Fan
Lowest purchase and running cost. Improves perceived comfort but does not normally lower room temperature.
Cooling comparison
Fan, air cooler or air conditioner?
Answer a few questions to see which option suits your room, budget and need for actual temperature reduction.
BEST MATCH FOR THESE INPUTSFan plus shading
Air movement can improve comfort at the lowest running cost without claiming to lower room temperature.
Explore the category →Air cooler
Evaporative effect depends on humidity and airflow. It is not a vent-free air conditioner.
Air conditioner
Actively moves heat outside. Portable units need an exhaust route; splits need qualified installation.
These three products do different jobs
A fair comparison starts with the physical outcome needed: moving air across a person, adding evaporative cooling or transferring heat from the room to outdoors.
Fan
A fan is usually the lowest-energy route and can improve comfort through air movement. It does not normally lower the room's dry-bulb temperature, so it may not solve persistent overheating or protect temperature-sensitive equipment.
Evaporative air cooler
An air cooler adds moisture while water evaporates. Its effect depends on humidity and fresh-air movement; a closed humid UK room can gain moisture without receiving the temperature reduction implied by an air-conditioner-style name.
Refrigerant air conditioner
An air conditioner can lower room-air temperature only by rejecting heat elsewhere. A portable unit needs a sealed exhaust path; a split system needs professional installation, an outdoor unit and the relevant property permissions.
Limit: The chooser cannot measure humidity, fabric heat storage, ventilation safety or an individual's health needs. Recheck the selected route against the actual room and current official heat advice.
Continue with evidence
Your next checks
Move from the current answer to sizing, evidence and a clear commercial next step.
PARENT TOPICComparison centreBuild a product-level shortlist.DECISION TOOLDo I need AC?Allow a fan-first answer.DECISION TOOLCompare energy costUse one tariff assumption.GUIDEAC vs air coolerUnderstand the physical difference.GUIDERunning-cost guideTranslate watts into pounds.NEXT ACTIONBrowse verified portable ACCompare capacity, power and noise.