Best Free Wallpaper Changer

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Last updated by Jojo Yee on 25. November 2020 - 11:59

Introduction

After seeing the same wallpapers on the desktop for some time, most PC users would prefer a change to make it more lively, dynamic and interactive.

Some newer versions of Windows have basic settings to change wallpapers automatically, whereas earlier versions of the Windows system only allow for changing wallpapers manually. Going for a better choice with more features? Check out these free and good wallpaper changers that are reviewed and rated based on the features below:

  • User interface or ease of use.
  • Change wallpapers at time intervals set by users
  • Set position of each wallpaper
  • Synchronise wallpapers with folders
  • Auto close after changing the wallpaper to free up system resources
  • Slide show and other useful features.

 

Wallpaper Changer Without Calendars

Wallpaper Master  

A wallpaper changer with many useful features in a good user interface

Our Rating: 
5
License: Free (Limited features)
Low memory usage, change on start-up, change intervals (min), wallpaper position settings, wallpaper ratings and categories, wallpaper folder sync.
Some limitations apply to the free version, cannot have 2 different backgrounds (dual monitors).
Read full review...

Wallpaper Cycler Lite  

Offers to change your wallpaper on startup, with many more features at your choice

Our Rating: 
4.5
License: Free (Limited features)
Good user interface, auto start and close, folders synchronisation, extra features include slide shows and CPU load monitoring.
Additional features such as wallpaper layouts, tags, search folders, etc., are disabled in the context menu.
Read full review...

Wally  

A cross-platform wallpaper changer using multiple image sources

Our Rating: 
4.5
License: Free
Cross platforms, various wallpaper positions and supports features such as time intervals, choosing images from folders or online resources, displaying EXIF data, saving downloaded photos, run-time folder change detection.
No auto exit of the program is noted.
Read full review...

EvJO Wallpaper Changer  

A simple program to change your wallpapers at sunrise, sunset or other time intervals

Our Rating: 
4
License: Free
Clean and intuitive user interface, auto start and close, extra features to download and search photos, add company logo and calendar to desktop, and scan for new wallpaper from folders.
Short of individual setting on position of each wallpaper. No slideshow feature.
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Wallpaper Changer With Calendars

MuralPix Wallpaper Changer  

A wallpaper changer with a calendar painted automatically

Our Rating: 
4.5
License: Free (Private/Educational use)
Make frames around images in corresponding colors, auto calendar, auto detect changes of files, screen saver, etc.
Badly designed user interface, setting wallpaper positions applies to all, auto close not included.
Read full review...

John's Background Switcher  

Change wallpapers on multiple monitors with optional calendars

Our Rating: 
4.5
License: Free
Supports multiple monitors and various wallpaper positions, setting auto exit, time intervals, selecting images from local folders or other online resources, optional calendars.
A picture browser is included to view images either downloaded or used in montage, but no slide show is available.
Read full review...

Other Wallpaper Changers

These are other wallpaper changers which were brought up in comments here or noted from other sources. As they are not rated in this review, I am listing them here with brief descriptions and links to the related sites for ease of reference.

  • Adolix Wallpaper Changer is a good choice if you need a changer with a built-in screen capture utility. The program comes with user friendly interface and other features such as create play lists of wallpapers, set time intervals, etc. Setting wallpaper positions applies to all files while auto close of the program is not included.
  • Wallperizer, another wallpaper changer with a calendar feature, runs directly from the executable file and will be accessible from the system tray menu. The program features an automatic process where bright pictures are made darker and dark ones made brighter. It does not come with auto frames and other options available to MuralPix Manager.
  • WallPaper Changer.de is a smaller program and worth a try. Even though its user interface is less intuitive, this program provides basic and useful features. Some other advanced features such as folders synchronisation and slide show are not included. The program can be run directly without installation.
  • Caledos Automatic Wallpaper Changer allows you to choose multiple images or folders of images for automatic change of wallpapers, center or stretch wallpapers to full screen, set courtesy background and display interval to change wallpapers every logon, few minutes, hours, or days. It has a What I Saw feature to show a list of the latest 100 wallpapers. On the down side, it does not support auto program close, synchronise wallpapers and set position of individual wallpapers.
  • Cyber-D's Wallpaper Shifter changes the wallpaper by picking a random wallpaper from a preset folder. It allows various scale modes such as automatic, crop, fit or center, with background setting by default, blur or edge repeat. Once the wallpaper is changed, the program does not remain running in the background to save system resources. Easy to use, but without support for time intervals, multiple folders, slide show, individual setting for each wallpaper, etc.
  • Any Wallpaper is another choice for a simple yet user-friendly wallpaper changer. It allows you to add multiple folders and choose a change frequency, order and wallpaper position which is applicable to all files in the folders. Auto close of the program and some other features are not included.
  • BioniX Desktop Wallpaper Changer Lite, a free wallpaper manager supporting playlists dual monitor support, and other features. But some basic settings such as, disabling the message on startup and removing the product logo over the wallpaper are only made available in the commercial version.

 

Related Products and Links

You might want to check out these articles too:

  • More Than 30 Places To Look For Free Wallpapers
  • The Best Free Screen Savers
  • Best Free Virtual Desktop Manager

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    Editor

    This software review is copy-edited by Jojo Yee. Please help edit and improve this article by clicking here.

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    Comments

    The major dimension of where the changers source their wall papers from, has been much too lightly addressed. What will be shown is as important as how. I came to this review looking for an alternative to installing the entire
    Bing desktop merely for it's excellent, extensive and automated online image collection.

    My Daily Wallpaper deserves to be mentioned here too
    (cf. http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/385000-windows-wallpapers-and-auto-changer-program.htm)

    Hi, just wanted to let the reviewer and users know that there is a new Wallpaper Master (Beta) out. It has a whole new version number, and a complete interface redesign. It also can now stream RSS images from a wallpaper-website (only 1 site at the moment for freeware version). Personally, I find that the new FREE version of Wallpaper Master contains more functionality than the old Pay-version. The version number of the OLDEST version was 2.16 (made into freeware), then it bumped up to 1.62.1 (the latest stable pay-ware), and now the new beta is 2.0.3.6. (hope the version numbers don't confuse you... just go to the website's forum to read about and download the beta.

    http://discourse.jamesgart.com:8080/t/wallpaper-master-updates-beta/3

    The author/programmer is still actively making changes/bug-fixes, etc, so while it's not quite stable, it IS improving! (ps - personally I don't find any bugs in it)

    Thanks for the heads up.

    I've given it a bit of a try-out this evening and at the moment I do still prefer the old 2.16, it has more options and functions than the new free beta and I've never had any problems running it in W7 x86 or x64 set to XP SP3 compatibility.

    Contrary to the above article, there is a portable/non-install version available on the website. I know there's no editor for this section right now but I thought I'd just mention it for anyone reading the page.