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Polychromatic
What it is
Polychromatic is free, open-source GNU/Linux software that acts as a frontend for OpenRazer. It controls lighting and other settings on supported Razer peripherals, including more than 210 listed keyboards, mice, mouse mats, and headsets. Users can adjust built-in effects, brightness, DPI, and polling interval, or create static and animated lighting mappings from pixels and frames for games, applications, or ambience. The application displays firmware versions and serial numbers and can test individually addressable LEDs. A tray applet provides settings access when the desktop environment supports a tray or indicators. A troubleshooter addresses issues such as OpenRazer not working or devices not being found. Polychromatic runs locally without cloud services or login and is licensed under GPLv3. It supports OpenRazer only, does not provide key remapping, and says its command-line tool, polychromatic-cli, is deprecated and planned for removal.
For and against
For
- Free and open source under GPLv3
- Runs locally without cloud services
- Supports over 210 OpenRazer devices
- Creates static and animated lighting mappings
- Includes troubleshooting tools
Against
- GNU/Linux only
- Other brands are not supported
- Key remapping is unavailable
- polychromatic-cli is deprecated
The verdict
Polychromatic provides local lighting and hardware controls for OpenRazer devices on GNU/Linux. Its narrow hardware and operating-system scope, plus the lack of key remapping, define what it can handle.
Who it suits
Polychromatic suits GNU/Linux users with OpenRazer-supported peripherals who want local lighting and device controls. It is focused on RGB effects rather than key remapping.
Plans and prices
Polychromatic
Free and open source · GNU/Linux only · OpenRazer devices
Read 4 Oct 2026 · polychromatic.app
On the record
- CLI status
- The maker says polychromatic-cli is deprecated and will be removed in the next major version.docs.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Custom effects
- Users can create static or animated lighting mappings from pixels and frames for games, applications, or ambience.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Device information
- Users can inspect firmware version and serial number and test individually addressable LEDs.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Feature limit
- Key remapping is not supported, and the maker says the application's main strength is RGB lighting effects.docs.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Hardware settings
- The application provides controls for built-in effects, brightness, DPI, and polling interval.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Polychromatic currently supports OpenRazer; the maker says support for other brands is not available now and has no ETA.docs.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- Polychromatic is free and open source under the GPLv3 license.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Local operation
- The software runs locally on the computer and does not require cloud services or a login.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Operating system limit
- Polychromatic only runs on GNU/Linux; Windows and macOS are not currently supported.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Project independence
- The maker states that Polychromatic and OpenRazer are not affiliated with Razer.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Supported devices
- The home page says it supports over 210 OpenRazer devices, including keyboards, mice, mouse mats, and headsets.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Tray applet
- The tray applet can change device settings and lighting when the desktop environment supports a system tray or indicators.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- Troubleshooting
- The application includes a troubleshooter for issues such as OpenRazer not working or devices not being found.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Polychromatic is a frontend for OpenRazer that lets users control Razer device lighting effects and other features on GNU/Linux.polychromatic.app · read 4 Oct 2026
