iWallpaper and MacWall both play live wallpapers on a Mac; they differ most on price, the macOS versions they support and the Lock Screen. iWallpaper is a free download on the Mac App Store whose one in-app purchase, Remove watermark, costs $6.99, and it runs on macOS 10.15 Catalina or later, per its App Store listing. MacWall is a direct download for macOS 15 or later with a 24-hour trial, then a one-time Pro license ($9.09 (Black Friday price, 30% off until Dec 1, 2026; regular $12.99) for 3 Macs), and it also plays wallpapers on the Lock Screen and as the screen saver on macOS 26.
| iWallpaper | MacWall | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | 晓栋 周 (as listed on the App Store) | MacWall |
| Price model | Free download; Remove watermark $6.99 (in-app purchase) | $9.09 (Black Friday price, 30% off until Dec 1, 2026; regular $12.99) one-time for 3 Macs (India $3.49); 5 Macs $13.99; 24-hour free trial |
| Where to get it | Mac App Store | Direct download from macwall.app |
| Platforms | macOS 10.15+; lists Apple silicon support | macOS 15+ (Apple silicon and Intel) |
| Lock Screen | Not stated | Video, macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later, plus Screen Saver |
| Library | Wallpapers shared by its users, ranked by popularity and date; new ones every day, per the listing | 1,000+ curated loops, most in 4K, in 9 categories |
| Your own videos | Not stated | MP4, MOV and M4V with Pro |
| Multiple displays | Separate settings for each monitor; standard, vertical, 21:9 and 32:9 ratios | Different loop per display, or the same on all |
| Power | Static when the wallpaper is hidden; static modes on battery and in low power | Pauses behind full-screen apps; optional Pause on battery and Lower quality on battery |
| Account | Uses iCloud (CloudKit); no separate login | None; the trial asks for an email |
| Latest version | 1.1.3, June 12, 2025 | 4.1.0, October 24, 2026 |
Pick iWallpaper if
- You are on macOS 10.15 Catalina to macOS 14 Sonoma; MacWall needs macOS 15.
- You want the smallest one-time cost: $6.99 removes iWallpaper's watermark, against $9.09 (Black Friday price, 30% off until Dec 1, 2026; regular $12.99) for MacWall Pro.
- You use a vertical or 32:9 super-ultrawide monitor; its listing names both ratios.
- You prefer to buy through the Mac App Store and sign in with iCloud only.
- You want wallpapers other people share, with new ones every day.
Pick MacWall if
- You want a live Lock Screen and screen saver on macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later; iWallpaper's listing doesn't mention the Lock Screen. See live video screen savers.
- You want a curated catalog you can preview on the web first: the MacWall gallery shows every loop by category.
- You want to import your own videos; iWallpaper's listing doesn't mention it.
- You want one license for up to 3 Macs, Bend on an Apple silicon MacBook, Music Sync, or a time-of-day Day Schedule.
- Recent updates matter to you: MacWall 4.1.0 shipped on October 24, 2026, while iWallpaper's latest listed version, 1.1.3, is from June 12, 2025.
Performance
Both apps say they stop the wallpaper when you can't see it: iWallpaper's listing describes an occlusion check that keeps a hidden wallpaper static, and MacWall pauses behind full-screen apps. Neither of us publishes an independent test, so compare them in Activity Monitor on your own Mac; the performance guide shows how.
More comparisons: MacWall vs Backdrop, MacWall vs Wallspace and the best live wallpaper apps for Mac.
Sources
- iWallpaper on the Mac App Store, accessed 6 November 2026
MacWall's own prices and requirements come from our pricing and download pages.