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Head-to-head · Desktop Widget Software

Rainmeter vs Delta Widgets

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Rainmeter #2 in Desktop Widget Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Rainmeter
Delta Widgets #15 in Desktop Widget Software 7.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Delta Widgets

Rainmeter leads on 0 checks, Delta Widgets on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreRainmeter · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresRainmeter · 4 of 5

Rainmeter scores higher on our rubric for desktop widget software: 9.3 against 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #15.

Rainmeter is the better fit for windows users wanting a free skin ecosystem. Delta Widgets is the better fit for windows users building custom widgets.

  • Rainmeter fits best

    Windows users wanting a free skin ecosystem

  • Delta Widgets fits best

    Windows users building custom widgets

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Side by side

Feature Rainmeter 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Delta Widgets 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 7.6
Ranking #2 in Desktop Widget Software #15 in Desktop Widget Software
Best for Windows users wanting a free skin ecosystem Windows users building custom widgets
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Rainmeter 4/5 · Delta Widgets 3/5
System monitoring ✓ ✓
Custom layouts ✓ ✓
Weather widgets ✓ ✓
Calendar widgets Not checked yet Not checked yet
Feed widgets ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Windows Windows
Widget categories memory, battery, RSS feeds, weather forecasts, notes, to-do lists, application launchers, media-player controls date and time, media, audio visualizer, weather, disks, RAM, CPU, battery, system stats, custom HTML, URL/web content
Our review
Pros
  • Free and fully open source under the GNU GPL v2 license
  • Covers system data, weather, RSS, notes, launchers, and media controls
  • Includes tools for creating and editing custom desktop skins
  • Visual drag-and-drop editor with custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Supports system data, media controls, weather, and audio visualizations
  • Free and open source, with templates and URL webpage embeds
Cons
  • Supports Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms
  • Customization may require more configuration than a simple widget app
  • Its feature set is delivered through configurable skins rather than one fixed interface
  • Available only on Windows
  • Custom widgets may require HTML, CSS, or JavaScript knowledge
  • Its feature set is focused on desktop widgets rather than broader platforms
Our verdict

Rainmeter is a free, open-source desktop customization tool for Windows users who want configurable information and controls on their desktop. Its skins can display memory and battery data, weather forecasts, and RSS feeds, while also…

Read the review →

Delta Widgets is a free, open-source desktop widget maker for Windows 10 and 11. It is aimed at Windows users who want to create custom desktop displays without being limited to fixed widget designs. The visual drag-and-drop builder…

Read the review →
  1. RainmeterDesktop Widget Software 9.3Free plan
  2. Delta WidgetsDesktop Widget Software 7.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Rainmeter — where it wins

    • Free and fully open source under the GNU GPL v2 license
    • Covers system data, weather, RSS, notes, launchers, and media controls
    • Includes tools for creating and editing custom desktop skins

    Where it doesn't

    • Supports Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms
    • Customization may require more configuration than a simple widget app
    • Its feature set is delivered through configurable skins rather than one fixed interface

  • Delta Widgets — where it wins

    • Visual drag-and-drop editor with custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
    • Supports system data, media controls, weather, and audio visualizations
    • Free and open source, with templates and URL webpage embeds

    Where it doesn't

    • Available only on Windows
    • Custom widgets may require HTML, CSS, or JavaScript knowledge
    • Its feature set is focused on desktop widgets rather than broader platforms

More comparisons

All desktop widget software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update