RedDimmer
RedDimmer vs Night Shift
Why add a dimming app when your Mac already has Night Shift? If warmer colours are all you want, the built-in option is a sensible place to start. RedDimmer adds a separate software-brightness control and a more specific evening routine.
Use Night Shift for a built-in scheduled warmer screen. Choose RedDimmer when you want software dimming down to 10%, a pure-red setting, editable presets and app exceptions together in the menu bar.
Try RedDimmer's interactive preview →RedDimmer's Mac App Store release is in preparation.
RedDimmer and Night Shift: at a glance
| What matters | RedDimmer | Night Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Included with supported macOS systems |
| Colour choice | Neutral through amber to pure red | Warmer colour-temperature adjustment |
| Software dimming | Separate brightness slider down to 10% | No separate software-dimming control |
| Scheduling | Local sunset/sunrise or fixed times | Custom or sunset-to-sunrise schedule |
| Routine controls | Editable presets, pauses and app exceptions | Built-in settings for scheduled or manual use |
| Getting it | Mac App Store release in preparation | Already built into supported Macs |
Night Shift references: Apple's official Night Shift guide ↗
When a warmer screen is still too bright
Colour and apparent brightness are separate choices. RedDimmer lets you lower the image's software brightness even after you have chosen your usual hardware setting, then adjust warmth independently. Save the result as an Evening or Night preset, apply it locally at a fixed time or sunset, and pause it when you need normal output. That gives late reading or writing a repeatable setting instead of a fresh adjustment every time.
Explore RedDimmer's evening controls →When Night Shift is the better fit
Apple documents Night Shift as a way to make display colours warmer, with a colour-temperature slider and custom or sunset-to-sunrise scheduling. It is already part of macOS on supported systems, so there is no separate app to install. If that built-in colour adjustment gives you what you want, you can simply use it alongside the Mac's normal display-brightness control.
For the first evening with a Mac dimmer
Try a modest adjustment first and keep text easy to read. In RedDimmer, use brightness for the darker image and warmth for the colour you prefer. Save a preset once it suits your room, then choose a schedule or leave it manual. Avoid having both Night Shift and another app change colour during your comparison. You can return to normal output with OFF or Restore Colours when checking photos or other colour-sensitive work.
Compare the appearance on your own display, keep text readable, and return to normal colour for colour-sensitive work. Our linked research explanations separate screen preferences from health claims.
Questions before you choose
Why use RedDimmer instead of Night Shift?
RedDimmer adds software brightness, a pure-red setting, editable presets, pauses, app exceptions and individual-display controls. Night Shift is a simpler built-in option for warmer colours.
Does a warmer screen guarantee better sleep?
No. Colour is only one part of evening light exposure and screen habits. The research linked on our homepage does not establish a clinical sleep benefit for RedDimmer.
Can I leave Night Shift on while trying RedDimmer?
For a clear comparison, let one app control colour at a time. Overlapping adjustments can make it harder to tell which setting produces the appearance you prefer.
Sources and how we compare
Apple's official Night Shift guide ↗
This comparison is written by Guiix, the maker of RedDimmer. It uses the official product descriptions linked above and RedDimmer's current features. It is a feature guide; it does not report a head-to-head hardware test, clinical study or independent review. Other product names belong to their respective owners. Check the official release notes and licence terms for the version you choose.
A softer screen for your evenings.
Free warmth and dimming. Editable presets. A routine that fits your day.
Mac App Store release in preparation.