The f.lux Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about f.lux in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
f.lux
The Insider’s Guide
Warms your screen's color at night to match the time of day
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from f.lux’s own pages.
Made by f.lux Software LLC · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from f.lux’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on f.lux’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 84 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
f.lux changes the color temperature of a computer display through the day: like sunlight in daytime, warmer after sunset and warmer still before bed. It works out the schedule from your location and usual wake time, and runs from a menu beside the system clock. The personal version is free on macOS, Linux and Windows. A paid Corporate Edition for Windows adds centrally managed installs for companies.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about f.lux, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Phones are the gap: iOS needs a jailbroken device and Android a rooted one.
- 1
Best for a warmer screen in the evening, set and forgotten
It does that one thing, and it isn't meant for color work.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $24 per device, one-time (Windows Corporate Edition).
- 3
There is a free plan
The personal version is free on macOS and Linux, and free on Windows for personal use. Using it on a work computer needs your employer's knowledge and permission.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Automatic color temperature
Shifts the display's color temperature with the time of day: 6500K in daytime by default and warmer after sunset, timed from your location.
- 6
Bedtime tied to your wake time
A Bedtime setting removes as much alerting light as possible before sleep and moves with the wake time you set. Options cover sleeping in on weekends and an earlier bedtime for teens.
- 7
Presets and custom colors
Presets include Recommended colors, Classic f.lux and Working late, and Custom colors lets you pick a color temperature for each part of the day.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 84 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace f.lux you would be making control of displays through the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
f.lux at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $24 per device, one-time (Windows Corporate Edition)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- f.lux Software LLC
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a warmer screen in the evening, set and forgotten
f.lux warms your computer screen as the evening goes on, timed from your location and wake time, and the personal version is free on Mac, Windows and Linux. It does that one thing, and it isn't meant for color work. Phones are the gap: iOS needs a jailbroken device and Android a rooted one. Company use counts as commercial and needs the $24 per device Windows Corporate Edition.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free for personal use, and a plain download on all three systems. A company pays $24 per device once for the Windows Corporate Edition, dropping to $12 after the first 10, with a year of updates included. Either way it's under what paid utilities here ask. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The personal version is free on macOS, Windows and Linux, and it's the standard app, not a cut-down one. One condition: on a work computer you need your employer's knowledge and permission. |
| Features | C | Warming a screen is a small job, and f.lux covers it: 6500K by day, warmer after sunset, a Bedtime tied to your wake time, presets, custom colors, Darkroom, a 2.5 hour Movie mode and switching off for chosen apps. That's all it does, and Philips Hue control is Windows only. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: it works out the schedule from your location and wake time and runs from a menu by the clock. You can switch it off for an hour, or until sunrise, when colour matters. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux, which sounds broad but it's a computer program and nothing else. Phones barely count: iOS needs a jailbroken device and Android a rooted one. The one thing it connects to is Philips Hue, and only on Windows. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who f.lux is for
- Fits if you're at a computer most evenings and want the screen warmer
- Works for a household on a mix of Mac, Windows and Linux machines
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want it on your phone, since iOS needs a jailbreak and Android needs root
- Not for you if you do color-critical work all evening, as the maker suggests turning it off for apps like Photoshop
- Pricey if your IT team rolls it out, because managed company use needs the $24 per device license, $12 after the first 10
- Watch out: the Corporate Edition is Windows only and English only, with no volume discounts below 500 seats
- Watch out: Philips Hue control is Windows only, and work use needs your employer's permission even on the free version
Good to know
Good for
- People who use a computer in the evening and want a warmer screen
- Users who want the change scheduled automatically from location and wake time
- Companies that need a centrally installed build for Windows PCs
Worth knowing
- The Corporate Edition is for Windows only and in English only, at $24 per device for the first 10 devices and $12 for each one after.
- The vendor treats company-recommended or IT-managed use as commercial use that needs the paid corporate license.
- It is not designed for advanced color work; the vendor suggests disabling it while using apps such as Photoshop.
- Mobile support is limited: the iOS version needs a jailbroken device and the Android build needs a rooted phone.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$24 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
f.lux has a free plan. Paid plans start at $24 per device, one-time (Windows Corporate Edition).
Free for personal use, and a plain download on all three systems.
Personal
$0
The standard app for macOS, Windows and Linux, free for personal use and supported by voluntary contributions.
Corporate Edition
$24
per device, one-time; $12 per device after the first 10
Windows-only build for companies: automated installs, automatic updates and home automation disabled, and one year of updates included.
The free plan
The personal version is free on macOS and Linux, and free on Windows for personal use. Using it on a work computer needs your employer's knowledge and permission.
Read from justgetflux.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Volume quotes from 500 seats
The corporate page says there are no discounts below 500 seats; for larger quantities the vendor quotes discounted rates and accepts purchase orders.
Stated on justgetflux.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Warms your screen's color at night to match the time of day. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: menu bar app, display control.
That's all it does, and Philips Hue control is Windows only.
- Automatic color temperature
- Shifts the display's color temperature with the time of day: 6500K in daytime by default and warmer after sunset, timed from your location.
- Bedtime tied to your wake time
- A Bedtime setting removes as much alerting light as possible before sleep and moves with the wake time you set. Options cover sleeping in on weekends and an earlier bedtime for teens.
- Presets and custom colors
- Presets include Recommended colors, Classic f.lux and Working late, and Custom colors lets you pick a color temperature for each part of the day.
- Darkroom and Movie mode
- Darkroom removes all blue and green light and inverts colors. Movie mode lasts 2.5 hours and keeps colors and shadow detail with a warmer tone.
- Disable when color matters
- Can be turned off for an hour, until sunrise, or whenever a chosen app is active, which the vendor suggests for color-critical work.
- Philips Hue control
- The Windows version can drive Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance lights so that room lighting follows the same schedule as the screen.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Philips Hue
f.lux is made by f.lux Software LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
84/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
f.lux's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 84 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. f.lux’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 65 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace f.lux you would be making control of displays through the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 84 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade. It costs $24, paid once.
What you could not
- Control of displays through the operating system.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. f.lux’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
BetterDisplay, MonitorControl and Twinkle Tray
The 3 tools f.lux is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
BetterDisplay
Free plan · from $21.99 one-time
Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac.
- Only f.lux lists Windows and Linux apps.
- BetterDisplay can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
MonitorControl
Free
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays.
- Only f.lux lists Windows and Linux apps.
- MonitorControl is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Twinkle Tray
Free
Free brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows.
- Only f.lux lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Twinkle Tray is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is f.lux free?
f.lux has a free plan. The personal version is free on macOS and Linux, and free on Windows for personal use.
How much does f.lux cost?
f.lux lists 2 plans. Personal: $0.
What platforms does f.lux work on?
f.lux is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does f.lux offer any discounts?
f.lux publicly lists the following: Volume quotes from 500 seats.
Does f.lux have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. f.lux is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does f.lux have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. f.lux is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is f.lux open source?
f.lux is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does f.lux integrate with?
f.lux's listing names Philips Hue. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes f.lux?
f.lux is made by f.lux Software LLC.
What are the alternatives to f.lux?
The closest alternatives to f.lux in our directory are BetterDisplay, MonitorControl and Twinkle Tray.
How does f.lux compare with other desktop utilities?
f.lux's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 84 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of f.lux?
To replace f.lux you would be making control of displays through the operating system.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from f.lux’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from f.lux's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-29.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by f.lux Software LLC. Prices change, so check justgetflux.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- f.lux, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/f-lux
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "f.lux: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/f-lux
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/f-lux/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after f.lux, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what f.lux’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. f.lux is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by f.lux Software LLC. Prices and plans change: check justgetflux.com before you buy.