Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Dell Display and Peripheral Manager: only works with supported Dell monitors and webcams, and limited or no support on Intel Macs, and iMacs aren't supported. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Dell Display and Peripheral Manager, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. BetterDisplay currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	MonitorControl	Open source	Yes	macOS	3 of 3	64.8

1. MonitorControlTop pick
Best for: Mac users who just want brightness and volume keys to work on an external monitor, for free
Open sourcemacOS
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from Dell Display and Peripheral Manager
Free open-source Mac app for DDC brightness and volume control on most external displays.
Pros
Free and open source (MIT)
Uses the Mac's own brightness and volume keys and native OSD
Small, focused app with little to configure
Cons
No HiDPI scaling, virtual screens or brightness syncing
DDC can fail on some monitors and ports
macOS only
Visit MonitorControl Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is MonitorControl a good Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Controls
Brightness and volume
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Keyboard
Apple keys or custom shortcuts
Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative for most people

BetterDisplay

Mac app that controls brightness and scaling on monitors from any brand, not just Dell.

Best Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative for a free option

MonitorControl

Free open-source Mac app for DDC brightness and volume control on most external displays.

Best Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Lunar

Mac app with adaptive brightness syncing across monitors from many manufacturers.

Best Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative for open source

MonitorControl

Free open-source Mac app for DDC brightness and volume control on most external displays.

Best Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternative for Mac

DisplayBuddy

Mac utility for switching inputs and adjusting monitor settings via DDC on any brand.

Dell Display and Peripheral Manager alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Dell Display and Peripheral Manager?

BetterDisplay ranks first right now. Mac app that controls brightness and scaling on monitors from any brand, not just Dell. MonitorControl and Lunar follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Dell Display and Peripheral Manager?

Yes. BetterDisplay (free plan + paid), MonitorControl (open source) and Lunar (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Dell Display and Peripheral Manager?

Yes: MonitorControl.

Why do people switch from Dell Display and Peripheral Manager?

The complaints we hear most: only works with supported Dell monitors and webcams; limited or no support on Intel Macs, and iMacs aren't supported; needs DDC/CI enabled and, for full features, a USB upstream cable.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Dell Display and Peripheral Manager, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.