Iris
Iris is a specialized blue light filter and eye protection software designed to reduce eye strain, improve sleep quality, and prevent headaches by automatically adjusting screen color temperature.
Stretchly
Stretchly is an open-source break reminder app that helps you prevent repetitive strain injuries by prompting you to take regular microbreaks and longer breaks during your computer usage.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Iris | Stretchly |
|---|---|---|
| Website | iristech.co | stretchly.io |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2015 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Sofia, Bulgaria | null |
Overview
Iris
Iris is a dedicated eye protection solution that helps you reduce the physical toll of long hours in front of a computer. By automatically adjusting your screen's color temperature and brightness, it eliminates the flicker and blue light that typically cause eye fatigue and disrupt your natural sleep cycles. You can choose from various pre-set modes like Health, Sleep, or Reading to match your current activity and environment.
The software works at the driver level to control the pulse-width modulation (PWM) of your monitor, ensuring a flicker-free experience even at lower brightness levels. Whether you are a programmer, designer, or office worker, you can customize every aspect of your display to protect your vision and maintain high productivity throughout the day without the typical afternoon burnout.
Stretchly
Stretchly is a cross-platform break reminder tool designed to help you maintain your physical well-being while working at a computer. By default, it follows a rhythm of suggesting 15-second microbreaks every 10 minutes and longer 5-minute breaks every 30 minutes. These prompts encourage you to look away from the screen, stretch, or step away from your desk to reduce eye strain and physical fatigue.
You can fully customize the duration and frequency of these breaks to match your specific workflow or medical recommendations. The app lives in your system tray and provides unobtrusive notifications or full-screen takeovers depending on your preference. It is an ideal solution for developers, writers, and office professionals who spend long hours at a desk and need a simple, automated way to prioritize their health.
Overview
Iris Features
- Blue Light Filter Adjust your screen's color temperature to remove harmful blue light and help you fall asleep faster after work.
- PWM Flicker Prevention Control your monitor brightness without high-frequency flickering to prevent the hidden cause of many chronic headaches.
- Smart Modes Switch between specialized presets like Cinema, Gaming, or Programming to get the perfect balance of protection and clarity.
- Location Tracking Sync your screen transitions with the local sunrise and sunset so your display feels natural throughout the day.
- Break Reminders Set automated timers that remind you to look away from the screen and rest your eyes at healthy intervals.
- Multi-Monitor Support Apply your custom eye protection settings across all connected displays simultaneously for a consistent and comfortable viewing experience.
Stretchly Features
- Customizable Intervals. Set your own timing for microbreaks and long breaks to match your personal focus endurance and physical needs.
- Strict Mode. Enable strict mode to prevent yourself from skipping breaks when you are tempted to work through your rest periods.
- Multi-Language Support. Access the interface and break ideas in over 30 languages to ensure you understand every wellness prompt clearly.
- Break Ideas. Receive specific suggestions for stretches and movements during your breaks so you know exactly how to stay limber.
- Do Not Disturb. Pause reminders automatically when you are in full-screen mode or manually when you need uninterrupted focus for deep work.
- Audio Notifications. Choose from various alert sounds to gently notify you when it is time to step away from your keyboard.
Pricing Comparison
Iris Pricing
- Basic blue light reduction
- Manual mode switching
- Brightness adjustment
- Automatic location detection
- Cross-platform support
- Everything in Mini, plus:
- Advanced PWM flicker control
- Custom color temperature
- Unlimited preset modes
- Advanced break reminders
- Priority technical support
Stretchly Pricing
- Full feature access
- Unlimited break customization
- Cross-platform support
- No advertisements
- Community-driven updates
- Everything in Open Source, plus:
- Optional voluntary donation
- Support ongoing development
- Contribute to new features
- Help keep the app free
Pros & Cons
Iris
Pros
- Significantly reduces eye strain during long work sessions
- Noticeable improvement in sleep quality for night workers
- Highly customizable settings for advanced technical users
- Low system resource usage prevents computer slowdowns
Cons
- Interface can feel slightly dated and technical
- Initial setup requires some trial and error
- Occasional conflicts with specific graphics card drivers
Stretchly
Pros
- Completely free with no hidden costs or ads
- Highly customizable break schedules and durations
- Lightweight app that runs quietly in the background
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems
Cons
- Interface may feel basic compared to paid apps
- Requires manual installation of updates on some systems
- Full-screen breaks can be intrusive during video calls