Is your computer just a tool, or is it an expression of yourself? Just like how people once went to extreme lengths to decorate their journals and diaries, you can do the same with your desktop. Programs like Rainmeter have long offered deeper customization options than you might get by default, but Rainmeter doesn't get the love it once did, and it's down to sporadic, few-and-far-between updates.

If you're looking for options that offer similar functionality, you're in luck. As it turns out, people enjoy customizing their machines , and there are a wealth of different applications that will help you do just that. We're going to focus on the free options, but we do have a list of paid options you might consider at the bottom of the page.

Widget Launcher is an easy-to-use, straightforward app. You can access standard apps like a calendar, a clock, and an RSS feed by default. There are multiple sections to customize per widget, and a near-unlimited choice of colors thanks to the color wheel. If you want more extensions, you can buy the Pro Extensions for Widget Launcher app for $3.79, but be warned that it has middling reviews.

You can buy multiple skins for Widget Launcher, and if you want to unlock the most customization for the app, you'll have to (or make the skins yourself). All in all, it isn't a bad choice, although there are a few issues we didn't love. The Featured page never loaded correctly, and it was less-than-subtle about pushing paid advertisements at you during use. One big plus to Widget Launcher is that it's not a resource-intensive program; it barely registers.