Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) are widely used in cognitive neuroscience and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), but the visual discomfort induced by plain luminance repetitive flickers limits their usability in mono- and especially multi-target settings due to strong peripheral distraction. Textured flicker composed of small Gabor patches has recently been proposed as a more comfortable alternative: in slow, aperiodic paradigms, these stimuli are almost invisible in the periphery yet elicit stronger visual evoked responses. However, their suitability for strictly frequency-defined SSVEP paradigms, and their frequency-dependent impact on neural entrainment and BCI performance, remain unclear. Here, we combined a systematic frequency sweep (3-18 Hz) followed by a five-class SSVEP BCI to directly compare subtly textured Gabor-based flicker against classical luminance flicker. In Session 1 (N = 24), we measured SSVEP signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), inter-trial coherence (ITC), and subjective comfort for 13 stimulation frequencies (3-12 Hz in 1 Hz steps, then 14, 16, 18 Hz). Gabor-based textures yielded significantly higher SNR and ITC than plain flicker in the 3-9 Hz range, whereas plain flicker produced stronger and more phase-consistent responses at 12-18 Hz, revealing a robust crossover in entrainment. Across almost all frequencies, Gabor stimuli were also rated as more comfortable. Based on these data, we defined a low-frequency Gabor-optimized band (5-7 Hz) and a higher plain-optimized band (14-16 Hz). In Session 2 (N = 18), we used these bands in a five-class offline BCI with an 8-channel semi-dry EEG system and TRCA-based decoding. Classification accuracy was highest when each stimulus type was used in its own optimal band (Gabor: 95.7% at 5-7 Hz; plain: 98.1% at 14-16 Hz) and dropped markedly when stimulus type and band were mismatched. Across both bands, Gabor stimuli were consistently rated as more comfortable and less peripherally distracting than plain flicker. Together, these results establish textured Gabor flicker as a comfortable and effective alternative to luminance flicker for low-frequency SSVEP paradigms, revealing complementary frequency regimes for texture- and luminance-driven entrainment. This frequency-aware design space advances both perceptual neuroscience and the development of user-centered, multi-target SSVEP BCIs.