Last updated · every competitor fact checked against its primary source
The best Desktop Mate alternative in 2026 is OpenPets, a free, open-source desktop pet app for Windows, macOS, and Linux with 1,300+ gallery characters and an open format for custom pets. If you want Desktop Mate's proprietary 3D companion experience instead, Desktop Mate remains the more specific choice on Windows and the macOS open beta.
TL;DR
Want an open pet format instead of a proprietary character catalog? OpenPets gives you a cross-platform desktop pet app with 1,300+ gallery characters and an open format for making and sharing your own pets.
Want Desktop Mate's 3D character presentation? Desktop Mate is the more direct choice if you specifically want its proprietary 3D desktop companion experience on Windows or the macOS open beta.
Need more than one character on Windows? Desktop Mate's multi-character mode is documented for Windows; OpenPets is built around choosing and running multiple pets across its supported desktop platforms.
What is Desktop Mate?
Desktop Mate is a proprietary desktop companion application distributed through Steam. Its current platform story has two parts: Windows support and a macOS open beta. That makes it interesting to people who want a character on the desktop without committing to a Windows-only mascot runner.
The Windows version also documents a multi-character mode. In other words, Desktop Mate is not limited to the idea of one mascot permanently occupying the screen. Its identity is still tied to its own character catalog, though: the project is proprietary and does not provide a user model importer for bringing arbitrary characters into the app.
Why people look for an alternative
Desktop Mate makes a clear trade. You get a defined companion product and its character experience, while the application and character pipeline remain controlled by the project. That trade is not right for everyone:
It is proprietary. If you want to inspect the app, build around its internals, or choose a format with community-owned tooling, Desktop Mate is not that kind of project.
There is no user model importer. You cannot treat Desktop Mate as a general-purpose home for a 3D model you already own. People who want to draw, package, and share their own pets need a different workflow.
The multi-character detail is platform-specific. Windows has the documented multi-character mode. The macOS offering is an open beta, so users should not assume every Windows feature carries over unchanged.
The app and the pet format are separate choices. A polished companion can be the right choice when you want its particular characters. An open gallery is a better fit when changing animals or creating a new one is the main reason you are installing a desktop pet.
What to expect before choosing Desktop Mate
Start with the official Steam listing and decide which part of the product matters most: its proprietary character experience, its Windows multi-character mode, or its availability as a macOS open beta. If your priority is importing your own models, that requirement rules Desktop Mate out before platform details become relevant.
Facts as of August 20, 2026, verified against Steam. Spot something outdated? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Desktop Mate is a proprietary choice for a 3D desktop companion, with Windows support and a macOS open beta plus multi-character mode on Windows. OpenPets takes the opposite approach: a cross-platform app, an open pet format, and 1,300+ gallery characters to choose from. Pick the former for its specific character experience; pick the latter when ownership and customization matter more.
Other alternatives worth considering
Desktop companions differ most in how much control they give you over characters. Here are the useful alternatives by the kind of desktop pet you want:
Shimeji-ee
Windows (Java)
A classic desktop-mascot runner with community character packs and XML-defined behaviors. It is a better match for 2D characters that walk and climb than for Desktop Mate's proprietary 3D presentation. We cover it in depth in .
An open-source Windows virtual-pet simulator with care and earning loops. It is worth considering when interaction matters more than a free-roaming desktop companion, although it is not a replacement for Desktop Mate's 3D model catalog. See .
A Windows C#/.NET desktop pet with XML and PNG custom pets, a PetEditor, and multi-pet support. It is a practical option for experimenting with a documented 2D pet format rather than a proprietary 3D catalog.
A reactive desktop cat that responds to keyboard and mouse activity. It is a focused alternative for people who want a small companion tied to their work input rather than a character collection. See .
A deliberately disruptive desktop toy rather than a 3D character platform. Pick it when the appeal is a single mischievous animal and visible desktop antics, not model importing or a multi-character catalog. See .
There is no Desktop Mate model library to migrate into OpenPets, and no user model importer to carry across. The useful decision is therefore about what you want to keep: a particular proprietary character experience, or the ability to select and create pets yourself.
for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Browse the and choose from 1,300+ ready-to-use companions.
If the character you want is not there, use the open pet format guide to build a pet from artwork you have permission to use.
Desktop Mate and OpenPets can also answer different moods: keep Desktop Mate for its specific 3D characters, and use OpenPets when you want a broader, changeable desktop gallery.
Desktop Mate FAQ
What is Desktop Mate?
Desktop Mate is a proprietary desktop companion application. Its official Steam listing documents support for Windows and a macOS open beta, with a Windows multi-character mode.
Does Desktop Mate work on macOS?
Yes. Desktop Mate has a macOS open beta in addition to its Windows version. Check the official Steam listing for the current beta status before choosing it as your daily desktop companion.
Can I show multiple Desktop Mate characters?
Desktop Mate documents multi-character mode on Windows. The comparison is platform-specific: do not assume the same mode is available in the macOS open beta.
Can I import my own 3D model into Desktop Mate?
No user model importer is documented for Desktop Mate. Its character catalog is proprietary, so people looking to create or import their own desktop pets should compare an open pet format instead.
Is Desktop Mate open source?
No. Desktop Mate is proprietary. That makes it different from an open-source desktop pet app such as OpenPets, where the app and pet format can be inspected and extended under their respective licenses.
What is the best Desktop Mate alternative?
OpenPets is the strongest alternative if you want native Windows, macOS, and Linux support, a large ready-made gallery, and an open format for custom pets. Choose Desktop Mate instead when its proprietary 3D character experience is the feature you specifically want.
