Blue Light Screen Protector V Blue Light App + Helpful Tips!


It can be difficult to determine what type of blue light protection is the best choice for you. For that reason, this article compares blue light screen protector v blue light app so that you can decide which of them, if any, is a better fit for you. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll also find a comparison table that helps you to compare each product at a glance!

If you’re in a hurry, here is a site I recommended for office equipment with lifetime guarantee!

Blue Light Screen Protector V Blue Light App

In general, the key differences between blue light screen protector and a blue light app includes their price, how they are used and how easy they are to purchase to fit your needs or device.

  1. Purpose of product
  2. Level of protection provided
  3. Number of devices you’re protected from
  4. Cost
  5. Ease of purchase
  6. Ease of use
  7. Application
  8. Visual quality
  9. Anti-glare protection
FeatureBlue Light Screen ProtectorBlue Light App
Purpose of productDesigned to reducing digital eye strain and/or improve sleep for person viewing a screenDesigned to reducing digital eye strain and/or improve sleep for person viewing screen
Level of blue light protection providedGenerally available as a clear film which offers lower protectionOffer varying levels of screen tint
Number of devices you’re protected fromDevice itselfDevice itself
Cost$9.99 – $125 +Free – $2.99+
Ease of purchaseEasier for popular brandsEasy
Ease of useEasyEasy
ApplicationOne deviceOne device
Visual qualityNo blur and limited tintLevel of tint varies – may distort screen color
Anti-glare protectionAvailable in most productsYes

Blue light is linked to digital eye strain and disruption of your sleep patterns. Source

Blue Light Screen Protector V Blue Light App - Woman at desk on phone



Purpose of product

When deciding between a blue light blocking screen filter and blue light apps, the first step is to identify the primary reason why you want blue light protection in the first place.

This will immediately help to narrow down to the type of blue light protection that best suits you.

There are 2 primary motives for investing in blue light blocking devices:

  1. To prevent digital eye strain
  2. To prevent sleep disruption

Both blue light screen protectors and blue light apps can assist with both of these requirements.

Therefore, it’s a matter of determining which one offers better protection.

Also, considering the type of device that will suit your preferences and budget will help to make the final decision. These will be covered in the next few sections.

Tip: If you experience problems sleeping, calculate how much time you spend exposed to blue light before bed, including blue light exposure from lighting and devices.

Level of protection provided

Generally speaking, a blue light blocking screen filter can be obtained in differing levels of strength to protect you from blue light.

While there’s not enough evidence to validate it yet, many experts are of the opinion that blue light apps are the least effective method of minimizing blue light exposure.

This is followed by blue light screen protectors.

Blue light blocking glasses are seen by many as the most effective method of reducing your exposure to blue light.

In order to minimize digital eye strain, people will generally find sufficient relief by using clear blue light lenses which provide protection at the peak of 455nm.

If you are more sensitive to blue light, then you may require a tinted pair of glasses or pair them with the blue light screen filter on your device.

Tip: The best method to reduce eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 approach. This involves looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Number of devices you’re protected from

With blue light screen protectors and anti blue light apps, you are only protected from the device that you are working on.

This may mean that you have to download the app onto multiple devices or purchase multiple anti blue light screen filters to protect yourself from blue light emitted from other devices.

Remember that lighting in the room also emit blue light.

With blocking glasses, you are shielded from any blue light emitting device that you look at while wearing them. This includes lighting in the room.

Therefore, if you regularly switch between looking at your phone and laptop or TV, and you also want protection from lights, you will receive more protection by wearing blue light glasses.

Related: Blue Light Glasses V App Guide – Best Simple Buyers Guide!

Cost

Anti blue light screen filter prices start at $9.99 for a phone and can range all the way up to $125+ for a 27” monitor. Blue light screen protectors differ in price depending on the size of the screen. As the screen size grows, so does the cost.

In contrast, many blue light apps are free, but some do charge a cost starting from about $1.99 – $2.99. You may also need to decide whether you want in-app purchases.

Therefore, if budget is a constraint for you, the blue light blocking apps are the cheapest option.

Prices can increase as much as double or even triple when comparing budget priced blue light glasses with higher quality ones.

In case you’re considering the option of glasses, I have compiled a price comparison table of the cost of popular blue light glasses. With this resource, you can easily see exactly how much you should spend on blue light glasses.

Below is a price comparison table with some of the top 5 blue light filter apps.

App NamePricing Options
TwilightFree, pro $2.99
F.luxFree
IrisFree 7-day trial, up to $15 afterwards
DarkerFree, pro $1.99
Blue Light FilterFree with in-app purchases

Ease of purchase

When purchasing a blue light screen protector, it’s a matter of finding one that fits your screen or model of device.

Sometimes, websites will have the option to pick a screen protector based on the make and model of phone or tablet that you have.

This is quite typical for iPhones and Apple products, namely on the Ocushield site.

However, there may be some effort required to find a dedicated screen filter if you have an older or less popular devices.

If your device or device size isn’t available, it becomes a bit more complex.

Some websites, such as Ocushield, advise that you can cut the screen filter to size with a sharp knife.

How neat this will look depends on how accurate and precise you are when cutting it.

Furthermore, you’ll have to wait for the anti blue light filter to be delivered if you don’t purchase it in a store.

With blue light blocking apps, it is downloaded instantly on to your device, and you have immediate blue light shielding.

Many of the newer devices even have a blue light filter pre-installed.

For instance, Windows 10 laptops or newer along with relatively new Android phones or Apple products have blue light protection.

Windows 10 comes with Night Light while Apple products have a feature called Night Shift.

The Night Shift mode is compatible with all 64-bit iOS devices operating on iOS 9.3 and above along with Mac computers from 2012 onwards.

Blue light filters are available on most Android phones operating on Android Oreo (8.0) or newer.

However, if you don’t have this version, then you can simply head to the Google Play Store and download a blue light filtering app there.

Related: 12 Pros And Cons Of Blue Light Glasses & Expert Insights!

Ease of use

Blue light screen protectors are relatively easily to use. Once you have overcome the initial hurdle of attaching it to your screen, it should remain attached until you decide to remove it.

The only problem you may encounter is bubbles presenting when you’re applying the filter.

There is a technique to attaching screen filters as you’ll want it to sit perfectly on the screen without bubbles. By following the video tutorials fully, you should be able to achieve it with relative ease

However, after this is completed, the screen filter sits there until you remove it again. From this perspective, it may be the easier of the 2, especially if you’re a forgetful person.

With blue light blocking apps, the ease of use will depend on the configuration of the app.

Some apps, such as F.lux, have a feature whereby you can sync your time zone to the app. By doing this, the app will automatically migrate into night mode.

It will also start to lower the blue light strength for daytime based on either a time you decide or based on the time zone.

By automating this function, it will save you the bother of having to turn it on and off every day.

Alternatively, you might decide to just leave it on permanently.

Tip: Most companies that you buy screen filters from include 2 filters in case the first one doesn’t get applied correctly.

Application

When and where you will need protection from blue light should also be considered. With the blue light blocking filter, it can only be applied to the device, so it is there until you remove it.

In some cases, people will have a pair of clear lenses for daytime and a tinted pair for evening use.

Related: How Do Blue Light Screen Protectors Work? + Myths Debunked!

Visual quality

Both blue light screen protectors and blue light apps should provide a blur-free view. Generally, blue light blocking screens come in a relatively clear film.

This means that they won’t emit as much of a yellow tint on your screen as you could expect from an anti blue light app.

However, if you want the option to be able to adjust the tint, then a blue light app will offer more customization.

Alternatively, you could invest in both a blue light screen filter and either use it in conjunction with a blue light app or the night light or night shift mode.

Tip: Some blue light screen filters have a built-in privacy filter.

Related: 21 Pros And Cons Of Natural Light + Surprising Benefits!

Anti-glare protection

Glare can be a source of both irritation and a contributing factor to eye strain as it makes your screen more difficult to look at.

Blue light screen protectors can come with anti-glare protection. This coating is intended to lessen or eliminate the reflection of light on your screen, thus providing you with comfort from glare that could be hindering your view.

But bear in mind that this isn’t a feature in all blue light screen protectors. You will need to look specifically for an anti-glare coating when purchasing a filter if you need it.

Blue light apps and night lights are also capable of offering this feature. So, if glare is an issue for you, this could be an option.

That said, you can avoid the hassle of downloading a blue light altogether if is glare is your primary issue.

Reducing screen glare can be achieved by lowering the brightness of your monitor or screen.

Tip: Screen glare can be minimized by ensuring that you have the appropriate adjustable lighting in your area (such as the below light I recommend) along with blinds to block excess sunlight.

Recommended product: LED light, flicker-free, dimmable + lifetime warranty

Conclusion

Using the above comparison should help you to decide which of the 2 options suit you best.

Whichever option you pick, the key priority is ensuring that it provides adequate protection from harmful blue light.

If you require protection from digital eye strain throughout the day, a blue light filter which blocks blue light at a peak of 455nm tends to offer adequate protection for most individuals.

I have personally looked into the Ocushield brand, and they seem like the most promising product on the market.

The Ocushield anti blue light glasses claim to block, “up to 99% of harmful UV & blue light emissions between 300-400nm and up to 40% of harmful blue light between 400-470nm”.

If you’d like to delve into the idea of blue light glasses, then I have the very article for you: 12 Pros And Cons Of Blue Light Glasses & Expert Insights!

Do you own any blue light protection products, or do you rely on a blue light filter app? I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

Sharon

With years of both professional and first-hand experience in office equipment and work settings, I now want to help you avoid making mistakes that countless others do. Whether you're studying or working from home, this site will help you create the ultimate haven for working safely, comfortably and productively in!

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