Desktop Mate took the old shimeji idea, a small anime character that walks across your desktop, climbs windows, and reacts to clicks, and rebuilt it for 2025. Free on Steam, smoothly animated, and packaged with the Aieru-tan model from Infinite Loop, it became one of the most-installed free Steam apps of the year. The catch is what people start asking for once Aieru-tan has been on their taskbar for a few weeks: more characters, custom mods, multiple pets at once, and ports outside of Windows. Desktop Mate covers some of that through paid DLCs and a growing mod scene, but if you want a different art style, more pets per screen, or an open-source rebuild, the seven alternatives below cover the same desktop-companion idea from different angles.
We tested seven Desktop Mate alternatives for Windows in 2026, from classic shimeji ports to modern Steam pet sims.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimeji-ee | Classic open-source shimeji | Free, open source | Thousands of community sprite packs |
| Desktop Pet Engine (DPET) | Modern shimeji engine | Free | Lower CPU than the original |
| Weyrdlets | Steam virtual pet | Free on Steam | Customizable pets and homes |
| VPet | Tamagotchi-style desktop pet | Free | Active mod scene |
| Live3D Shimeji | VTuber-tied desktop pet | Free | Pairs with Live3D’s avatar tools |
| Mascot Hime | Long-running JP desktop mascot | Free, donation | Detailed reactions, JP fan base |
| WindowPet | Cross-platform open-source pet | Free, open source | Same pet on Windows, macOS, Linux |
Why Desktop Mate users start looking around
The complaints are gentle. Aieru-tan is one character. The mod scene is great but installing custom models is fiddlier than people expect, you need to manage VRM files, sometimes recompile, and read Japanese documentation. The interactive bits (clicking the character, watching her react) are well done but the loop is small after a week.
Resource use is also a quiet pain. Desktop Mate idles around 200-400 MB RAM, which is fine on a modern machine but adds up if you also run Discord, Steam, and Chrome. Some users want a smaller-footprint pet they can leave running all day.
And there is platform: Windows only. People with macOS or Linux machines either dual-boot or settle for browser-based shimeji extensions.
Shimeji-ee
The English fork of the original Japanese Shimeji desktop pet app. Open source, supports a huge community library of sprite packs covering anime, video games, memes, original characters. The de-facto standard for the shimeji format and the spiritual predecessor to Desktop Mate.
Where it falls short: Java-based, which means you need a Java runtime and a slightly clunkier installer than a Steam app. Sprite quality varies wildly.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Vs Desktop Mate: Shimeji-ee is the classic sprite-based pet. Desktop Mate is the modern 3D-rendered one. Shimeji-ee wins on character variety and customizability.
Download: shimejis.xyz
Desktop Pet Engine (DPET)
A modern shimeji engine built to be lighter on system resources than the Java original. Better CPU and memory profile, cleaner installer, and growing sprite library. The closest evolutionary step from classic shimeji toward what Desktop Mate represents.
Where it falls short: Smaller library than Shimeji-ee for now. Configuration UI is functional but plain.
Pricing: Free.
Vs Desktop Mate: DPET keeps the 2D sprite aesthetic. Desktop Mate is 3D. If you prefer the sprite look, DPET is the up-to-date pick.
Download: live3d.io/blog/shimeji-app-vs-desktop-pet-engine
Weyrdlets
A free Steam title built around customizable virtual pets that live on your desktop in their own little homes. Less faithful to the shimeji concept (these are more like Tamagotchi than walking mascots) but the customization and warmth are good.
Where it falls short: Pets stay in their assigned home rather than roaming the desktop. Less for users who specifically want characters climbing windows.
Pricing: Free on Steam.
Vs Desktop Mate: Weyrdlets is a virtual pet sim with desktop integration. Desktop Mate is a roaming mascot. Different feel, similar comfort.
Download: Steam
VPet
A Tamagotchi-style open-source desktop pet with active modding and a growing community. The pet gains stats, needs feeding, ages, and reacts to your typing and idle time. Stronger gameplay loop than a typical shimeji.
Where it falls short: Visually basic compared to Desktop Mate. Documentation skews toward Chinese-language tutorials.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Vs Desktop Mate: VPet has more game loop, Desktop Mate has more polish. Pick by what bored you in week two.
Download: github.com/LorisYounger/VPet
Live3D Shimeji
Part of Live3D’s broader VTuber tool ecosystem. Pairs naturally with their avatar and tracking tools, and supports importing VRM models you already use. The right pick if you VTuber and want your model to live on your desktop when you are not streaming.
Where it falls short: Strongest in the Live3D ecosystem context. Standalone use is fine but underplayed.
Pricing: Free base. Some features tied to Live3D Studio Pro.
Vs Desktop Mate: Live3D Shimeji is for streamers and VTubers specifically. Desktop Mate is for everyone.
Download: live3d.io
Mascot Hime
A long-running Japanese desktop mascot app with detailed reactions and a dedicated JP fan base. Closer to Desktop Mate in spirit (single polished character with deep interaction) than to classic shimeji.
Where it falls short: Documentation and UI are primarily Japanese. Setup is fiddlier for non-JP users.
Pricing: Free, donations accepted.
Vs Desktop Mate: Mascot Hime is the underground JP version of the same idea. Desktop Mate is the polished Steam release.
Download: mascothime.shillest.net (search the project name on the Japanese mascot community sites for the latest mirror)
WindowPet
Cross-platform open-source desktop pet built on Tauri. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with the same UI. A handful of bundled pets and an extension API for adding more. The right pick for non-Windows users.
Where it falls short: Smaller pet library than Shimeji-ee or DPET. The community is still small.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Vs Desktop Mate: WindowPet is the only credible cross-platform pick in this list. Desktop Mate is Windows-only.
Download: github.com/SeakMengs/WindowPet
How to choose
Pick Shimeji-ee if you want the largest possible library of characters and do not mind a Java install.
Pick Desktop Pet Engine if you like sprite shimeji but want lower system usage than Shimeji-ee.
Pick Weyrdlets if a stationary virtual pet with a home appeals more than a roaming mascot.
Pick VPet if you want a desktop pet that has a Tamagotchi-style game loop, not just animations.
Pick WindowPet if you live on macOS or Linux.
Stay on Desktop Mate if Aieru-tan and the polish are what hooked you. The free DLC drops and growing mod scene keep it the most welcoming pick for new users.
FAQ
Is Desktop Mate really free?
Yes. The base app and the included Aieru-tan model are free on Steam. Optional character DLCs are paid.
Can I add my own model to Desktop Mate?
Yes, through community mods. Importing a VRM model is doable but requires reading the modding docs.
Does Desktop Mate work on Mac or Linux?
Not officially. The app is Windows-only. WindowPet or browser-based shimeji extensions are the cross-platform options.
Which is the most resource-friendly desktop pet?
VPet and Desktop Pet Engine both idle well under 100 MB. Desktop Mate uses more because of its 3D rendering pipeline.
Are shimeji and Desktop Mate the same thing?
Conceptually yes, a small animated character that lives on your desktop. Shimeji is the original 2D sprite-based format. Desktop Mate is the modern 3D-rendered take.
