Waypaper

Free plan Open source LinuxMac

What Waypaper is

Waypaper is a graphical wallpaper setter for Linux window managers and macOS. It serves as a frontend for wallpaper backends such as swaybg, swww, awww, wallutils, hyprpaper, mpvpaper, gslapper, feh, xwallpaper, linux-wallpaperengine, and macOS. The project is free and GPL-3.0 licensed, and requires users to install Waypaper plus at least one supported backend. It supports multiple monitors, Vim-style keyboard navigation, and restoring wallpaper when a window manager launches. GIF animations work through selected backends, while video wallpapers depend on mpvpaper, gslapper, or linux-wallpaperengine. Other documented features include caching, a distraction-free Zen mode, post-change script hooks, and customizable CSS theming. Linux installation options include pipx and packages or repositories for Arch-based distributions, NixOS, OpenSUSE, and Fedora. On macOS, setup requires GTK3 and PyGObject via Homebrew before installation with pipx. The documentation identifies Roman Anufriev as the developer and says development began in 2023.

Who it suits

Waypaper may suit Linux window manager and macOS users who want a graphical way to manage wallpapers across supported backends. Users need to install a compatible backend as well as Waypaper.

What it does well

Supports multiple monitors.
Can restore wallpaper when a window manager launches.
Offers Vim-style keyboard navigation.
Includes caching, Zen mode, and customizable CSS theming.

What to know first

Requires at least one supported wallpaper backend.
macOS setup requires GTK3 and PyGObject via Homebrew.
Video wallpaper depends on selected backends.

Limits

The free Waypaper plan requires a compatible wallpaper backend. GIF and video wallpaper availability depends on the backend used.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Waypaper	Free and open source · Requires at least one wallpaper backend · Desktop application	Free

As github.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

On Linux, choose a documented installation route such as pipx or a package or repository for your distribution.
On macOS, install GTK3 and PyGObject through Homebrew.
Install Waypaper with pipx on macOS.
Install at least one supported wallpaper backend.
Open Waypaper and choose a wallpaper for your display or displays.

Verdict

Waypaper provides a free graphical interface for wallpaper backends, with support for multiple monitors and animated wallpapers through selected backends. Its backend requirement and platform-specific setup steps are worth checking before installation.

Questions

How much does Waypaper cost?

Waypaper is free; its listed plan costs nothing.

Which platforms does Waypaper support?

Waypaper is for Linux and macOS.

Does Waypaper need another program to work?

Yes. It acts as a frontend and requires at least one supported wallpaper backend.

Can Waypaper display animated wallpapers?

Selected backends support GIF animations. Video wallpapers are supported through mpvpaper, gslapper or linux-wallpaperengine.

Is Waypaper open source?

The project is GPL-3.0 licensed.

How do I install it?

Linux routes include pipx and packages or repositories for Arch-based distributions, NixOS, OpenSUSE and Fedora. On macOS, GTK3 and PyGObject via Homebrew are required before installing Waypaper with pipx.

Facts from Waypaper's own pages

Additional features: The documentation lists caching, a distraction-free Zen mode, post-change script hooks, and customizable CSS theming. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 3 Oct 2026
Animated GIFs: GIF wallpapers work through selected backends including swww, awww, mpvpaper and gslapper. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Animated wallpapers: GIF animations are supported through selected backends, and video wallpapers through mpvpaper, gslapper, or linux-wallpaperengine. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 3 Oct 2026
Backend integrations: It acts as a frontend for wallpaper backends including swaybg, swww, awww, wallutils, hyprpaper, mpvpaper, gslapper, feh, xwallpaper, linux-wallpaperengine, and macOS. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
CLI controls: Command-line options include random selection, folder selection, direct wallpaper setting, backend choice, monitor targeting and fill mode. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Community limit: configuration reliability: A Reddit commenter reported occasional startup cases where the configuration became empty and no wallpaper appeared. · reddit.com, 15 Oct 2026
Community limit: startup persistence: A Reddit user reported that Waypaper did not remember the wallpaper after reboot until advised to configure --restore. · reddit.com, 15 Oct 2026
Community usability issue: A Reddit user initially thought backend and folder controls were missing because Zen mode hid them; pressing Z resolved the issue. · reddit.com, 15 Oct 2026
Configuration: The first run creates a configuration file typically at ~/.config/waypaper/config.ini. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Dependencies: Documented dependencies include GTK Python bindings, Pillow, imageio, imageio-ffmpeg, screeninfo and platformdirs. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Developer and start year: The documentation identifies Roman Anufriev as developer and says development began in 2023. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Documentation depth: Published documentation covers installation, usage, keybindings, configuration, troubleshooting and contribution. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Founded: 2023 · github.com, 28 Sept 2026
Independent feature confirmation: LinuxLinks independently confirms Wayland, Xorg, animated GIF, video, multi-monitor, Vim-key and restore capabilities. · linuxlinks.com, 15 Oct 2026
Installation channels: Installation is documented through pipx, Arch AUR, NixOS packages, Fedora repositories and macOS Homebrew prerequisites. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Installation requirement: Users install Waypaper and at least one supported wallpaper backend for it to work as a frontend. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
JSON listing: The --list option outputs current wallpapers, monitors and backend information as JSON. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Keyboard navigation: The interface provides Vim-style keyboard navigation. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Latest release: Version 2.9 was released on 30 August 2026 and added GUI slideshows, improved macOS support, Zen mode and several fixes. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
License: The source repository contains the GNU General Public License version 3 dated 29 June 2007. · raw.githubusercontent.com, 15 Oct 2026
Linux distributions: The project documents pipx installation and packages or repositories for Arch-based distributions, NixOS, OpenSUSE, and Fedora. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
macOS setup: The README says macOS installation requires GTK3 and PyGObject via Homebrew before installing Waypaper with pipx. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
macOS support: The documentation lists native macOS support using the macOS backend. · anufrievroman.gitbook.io, 15 Oct 2026
Maintainer profile: GitHub identifies the account as Roman and shows 17 public repositories and 102 followers. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026

Where Waypaper stands on Freedom251

Desktop Wallpaper Software#3 of 34