5 Best Live Wallpaper Apps for Mac in 2025
Is your Mac's desktop living up to its potential? In 2025, a static background feels like a missed opportunity for personalization and inspiration. The right live wallpaper app can transform your Mac into a dynamic, breathtaking workspace, but choosing one is tough. You need stunning visuals without sacrificing performance.
We've done the hard work for you. We tested the top live wallpaper apps on the market, judging each application on its features, multi-monitor support, smart energy optimization, content library, and most importantly, overall performance.
If you just want the best, here it is.
Transform Your Mac Desktop with Backdrop
Join 10,000+ Mac users who have elevated their desktop experience with stunning 4K video wallpapers. The only Mac app that supports lock screen playbook.
For the detailed breakdown, read on. Here are the 5 best live wallpaper apps for Mac, starting from the bottom.
5. Wallper
Wallper is a relatively new live wallpaper app from an unknown developer with a limited content library—the smallest of all the apps we tested. Built with SwiftUI and Metal, it supports 4K playback and basic multi-monitor functionality. You can use their small video library or import your own content to work around the limited selection.
The Takeaway: Wallper provides basic live wallpaper functionality but has the most limited content library and lacks advanced features like lock screen support and smart energy optimization. It's a basic option from a new, unproven developer for users who don't mind a smaller content selection.
4. 4K Live Wallpaper
A Mac App Store app offering wallpapers with daily updates. It includes auto-pause features and basic screensavers for your lock screen, though not true video lock screen support. The interface feels basic and doesn't follow native Mac design principles.
The Takeaway: While it offers decent performance (5% CPU usage), it requires the app to remain running and has limited multi-monitor functionality. The content library is heavily focused on anime-style wallpapers, and the UI lacks the polish expected from native Mac apps.
3. iWallpaper
A Mac App Store choice, iWallpaper offers a searchable library of video wallpapers with multi-monitor support for multiple displays. Its interface is basic and functional but doesn't integrate well with macOS design standards, feeling more like a generic cross-platform app. The app supports various aspect ratios and includes basic energy-saving features.
The Takeaway: iWallpaper provides decent content variety and multi-monitor management, but it has no video lock screen support, lacks an advanced editor, and requires keeping the app running. The non-native UI design makes it feel out of place on Mac.
2. Paper
Paper offers a collection of curated live wallpapers across various categories from nature and anime to creative videos and game worlds, with periodic content updates. While it supports dark mode and can hide desktop icons, the interface feels basic and doesn't embrace native Mac design language, resulting in a generic app experience. Paper aims to use minimal system resources while delivering animated wallpapers.
The Takeaway: Paper provides decent content quality and user experience with basic performance optimization. However, it lacks advanced features like video lock screen support, multi-monitor customization, and you can't import your own videos. The basic UI design doesn't feel like a true Mac app.
1. Backdrop: The Unrivaled Champion 🏆
After comparing the entire market, Backdrop is the undisputed champion. It delivers on every front, combining a massive content library with unmatched performance and exclusive features that no other app offers. It's the only app that doesn't ask you to compromise.
Flawless Performance (0.3% CPU Usage)
The biggest fear with live wallpapers is system slowdown. Backdrop was built from the ground up as a native macOS app optimized for Apple Silicon. The result? It runs using as little as 0.3% CPU.
Read our deep dive on performance here
Industry-First Video Lock Screen
This is Backdrop's killer feature, and it's completely exclusive. It is the only app that can play full-motion 4K video on your Mac's lock screen.
Seamless Multi-Monitor Support
Backdrop was built for professional workflows. It works flawlessly across multiple displays, allowing you to either span a single, ultra-wide video across all your monitors for a panoramic effect or assign a different live wallpaper to each screen.
Smart Energy Optimization
Backdrop is smart. It automatically pauses playback when an application is in fullscreen or when your MacBook's battery is running low. This ensures it never wastes resources when you need them most.
A Universe of 4K Content
Backdrop connects you to a thriving community platform with thousands of breathtaking 4K video wallpapers. The content is constantly growing, and the built-in editor gives you the power to create your own multi-layered masterpieces.
It's the clear choice for users who want the best of everything.
Ready to Switch to the Best Mac Wallpaper App?
Unlike other wallpaper apps, Backdrop offers 4K video quality, lock screen support, and a thriving community of creators. See why it's the #1 choice for Mac users.
Feature Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | ✅ Backdrop | Paper | iWallpaper | 4K Live Wallpaper | Wallper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4K Video Support | ✅ Excellent | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Video Lock Screen | ✅ Exclusive | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ Screensaver Only | ❌ |
| Multi-Monitor Support | ✅ Advanced | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ |
| Smart Energy Optimization | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Smart Auto-Pause | ⚠️ Basic |
| Built-in Editor | ✅ Advanced | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Native Performance | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Fair | ✅ Good | ✅ Good |
| Content Platform | ✅ Active | ✅ Active | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best app for live wallpapers on Mac?
Based on our 2025 review of features, performance, and content, Backdrop is the best live wallpaper app for Mac. Its exclusive video lock screen, advanced multi-monitor support, and ultra-low CPU usage place it in a class of its own.
Do live wallpapers slow down your Mac?
They can, but it depends on the app. A poorly optimized app can use significant CPU. A highly-optimized native app like Backdrop is designed with smart features to have a minimal system impact, often using less than 1% of your CPU.
Can I use my own videos as a wallpaper with Backdrop?
Absolutely. While Backdrop offers a huge community library, you can also import your own videos and use the built-in editor to create a completely custom live wallpaper for your setup.
Which live wallpaper app supports multiple monitors?
Most apps support multiple monitors, but Backdrop offers the most advanced multi-monitor features. You can span a single video across all displays or assign different wallpapers to each screen, perfect for professional workflows.
Can live wallpaper apps display videos on the lock screen?
Only Backdrop can display custom video wallpapers on your Mac's lock screen. This exclusive feature makes it the only app that can personalize both your desktop and lock screen with stunning 4K videos.
The Final Verdict
While other applications provide a way to put a moving image on your desktop, only Backdrop does everything exceptionally. It provides the most feature-rich, performant, and complete live wallpaper engine for macOS.
If you're ready to stop choosing between a beautiful desktop and a fast Mac, the choice is simple.
Transform Your Mac Desktop with Backdrop
Join 10,000+ Mac users who have elevated their desktop experience with stunning 4K video wallpapers. The only Mac app that supports lock screen playback.
Looking for more Mac customization tips? Check out our guides on live wallpaper performance optimization and maximizing your Mac's potential. For comprehensive system monitoring, explore Sensei - our all-in-one Mac optimization tool.
Stay in the loop.
Get exclusive deals and invitations to try out our new app releases.