What is f.lux?
f.lux is a free, cross-platform app that adjusts your screen's colour temperature based on the time of day. It shifts your display towards warmer tones as the sun sets, reducing blue light exposure. It was one of the first apps to do this, years before Apple added Night Shift to macOS.
Key features:
- Colour temperature range from 1200K to 6500K
- Solar-based scheduling tied to your location
- Gradual transitions throughout the day
- Movie mode and per-app disable options
- Cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS)
f.lux does its core job well. The question is whether colour temperature alone is enough.
What is Solace?
Solace is a macOS menu bar app that combines dark mode scheduling, colour temperature control, wallpaper management, and weather-aware switching in a single tool.
Key features:
- Dark mode scheduling (solar, custom times, or weather-aware)
- Evening warmth (colour temperature reduction, similar to f.lux)
- Wallpaper sync (separate wallpapers for light and dark mode)
- Global keyboard shortcut for instant toggling
- Multi-display support
- Zero data collection (location processed on-device)
- One-time purchase ($4.99, no subscription)
Solace is macOS-only. If you need cross-platform support, it is not the right choice.
Feature comparison
| Feature | f.lux | Solace |
|---|---|---|
| Dark mode control | ✕ | ✓ |
| Colour temperature | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wallpaper syncing | ✕ | ✓ |
| Weather-aware switching | ✕ | ✓ |
| Custom scheduling | Sunset only | ✓ |
| Keyboard shortcut | ✕ | ✓ |
| Multi-display | ✕ | ✓ |
| No data collection | ✕ | ✓ |
| Price | Free | $4.99 one-time |
| Last updated | June 2023 | 2026 |
| Platform | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS | macOS |
When to choose f.lux
f.lux is the better choice if:
- You need colour temperature control across multiple platforms (Mac + Windows + Linux)
- Blue light filtering is all you need — no dark mode scheduling or wallpaper management
- You prefer a free tool and are comfortable with its data collection practices
- You only want one feature, done well, with no extras
f.lux pioneered this category and its colour temperature filtering is still strong. If that is the only feature you need, it remains a solid free option.
When to choose Solace
Solace is the better choice if:
- You want dark mode scheduling, colour temperature, and wallpaper syncing in one app
- Privacy matters to you — Solace collects zero data
- You want weather-aware switching that adapts to real conditions
- You want a keyboard shortcut to toggle your appearance instantly
- You prefer an actively maintained app built for modern macOS
The core difference: f.lux handles one aspect of screen comfort. Solace handles several. If you are currently running f.lux alongside other tools for dark mode or wallpaper management, Solace replaces all of them.
The verdict
f.lux is a solid free tool that does one thing well. If colour temperature shifting is all you need, it works. But if you want dark mode scheduling, wallpaper syncing, weather-aware switching, and colour temperature in a single app with zero data collection, Solace covers all of it for a one-time $4.99.
The choice depends on whether you want a single-purpose tool or an all-in-one solution.
For a broader comparison of all f.lux alternatives including Night Shift, Nightfall, Shifty, and Umbra, see Best f.lux Alternatives for Mac in 2026.
Want to set up dark mode scheduling on your Mac? See How to Schedule Dark Mode on Mac: 4 Methods Compared.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Solace and f.lux together?
You can, but it is not recommended. Both adjust colour temperature independently and can conflict. Solace's evening warmth feature replaces f.lux's core function, so running both is redundant. If you switch to Solace, you can uninstall f.lux.
Does f.lux control dark mode?
No. f.lux only adjusts your screen's colour temperature. It does not toggle macOS dark mode. You need a separate tool or macOS Auto for appearance switching. Solace handles both colour temperature and dark mode scheduling in a single app.
Is f.lux still being updated?
The last major f.lux update was in June 2023. It still runs on macOS Sequoia, but it has not been actively updated for recent macOS releases. Some users report minor compatibility issues on newer versions.
Is Solace worth $4.99 if f.lux is free?
It depends on what you need. f.lux only handles colour temperature. Solace adds dark mode scheduling, wallpaper syncing, weather-aware switching, and a keyboard shortcut — features you would otherwise need multiple separate tools to replicate. If you only want blue light filtering, f.lux is fine. If you want an all-in-one solution, the one-time cost covers a significantly broader feature set.
Does f.lux collect my data?
The f.lux privacy policy mentions collecting geolocation and usage data. Solace collects no data at all — location is processed on-device for weather and solar calculations, and there is no analytics, telemetry, or account system.
Solace — $4.99, yours forever
Dark mode scheduling, colour temperature, wallpaper sync, and weather-aware switching. One app, zero data collection.
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