A privacy screen filter darkens your whole screen for people at your side. WBlur blurs only WhatsApp, for everyone, from any angle, including people behind you and anyone watching a screen share. If WhatsApp is what you want to hide, WBlur covers more situations; if you work with many kinds of sensitive documents on the go, a filter adds side protection for everything. Many people use both.
How a privacy filter works
A privacy filter is a thin polarized sheet with tiny vertical blinds. Looking straight at the screen, you see it normally; from the side, it turns dark. It protects everything on your screen at once, but only against people at an angle, and it makes the screen dimmer for you as well.
How WBlur works
WBlur draws a blur over WhatsApp itself. The blur is part of the picture on your screen, so it doesn't matter where someone is standing, and screen shares and recordings capture it too. The message under your mouse is readable while you point at it, and only WhatsApp is affected: the rest of your screen stays bright and normal.
Privacy screen filter vs WBlur
| Privacy filter | WBlur | |
|---|---|---|
| People at your side | Hidden | Hidden |
| People behind you | Visible | Hidden |
| Screen shares and recordings | Visible | Hidden |
| What it covers | Your whole screen | WhatsApp only |
| Screen brightness | Darker | Unchanged |
| Price | Paid, per screen size | Free extension; Mac app $9 once |
Comparison
Which one you need
- 01You mostly worry about WhatsApp: WBlur
- 02You share your screen on calls: WBlur
- 03People sit or stand behind you: WBlur
- 04You handle many kinds of sensitive documents on trains and planes: a filter, plus WBlur for WhatsApp
How to set it up
- 1Install WBlur for Mac, or the free extension for your browser.
- 2Open WhatsApp: everything is blurred.
- 3Hover to read, move away to blur.
Get WBlur
Mac
Free for 7 daysBlurs the WhatsApp app on your Mac, and locks it with Touch ID. Lives in your menu bar.
Download free trialThen $9 once: buy a license keyChrome
FreeBlurs WhatsApp Web in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera and Arc.
Add to ChromeNo account neededFAQ
Questions, answered.
Can I use a privacy filter and WBlur together?
Yes. They don't interfere: the filter limits viewing angles for your whole screen, and WBlur blurs WhatsApp itself.
Does a privacy filter hide WhatsApp in screen shares?
No. A filter only changes what people see when they look at your physical screen. Screen shares and recordings capture your screen's picture directly, so only a blur drawn on screen, like WBlur's, shows up in them.
Is WBlur free?
The browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera and Arc is free. The Mac app is free for 7 days, then a one-time $9 license key for up to 3 Macs, with a 30-day refund if it's not for you.
Does WBlur read or collect my messages?
No. WBlur only changes how WhatsApp looks on your screen. It does not read, store or send your messages, contacts or any information about you.
Can the other person tell that I use WBlur?
No. WBlur only blurs what is shown on your own screen. Nothing changes in WhatsApp itself, and read receipts work exactly as before.