Top Alternatives to Screenlets

Rainmeter is a free and open-source desktop customization application for Windows. It allows users to display various types of information, such as system metrics, time, weather, and RSS feeds, directly on their desktop through highly customizable 'skins'. It's a popular tool for creating personalized and functional desktop interfaces.

Conky is a highly configurable, lightweight system monitor that displays system information directly on your desktop. It is known for its extensibility and ability to show a wide range of data.

XWidget is a free, lightweight desktop customization platform allowing users to add highly configurable and visually appealing widgets to their desktop. It features a powerful visual editor for creating custom widgets and supports smooth animations and system monitoring.

GeekTool is a powerful macOS application designed to enhance your desktop customization by displaying various information directly on your background. It allows users to run shell scripts, display media, or show file contents through 'Geeklets,' effectively turning your desktop into a dynamic dashboard of system data and other relevant information.

Bginfo is a Sysinternals utility that automatically displays relevant information about a Windows system on the desktop wallpaper, making it easy to see configurations at a glance.

GKrellM is a highly customizable system monitor for multiple operating systems. It provides a compact, stackable interface displaying various system data like CPU load, memory usage, network activity, and more, making it a favorite for users who need detailed system insights without a heavy footprint.

Desktop Info is a lightweight and highly customizable utility designed to display essential system information directly on your desktop wallpaper. It provides real-time monitoring of hardware, network, and system status, allowing users to stay informed at a glance without needing to open separate monitoring applications.