Software Alternatives & Startups

Wallper VS StartIsBack

Compare Wallper VS StartIsBack and see what are their differences

Wallper

Live 4K wallpapers for your Mac. Fast, native, and fully customizable.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source Freemium Free trial $14.99 / One-off (3 Devices)
StartIsBack

StartIsBack returns Windows 10 and Windows 8 a real fully featured start menu and start button, behaving exactly like the ones in Windows 7. It's totally awesome and easy solution for your new Windows woes.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, StartIsBack should be more popular than Wallper. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1 vs 10
Wallpapers popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
61 vs 33

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Wallper
StartIsBack
Website wallper.app startisback.com
Pricing
Open source Freemium Free trial $14.99 / One-off (3 Devices) Official pricing
—
Company Startup from the Czech Republic · 1 - 9 employees · 2025 —
Listed in

About Wallper and StartIsBack

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Wallper
StartIsBack

Wallper is a native macOS app for setting high-quality 4K animated wallpapers. Built for performance and simplicity, it runs entirely locally with no accounts, no telemetry, and no background services. Key features: • 4000+ curated animated wallpapers • Support for multi-monitor setups •...

Read more about Wallper

No description of StartIsBack yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Wallper 6 features
StartIsBack 5 features
  • Multi-Monitor Support
    Automatically spans and manages live wallpapers across multiple displays with individual control per screen.
  • Battery-Aware Mode
    Optionally pause wallpapers when on battery and resume automatically when plugged in.
  • Display Manager
    Adjust scale, position (X/Y offset), and toggle wallpapers on/off per screen.
  • Offline Mode
    Core features work entirely offline - no account, no login, no tracking.
  • Community Library
    Browse a growing library of community-submitted 4K live wallpapers.
  • Seamless Integration
    Native macOS app with minimal resource usage and clean menu bar access.
  • Classic Start Menu
    StartIsBack restores the classic Start menu which many users are familiar with and prefer over the modern versions in Windows 8 and later.
  • Customization
    The software offers extensive customization options for the Start menu, taskbar, and other UI elements, allowing users to tweak their experience to their liking.
  • Lightweight
    StartIsBack is a lightweight application with a small memory footprint and does not slow down the system.
  • Improved Productivity
    By providing a familiar and efficient interface, it enhances user productivity by making it easier to find and launch programs and settings.
  • Seamless Integration
    The application integrates seamlessly with Windows, providing a native feel that doesn't disrupt the overall user experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    StartIsBack is a paid application, which may be a drawback for users looking for a free solution.
  • Limited to Windows
    The software is only compatible with Windows, so users on other operating systems cannot benefit from its features.
  • System Updates
    Major Windows updates can sometimes cause compatibility issues, requiring users to wait for a new version of StartIsBack to address problems.
  • Customization Complexity
    Though it's highly customizable, the multiple options can overwhelm less tech-savvy users, making it difficult for them to find the best settings.
  • Additional Resource Usage
    Although lightweight, it still uses some system resources, which might be a concern for very low-end systems.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Wallper
StartIsBack

Overall verdict

  • Wallper is a well-designed live wallpaper application for macOS that offers a smooth, native experience for users looking to personalize their desktops with dynamic and animated backgrounds. It's generally considered a good choice for those who value aesthetics and a lightweight, easy-to-use tool.

Why this product is good

  • Offers a curated collection of high-quality live and dynamic wallpapers optimized for macOS
  • Built as a native Mac app, providing smooth performance and good integration with the operating system
  • Designed to be lightweight and energy-efficient, minimizing impact on battery life and system resources
  • Features an intuitive and clean user interface that makes browsing and applying wallpapers simple
  • Supports multiple monitors and various display configurations
  • Regularly updated with new wallpaper content and features

Recommended for

  • Mac users who want to personalize their desktop with animated or live wallpapers
  • People who value a clean, native macOS app experience
  • Users looking for a lightweight wallpaper tool that won't drain system resources
  • Design enthusiasts and creatives who appreciate high-quality visual aesthetics
  • Anyone wanting an easy, hassle-free way to refresh their desktop appearance

Overall verdict

  • Overall, StartIsBack is considered a reliable and user-friendly program that delivers on its promise to restore and improve the classic Windows interface. It is appreciated for its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to integrate seamlessly into the Windows operating system.

Why this product is good

  • StartIsBack is a popular tool for Windows users who prefer the classic Start menu and taskbar functionality that was present in older versions of Windows, such as Windows 7. It brings back and enhances these features, offering a customizable experience which can greatly improve productivity and user satisfaction for those who are not fond of the default Start menu in newer Windows iterations.

Recommended for

    StartIsBack is particularly recommended for users who find the default Windows Start menu and taskbar interface in versions like Windows 8 or Windows 10 lacking in functionality or aesthetic appeal. It's ideal for those who prefer a more traditional desktop environment or wish to enhance their efficiency with a tailored Start menu and taskbar experience.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Wallper 0 videos + Add
StartIsBack 3 videos + Add

No Wallper videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

StartisBack++ 2.6.2 | Review | Full Version | Full Function | 2018

More videos

  • - Customize Windows 10 With StartIsBack++ And Visual Styles
  • - StartIsBack Windows 8 App Review - How to Get the Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 8

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Wallper
StartIsBack
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
LMS
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Wallper and StartIsBack.

What makes your product unique?

Wallper's answer

Wallper combines beautiful live wallpapers with native macOS performance. No clunky wrappers, no subscriptions. It just works smoothly and with complete control for every screen.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Wallper's answer

Most alternatives are either outdated, heavy on resources, or require a login. Wallper is fast, lightweight, fully local, and respects your privacy. Plus, it’s designed specifically for macOS.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Wallper's answer

Mac users who care about aesthetics, productivity, and simplicity. Creatives, developers, designers - anyone who wants their desktop to feel alive and personal.

What's the story behind your product?

Wallper's answer

Wallper started as a weekend project. After switching from Windows, we couldn’t believe how limited macOS was when it came to live wallpapers — there just wasn’t a clean, native solution like Wallpaper Engine. We built the first version just for ourselves, to bring our desktops to life again. But as we shared it with friends and online communities, it quickly turned into something much bigger. What began as a personal fix is now a fully featured app used by thousands of Mac users around the world.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Wallper's answer

Wallper is built entirely in Swift & SwiftUI. Everything is optimized for macOS with no Electron or cross-platform layers.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Wallper's answer

Used by teams at indie studios and design agencies

User comments

Share your experience with using Wallper and StartIsBack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Wallper 1 mention
StartIsBack 10 mentions
  • Ask HN: Are Product Hunt upvotes/comments often delayed or filtered?
    We launched our macOS app today on Product Hunt - it’s called Wallper, a lightweight tool for setting 4K animated video wallpapers. https://wallper.app. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • PSA: If anyone wants a better start menu experience on Windows, install Open Shell
    If you use Windows 10, startisback is by the same dev as StartAllBack: http://startisback.com/. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • I made Windows 10 look like Windows 8.1
    Just a sec, I made Windows 10 look like Windows 8.1 with Startisback (get it at startisback.com if you don't have it). Source: over 4 years ago
  • Glad to say I stayed with vegas pro since i started editing about 7 years ago. Just finished cutting 1000+ clips from EOS r6 10bit clog3 and a7iii 8bit final time of 1 and half hour in my laptop and it never had a single hic-cup. Might be due to the last build 636 update that it is much stable now.
    Haha..got you there....its a windows 10 and I added startallback (https://startisback.com) for that sweet windows 7 logo only. I hate that boxy logo design of win 10. It's a msi prestige 15 11th gen i7 with 16gb ram. Video cards are... Source: over 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Wallper and StartIsBack

When comparing Wallper and StartIsBack, you can also consider the following products.