What is Shifty?
Shifty is a free, open-source macOS utility that enhances Apple's built-in Night Shift. It adds granular control over when and where Night Shift activates, including per-app and per-website rules.
Key features:
- Disable Night Shift for specific apps or websites
- Fine-tune colour temperature beyond Night Shift defaults
- Keyboard shortcut for toggling Night Shift
- Dark Mode tied to Night Shift schedule
- True Tone control
- Per-website rules in Safari and Chrome
- Open source (GPLv3, 1,300+ GitHub stars)
Shifty is built on top of Night Shift. It does not replace it — it makes it smarter. If you use Night Shift daily and wish it had more control, Shifty fills that gap.
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 (built-in colour temperature reduction, independent of Night Shift)
- Wallpaper sync (separate wallpapers for light and dark mode)
- Global keyboard shortcut
- Multi-display support
- Zero data collection
- One-time purchase ($4.99, no subscription)
Solace does not depend on Night Shift. Its colour temperature system (Evening Warmth) works independently, giving it broader control over your Mac's visual environment.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Shifty | Solace |
|---|---|---|
| Dark mode scheduling | Limited (tied to Night Shift) | ✓ |
| Custom time scheduling | ✕ | ✓ |
| Solar times | Via Night Shift | ✓ |
| Weather-aware switching | ✕ | ✓ |
| Colour temperature | Via Night Shift | ✓ |
| Wallpaper switching | ✕ | ✓ |
| Per-app rules | ✓ | ✕ |
| Per-website rules | ✓ | ✕ |
| Keyboard shortcut | ✓ | ✓ |
| Actively maintained | Last update Oct 2024 | 2026 |
| Open source | ✓ | ✕ |
| No data collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Free | $4.99 one-time |
When to choose Shifty
Shifty is the better choice if:
- You already use Night Shift and want more control over it, not a replacement
- Per-app and per-website rules are important to you (disabling blue light filtering in photo editing apps, for example)
- You prefer free, open-source software
- You want the broadest macOS compatibility (Shifty supports macOS 10.12.4 and later)
Shifty is a smart enhancement for Night Shift users. Its per-app disable feature is genuinely useful for colour-accurate work in design and photo editing. If Night Shift is your primary tool and you just want more control over it, Shifty is an excellent free companion.
When to choose Solace
Solace is the better choice if:
- You want dark mode scheduling that is independent of Night Shift
- You want colour temperature control that can go warmer than Night Shift allows
- Wallpaper syncing and weather-aware switching matter to you
- You want one app instead of running Shifty plus macOS Auto plus a wallpaper tool
- You prefer an actively maintained app with regular updates
The core difference: Shifty enhances Night Shift. Solace replaces it entirely. If you find Night Shift too limited — both in colour temperature range and in the features it lacks (dark mode scheduling, wallpaper syncing, weather awareness) — Solace provides a more comprehensive solution.
The verdict
Shifty is a solid free tool for anyone who wants more control over Night Shift. Its per-app rules are a feature no other app in this category offers. If Night Shift works for you and you just want finer control, Shifty is the right choice.
If you want to move beyond Night Shift entirely — with independent colour temperature, dark mode scheduling, wallpaper syncing, and weather awareness — Solace covers all of it for a one-time $4.99. The choice depends on whether you want to enhance Night Shift or replace it.
For a broader comparison of f.lux alternatives including Shifty, Night Shift, and Solace, see Best f.lux Alternatives for Mac in 2026.
Want to understand why Night Shift alone is not enough for screen comfort? See Why Night Shift Isn't Enough: How to Actually Protect Your Sleep on Mac.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shifty still maintained?
Shifty's last update was version 1.2 in October 2024. It still works on recent macOS versions, but it has not received updates in over a year. Solace is actively maintained with regular updates in 2026.
Can Shifty control dark mode?
Not directly. Shifty can tie dark mode to your Night Shift schedule, but it cannot independently schedule dark mode or offer custom switching times. For full dark mode control with custom times, solar scheduling, or weather-aware switching, you would need an app like Solace.
Does Solace work with Night Shift?
Solace does not use Night Shift. It has its own built-in colour temperature system called Evening Warmth, which adjusts your screen's colour temperature independently. You can disable Night Shift when using Solace, as Evening Warmth replaces its functionality.
Is Shifty better than Solace for colour temperature?
Shifty offers per-app and per-website Night Shift disable rules, which Solace does not have. However, Shifty is constrained by Night Shift's limited colour temperature range. Solace's Evening Warmth can go warmer than Night Shift allows, which some users prefer for evening use.
Can I use both Shifty and Solace together?
You can, but it is not recommended. Both adjust colour temperature and the overlap can cause conflicts. If you use Solace's Evening Warmth feature, you should disable Night Shift to avoid the two systems competing. Solace covers Shifty's core functionality except for per-app Night Shift rules.
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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