Black Light

Review by eFreeware

Black Light does one thing and says so plainly: it turns a phone screen into a stand-in for a black light. The developer, Shiny Lights, describes it as a simulator, and the app itself admits it does not emit real ultraviolet light; it reproduces the color instead. That single idea is the whole product, and it is the reason to install it or ignore it.

Because the effect comes from a screen rather than a bulb, the app suits people who want a purple glow in a dark room without buying hardware. Think of a party corner, a photo backdrop, a bedroom at night or a Halloween setup. Anyone expecting the app to make fluorescent paint or security markings react will be disappointed, since the developer is explicit that no real black light is produced.

What you actually get on screen

The app fills the display with a deep purple tone, and the developer says the colors are chosen to give a strong radiant effect in the dark. You can pick the shade you prefer from a set of deep purple variations rather than accepting a single fixed color. That choice matters more than it sounds, because purple reads differently depending on the room and the screen it is shown on.

Two more controls shape the experience. One sets how long the screen stays active, so the glow can run for a chosen stretch of time instead of staying on indefinitely. The other adjusts screen brightness, which is the main lever over how intense the effect looks. Between tone, duration and brightness, the app gives you enough room to tune the look to the space you are in.

The most recent update added more color options, a brighter light and a redesigned graphic interface, along with fewer ads. Taken together, those changes suggest the developer is still refining the core presentation rather than adding unrelated features. If you tried the app years ago, the current version is a different proposition.

Tuning the glow to the room

Brightness is the setting I would reach for first, because the same purple can look washed out in a lit room and overpowering in a dark one. The developer's aim is a radiant effect in darkness, so the app is built around low-light use. Raising brightness on a phone screen is worth keeping in mind if you plan to leave it running.

The timer is the practical companion to that. Setting a duration means the screen does not have to stay on until you remember to switch it off, which is useful when the phone is propped up across the room and you are not watching it. It is a small feature, but it is the difference between a novelty you babysit and one you can set and forget.

Color choice is the most personal of the three. Deep purple variations sit close together, so the differences are subtle rather than dramatic. The developer's claim is that these shades are optimized for a powerful glow, and that is the intent behind the palette rather than a promise about any particular shade.

What it needs and what it costs

Black Light is free to download and carries ads, and the developer also offers in-app purchases. The app still includes ads. Anyone sensitive to interruptions should weigh that before installing.

The app is rated for Everyone and sits in the Libraries & Demo category, which fits a simple visual tool rather than a utility with hidden depth. It has been installed more than a million times and holds a 3.0 average from 7,267 ratings, a middling score that suggests mixed reactions rather than universal praise. The app dates back to October 30, 2016, and was last updated on November 14, 2024.

The main trade-off is built into the concept. A phone screen is not a lamp: it glows from one flat surface and cannot bathe a room the way a real fixture does. The developer is upfront that this is a simulation for fun, and that framing is the right way to approach it. Expect a convincing purple screen, not a substitute for ultraviolet hardware.

Who the purple glow is for

This is an app for people who want a quick atmospheric effect and already have a phone to hand. It fits party hosts, photographers looking for a cheap colored light source, and anyone decorating a room for an evening. It also works as a simple night light in a deep purple shade, since the brightness can be turned down.

It is not a tool for anyone who needs actual ultraviolet output, and the developer says as much. If your plan involves making fluorescent materials react or checking anything under UV, a screen-based simulator will not do it. The app is honest about that boundary, which makes the decision straightforward.

The modest rating is worth noting without reading too much into it. The concept itself sets a low ceiling on how essential it can be. For a free download with a clear, narrow purpose, that is a fair trade.

A simple glow worth trying for free

Black Light is a small, focused app that does exactly what its name suggests: it paints the screen in deep purple and lets you adjust the shade, the brightness and how long it stays on. The recent update brought more colors, a brighter output and a cleaner interface, which keeps it current for a tool this simple.

I would suggest it to anyone who wants a purple glow for a party, a photo or a dark room and does not want to buy a fixture. The free price and the plain-spoken disclaimer about it being a simulation make it easy to try. If you need genuine ultraviolet light, this is the wrong tool, and the developer says so directly.

What's new in version 3.0.0

-Less Ads -Brighter Light -More Color options -Graphic Interface more beautiful If you like our app, please take a moment to rate it Thanks for your support!