you turn a photo into something genuinely desktop-worthy.

Best free live wallpaper apps for Mac (What you can get without paying)

If you don't want to spend anything, you still have some decent options you can install.

Aerial is the best free option as it's open source and doesn't have any ads. However, it's a screensaver, not a wallpaper app, and it's mostly limited to Apple TVOS's screen saver collection.

iWallpaper gives you a more premium feel for free, but it has watermarks and a limited free library.

If you already have Setapp, you can install 24 Hour Wallpaper at no extra cost and enjoy time-synced HD wallpapers with no ads.

In case you want to turn some old family photos or archival images into wallpapers, PhotosRevive can help you colorize and improve them with Smart AI. It even has an add-on that works directly within the Photos app, so you can use it while scrolling through your images.

Performance & battery life: Are live wallpapers safe for MacBooks?

Live wallpapers are safe for MacBooks, but they can contribute to significant battery drain.

Some, like 24 Hour Wallpaper, don't have much effect on your Mac or battery as they simply swap images on a schedule. However, others like Aerial and iWallpaper affect battery life and even make your GPU work hard because they run in a loop.

How to reduce CPU/GPU usage (Pause on battery, lower fps, disable sound)

To reduce battery drain when using these apps, check the app's settings for options such as pausing when not visible, reducing framerate, disabling sound, and pausing on battery.

How to set a video as a wallpaper on Mac (What's possible on macOS)

Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't offer native support for video wallpapers. However, you can set one through a third-party app like iWallpaper.

The app already has some dynamic wallpapers, but it also lets users import their own. Simply click My Uploads, drag and drop your video, then set it as the wallpaper from My Downloads.

Wallpaper Engine vs Lively Wallpaper vs Mac alternatives (What's Closest on macOS?)

If you've just moved from Windows, you've likely used Lively Wallpaper and Wallpaper Engine, and now you are wondering if you can replicate the experience on Mac.

Lively Wallpaper is free and open-source, which is its main attraction. You can get a similar experience on Mac through Aerial, as it's also free and open-source.

Wallpaper Engine is a bit tougher to replicate on Mac as it runs on Steam and doesn't have a Mac version. That said, you can still get a similar experience with 24 Hour Wallpaper.

Safety checklist: Where to download live wallpaper apps (Mac App Store vs GitHub vs direct)

Mac wallpaper apps run every time you start your system, so it's good to be thoughtful about where you get them.

The Mac App Store and Setapp are the safest options. All apps in the Apple Store and the Setapp catalog are carefully vetted and are safe.

GitHub works for open-source apps like Aerial, but stick to well-known open-source repositories as they've most likely been audited by other users.

Otherwise, download the app from the official developer's website. Avoid third-party download sites, as their versions may be modified to add malware.

How to choose a live wallpaper app for Mac (Performance, battery, formats)

Making a choice between all the Lively Wallpaper macOS alternatives isn't always easy, especially since we're spoiled for choice. Each app has some distinct pros and cons and features that you should consider before committing to one. Here's a quick guide to help you weigh your options:

• Identify your specific needs: What's your biggest priority in a wallpaper app? Is it easy to navigate the interface? Do you want there to be a menu bar icon? Are you looking for free platforms? Are you most interested in interactivity or syncing with your time zone? Ask yourself all these questions and check whether the app offers everything you need.
• Consider compatibility with macOS and other Apple devices: Perhaps you want these functions to be available on iPad and iOS. Remember, not all Mac apps are available across the Apple ecosystem.
• Test, test, test: If you're going for free apps or those with trials or demos, do as much research and first-hand testing as you can. After all, the more you experiment with these apps on your own, the better you can gauge whether they're the right fit for you.

Maybe what attracts you to live wallpapers is actually a desire to have something dynamic but also useful on your desktop, rather than an image you've seen every day for the last six months. In that case, you can install WidgetWall from Setapp. It overlays several widgets of your choice on the desktop, allowing you to see system stats, weather, music, notes, or just rotating images of cats or your photo albums. It basically combines desktop energy with productivity.

For a collection of the best free Zoom backgrounds for meetings and parties, check out this guide on Zoom backgrounds.

Lively Wallpaper for Mac: Key takeaways + best pick by use case

Although there isn't Lively Wallpaper for Mac, there are tons of great app alternatives that can satisfy your need for captivating backgrounds. Whether you're after something to connect you with the outdoors or want to truly transport yourself somewhere different, the apps listed above can certainly do that for you.

24 Hour Wallpaper is available on Setapp — a subscription service that grants you access to over 250 useful apps for iOS and macOS. Cancel before Day 7 — $0 charged. Get 250+ Mac apps free. Need just one app? Browse Setapp Marketplace and get 24 Hour Wallpaper standalone (97%, 1,300+ users) for $39.99/year.

FAQ

Is Lively Wallpaper free to use?

Yes — Lively Wallpaper is free and open-source on Windows, which is why many users look for a free Mac equivalent.

What is the best free live wallpaper app for Mac? 

Aerial is the best free live wallpaper app for Mac. If you want animated options or custom videos, you can install iWallpaper for free, although it has an annoying watermark.

Which app is best for wallpaper for free? 

For free static wallpapers, apps that pull from large libraries — like Unsplash-powered Splashify — are usually the best balance of quality and cost.

Which one is better, Wallpaper Engine or Lively Wallpaper? 

Lively is commonly preferred for being free and open-source, while Wallpaper Engine is known for its ecosystem and paid model. On Mac, you'll typically compare format support and performance controls rather than picking between these two directly.

Can you get Lively Wallpaper on Mac? 

No, you can't get Lively Wallpaper on Mac as it's a Windows-only tool. To replicate the experience, you can install 24 Hour Wallpaper and get time-synced wallpapers to make your desktop feel more lively.

Do live wallpapers drain battery on a MacBook? 

Some live wallpapers, especially those based on animations and videos, can drain battery on a MacBook. They typically keep your GPU working as it needs to process the activity, which drains battery. To reduce consumption while also getting a lively experience, use 24 Hour Wallpaper as it switches wallpapers dynamically based on your local Mac time.

Are live wallpaper apps safe for Mac? 

Yes, live wallpaper apps are safe. However, ensure you download them from the Mac App Store, Setapp, the websites of well-known developers, or established open-source repositories like Aerial's GitHub. Avoid third-party download sites to maximize security.