Lunar alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Lunar: macOS only, and best automatic modes require Pro. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Lunar, 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	BetterDisplay	Free plan + paid	No	macOS	5 of 5	66.5
2	MonitorControl	Open source	Yes	macOS	3 of 3	62.6

1. BetterDisplayTop pick
Best for: Mac users with external or unusual monitors who want scaling, DDC brightness and virtual screens in one app
Free plan + paidmacOS
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Lunar
Adds HiDPI scaling, virtual screens and XDR upscaling on top of DDC brightness control.
Pros
Covers HiDPI scaling, DDC, XDR brightness and virtual screens in one app
DDC works on Apple Silicon built-in HDMI ports
Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription
CLI, URL scheme and Shortcuts support for automation
Cons
macOS only
Very dense settings; overkill if you only need brightness keys
Business users must buy a license even for free features
Visit BetterDisplay Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is BetterDisplay a good Lunar alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Pro license
$21.99 one-time
Checked Oct 25, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
14 days, all features
Checked Oct 25, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Licensing
Perpetual, not a subscription
Checked Oct 25, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Business use
License required
Checked Oct 25, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Features
HiDPI scaling, XDR brightness, virtual screens, DDC
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. MonitorControl
Best for: Mac users who just want brightness and volume keys to work on an external monitor, for free
Open sourcemacOS
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Lunar
Free and open source if all you need is brightness and volume keys for external monitors.
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 ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is MonitorControl a good Lunar 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 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Lunar alternative for…

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

Best Lunar alternative for most people

BetterDisplay

Adds HiDPI scaling, virtual screens and XDR upscaling on top of DDC brightness control.

Best Lunar alternative for a free option

MonitorControl

Free and open source if all you need is brightness and volume keys for external monitors.

Best Lunar alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

BetterDisplay

Adds HiDPI scaling, virtual screens and XDR upscaling on top of DDC brightness control.

Best Lunar alternative for open source

MonitorControl

Free and open source if all you need is brightness and volume keys for external monitors.

Best Lunar alternative for Mac

DisplayBuddy

Simpler one-time-purchase app that also controls LG and Samsung smart monitors over Wi-Fi.

Lunar alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Lunar?

BetterDisplay ranks first right now. Adds HiDPI scaling, virtual screens and XDR upscaling on top of DDC brightness control. MonitorControl and DisplayBuddy follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Lunar?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Lunar?

Yes: MonitorControl.

Why do people switch from Lunar?

The complaints we hear most: macOS only; best automatic modes require Pro; free tier limits daily adjustments and shortcut actions.

How is this list ranked?

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