Noir - Dark Mode for Safari

Noir - Dark Mode for Safari

By Jeffrey Kuiken

Noir is a Safari extension for iOS and iPadOS that automatically generates and applies custom dark mode styles to websites.

The App DNA

What makes this app unique?

The app removes the cognitive cost of manually toggling themes or dealing with bright, high-contrast pages during nighttime browsing.

For Safari users on iOS and iPadOS who require consistent dark mode rendering and prioritize privacy over subscription-based alternatives.

What does it look like?

Key features

Automated Dark Mode Injectionedge

Generates custom dark styles for websites based on existing page colors using Safari extension architecture.

System Integrationedge

Hooks into iOS Shortcuts, Control Center, Focus Filters, and Widgets for automated workflow triggers.

Custom Theme Engineedge

Provides 20 built-in themes with options for user-defined color overrides.

How much does it cost?

paidOne-time purchase at $2.99

The $2.99 one-time purchase model serves as a direct conversion lever for users seeking to avoid subscription-based dark mode utilities.

Velocity

Maintenance developmentUX improvementsperformanceShow more...

Noir currently ships at a maintenance cadence, with the latest release arriving 125 days ago. Development has shifted from a period of active feature expansion—including new appearance options and design refreshes—to addressing specific compatibility bugs with system updates. The current release pattern reflects a stable, mature product that primarily receives technical maintenance rather than new feature development.

See all version history

Who built it?

Jeffrey Kuiken

5 apps tracked · Utilities

Noir – Dark Mode for SafariNoir – Dark Mode for SafariTotK Travel GuideTotK Travel GuideNoir ‒ Dark Mode for SafariNoir ‒ Dark Mode for SafariACNH Travel GuideACNH Travel Guide
Explore the full publisher profile

User Sentiment

What do users think recently?

Review voice lately leans excited. Users appreciate one-time payment model provides a high-value alternative to subscription-based dark mode utilities for safari users and customizable dark mode themes allow users to adjust contrast and colors to reduce eye strain during nighttime, but report performance regressions post-update cause significant page load delays and browser crashes on mobile and desktop devices.

How are ratings & reviews evolving?

Google Play
3.17 · 136k
App Store
4.55 · 1k

What users say, by theme

What Users Love
  • One-time payment model provides a high-value alternative to subscription-based dark mode utilities for Safari users
  • Customizable dark mode themes allow users to adjust contrast and colors to reduce eye strain during nighttime
  • Seamless integration into the Safari browser makes the extension feel like a native feature of the device
What Frustrates Users
  • Performance regressions post-update cause significant page load delays and browser crashes on mobile and desktop devices
+ 2 more themes
What Users Want 1 request inside

104 of 104 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Excited overall

Read the full review analysis

Unlock 2 more frustration themes and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.

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Competition

Competitive landscape for Noir - Dark Mode for Safari

How's the Utilities market?

Noir holds a stable position in the Utilities category, though its 4.55 rating is currently pressured by performance regressions. The lack of a subscription model provides a clear differentiator against subscription-heavy rivals in the browser extension space.

The rivals identified

Dark Reader for Safari

By Dark Reader Ltd

This is the primary direct competitor as it is a dedicated Safari extension specifically designed for website dark mode rendering.

  • Offers granular brightness and contrast controls for every individual website visited
  • Provides a dedicated filter mode that inverts colors without affecting image quality
  • Maintains a highly active open-source community that rapidly updates site-specific CSS fixes
Noir - Dark Mode for Safari vs Dark Reader for Safari

Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.

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The Analyst's Read

Key takeaways for Noir - Dark Mode for Safari

Where is it heading?

The market for Safari extensions is consolidating, with users increasingly favoring native browser features or open-source alternatives like Dark Reader. Noir's current maintenance-mode cadence leaves it exposed to performance regressions that directly threaten its paid-utility value proposition.

  • Performance regressions in the latest update cause browser crashes, which erodes the daily active habit and drives negative sentiment.
  • The app has been in a maintenance phase for 125 days, limiting its ability to respond to new Safari rendering changes.

The SWOT

Core Strengths
  • Automated dark mode injection via Safari extension architecture
  • Deep integration with iOS Shortcuts and Focus Filters
  • One-time purchase model removes recurring subscription friction
Critical Frictions 3 weaknesses inside
Growth Levers
  • Implement PDF darkening to address a specific user request
  • Expand site-specific override documentation to reduce manual toggling
Market Threats 2 threats identified

Next best moves

1 Invest · 1 Maintain

Audit Safari extension memory footprint because performance regressions cause crashes → restore stability

+ 1 more prioritized move

The counter-intuitive read

The app's reliance on Safari extension architecture is its greatest vulnerability…

Read the full take

Feature gaps

Granular brightness and contrast controls (available in Dark Reader but absent here) +1

Since the last report: Performance regressions and browser crashes have emerged as the primary threat to the app's stability, forcing a shift in the developer's focus toward trust-building and technical auditing. The core value proposition remains anchored in the one-time purchase model, though user privacy concerns regarding permission requests have intensified.

Bottom line

Restoring stability is the priority, as performance regressions are actively eroding the trust gained by the one-time purchase model. Addressing the browser crashes will unlock the retention potential of the existing user base before the app loses ground to native browser features.

Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.

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FAQ

Is Noir worth paying for if I only browse casually?
Noir's one-time payment model is designed for users who want a set-and-forget dark mode experience. If you browse frequently and find bright websites uncomfortable, the convenience of automated theme injection justifies the cost compared to subscription-based alternatives.
How does Noir compare to Dark Reader?
Noir focuses on automated, set-and-forget simplicity, while Dark Reader offers power users granular control over brightness, contrast, and filter modes. Dark Reader also benefits from an active open-source community that provides rapid CSS fixes for specific websites.
Is Noir safe to use with my private browsing data?
The developer states that Noir does not collect browsing data. However, the extension requires access to websites to analyze and override their styles, which some users find concerning. The app only stores settings on your device or iCloud account.
What is a free alternative to Noir?
Users looking for free alternatives might consider browsers like DuckDuckGo or Opera GX, which include native dark mode features that do not require third-party extensions.

Sources

  1. [1] App Store, source
  2. [2] Developer website, source

Report last updated

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with automated quality gates, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Noir - Dark Mode for Safari, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

What's new

Performance regressions and browser crashes have emerged as the primary threat to the app's stability, forcing a shift in the developer's focus toward trust-building and technical auditing. The core value proposition remains anchored in the one-time purchase model, though user privacy concerns regarding permission requests have intensified.

declined

Emergence of Performance Complaints

added

Privacy and Permission Friction

Architectural Vulnerability

Cite this report

Marlvel.ai. “Noir - Dark Mode for Safari Intelligence Report.” Updated Jul 29, 2026. https://marlvel.ai/apps/noir-dark-mode-for-safari

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