nwg-look edits GTK settings for desktop environments using the wlroots Wayland environment.
The Best ExplorerPatcher Alternatives in 2026
Looking for something like ExplorerPatcher? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 1 are free or have a free plan and 23 are open source.
ExplorerPatcher modifies the Windows environment, according to its project description.
Top picks at a glance
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | nwg-look | — | Yes | Linux |
| 2 | Awesome Linux Ricing | — | Yes | Linux |
| 3 | Awesome Web Desktops | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | backiee | Freemium | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 5 | Pop!OS Shell | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | Wearewaylandnow | — | Yes | Linux |
| 7 | Ant | — | Yes | — |
| 8 | Waybar | — | Yes | — |
| 9 | MicaForEveryone | — | Yes | Windows |
| 10 | SuperPaper | — | Yes | Linux, macOS, Windows |
All ExplorerPatcher alternatives
Awesome Linux Ricing collects themes, tools, and applications for customizing Linux desktops.
This repository curates web pages, apps, and portfolios that resemble desktop operating systems.
backiee provides Windows wallpaper downloads, live wallpapers, and interactive widgets.
The Pop OS Shell project provides a shell interface for its Linux desktop environment.
This repository contains the source for wearewaylandnow.com, an opinionated site about the Wayland desktop environment.
Apply Ant, a flat visual theme for GNOME and other GTK-based desktop environments.
Waybar provides a customizable status bar for Wayland compositors such as Sway and wlroots-based environments.
Mica For Everyone enables backdrop effects on Win32 application title bars in Windows 11.
Superpaper manages wallpapers across multiple monitors on Linux and Windows, with partial support for macOS.
A lightweight utility that makes the Windows taskbar translucent/transparent.
Catppuccinifier recolors wallpapers using a command-line or graphical interface on Linux and Windows.
WinDynamicDesktop brings macOS Mojave-style dynamic desktop wallpapers to Windows, with themes and scheduling.
Burn My Windows adds window animations that visually disintegrate windows when they open or close.
BeautySearch changes the appearance of the Windows 10 search interface.
AutoWall displays live wallpapers on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 using an open-source wallpaper engine.
msstyleEditor edits Windows visual style files and lets users modify listed components and properties.
ExplorerBlurMica adds background blur or acrylic Mica effects to Windows Explorer on Windows 10 and 11.
AeroThemePlasma offers a KDE Plasma shell with a design based on the Windows 7 desktop.
MacType improves Windows font rendering through an application that changes how text appears across the system.
QTTabBar adds tabbed folder browsing to Windows Explorer for navigating multiple locations in one window.
RetroBar replaces the modern Windows taskbar with classic styles from Windows 95 through Vista.
Aerial brings an Apple TV-style screensaver to Windows computers, according to its project description.
SecureUxTheme patches Windows theme verification in memory to allow unsigned styles without modifying system files.
Alternatives to similar tools
What is the best alternative to ExplorerPatcher?
Is there a free alternative to ExplorerPatcher?
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Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative
























