Lively Wallpaper changes what sits behind your icons, while Rainmeter places small skins on top of the desktop, such as hardware usage meters and audio visualizers. The current version is 4.5.28.3936, released on October 12, 2026. It is a 2.5 MB Windows download from the developer, Rainmeter.
Who should install a skin-based desktop tool
Rainmeter suits people who want their desktop to show live information in a layout they choose. It is tagged as a gadget, skin and widget, and it sits in the desktop themes category.
It asks for some creativity. The developer says you are limited only by imagination, so the result depends on the skins you pick or build.
Hardware meters and audio visualizers in practice
The two examples the developer gives are hardware usage meters and fully functional audio visualizers. Each is a skin, a self-contained element that sits on the desktop and updates on its own.
Cost and licence
Rainmeter is free and uses the GPL-2.0 licence. The package ID is Rainmeter.Rainmeter.
Check the official site for system requirements before installing.
What's new in 4.5.28.3936
Version 4.5.28 was released on October 12, 2026. The full list of changes is on the developer's changelog page at rainmeter.net/changes-4.5.
Rainmeter pros and cons
Pros
- Free
- Open source under the GPL-2.0 licence
- Small download of 2.5 MB
- Displays hardware usage meters and audio visualizers
- Developer links a public changelog for 4.5
Cons
- Official site needed to check system requirements
- Results depend on the skins you choose or build
- Results depend on the skins you choose or create
Is Rainmeter safe?
Rainmeter 4.5.28.3936 comes from the Rainmeter project itself, and its source code is open under the GPL-2.0 licence, so anyone can inspect how the core program and its skins work. It costs nothing. Skins from other authors are separate files, so check where a skin comes from before you load it on your desktop.
How to install Rainmeter
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Rainmeter from the Start menu.
