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MonitorControl alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave MonitorControl: no HiDPI scaling, virtual screens or brightness syncing, and DDC can fail on some monitors and ports. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MonitorControl, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. BetterDisplay currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1BetterDisplay logoBetterDisplayFree plan + paidNomacOS5 of 566.5
2Lunar logoLunarFree plan + paidNomacOS4 of 462.6
3DisplayBuddy logoDisplayBuddyPaidNomacOS4 of 459.6
  1. BetterDisplay logo

    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 MonitorControl

    Free tier adds HiDPI scaling and virtual screens; Pro unlocks XDR upscaling and much more.

    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 MonitorControl 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. Lunar logo

    2. Lunar

    Best for: Mac users who want external monitors to follow the built-in display's adaptive brightness

    Free plan + paidmacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MonitorControl

    Adds automatic brightness syncing with the MacBook's light sensor and fallbacks for DDC-less docks.

    Pros

    • Changes real hardware brightness via DDC rather than an overlay
    • Sync Mode matches external screens to the MacBook's light sensor
    • Fallbacks for monitors and docks that block DDC
    • Lifetime license, no subscription

    Cons

    • macOS only
    • Best automatic modes require Pro
    • Free tier limits daily adjustments and shortcut actions
    Visit Lunar 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 Lunar a good MonitorControl alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Pro license
    $23 lifetime
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunar.fyi(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunar.fyi(opens source in a new tab)
    DDC control
    Yes, including Apple Silicon
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunar.fyi(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 11+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunar.fyi(opens source in a new tab)
  3. DisplayBuddy logo

    3. DisplayBuddy

    Best for: Mac users with smart monitors or several displays who want a polished, buy-once controller

    PaidmacOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MonitorControl

    Paid but polished, with input switching and Wi-Fi control of LG and Samsung smart monitors.

    Pros

    • Controls LG webOS and Samsung Tizen smart monitors over Wi-Fi
    • Automatic gamma fallback when DDC fails
    • One-time price includes future major versions
    • Available through Setapp

    Cons

    • No free tier
    • No HiDPI scaling or virtual screens
    • macOS only
    Visit DisplayBuddy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 DisplayBuddy a good MonitorControl alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    $24.99 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026displaybuddy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Updates
    Lifetime, including major versions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026displaybuddy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026displaybuddy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Smart monitors
    LG webOS and Samsung Tizen over Wi-Fi
    Checked Oct 25, 2026displaybuddy.app(opens source in a new tab)

The best MonitorControl alternative for…

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

BetterDisplay logo

Best MonitorControl alternative for most people

BetterDisplay

Free tier adds HiDPI scaling and virtual screens; Pro unlocks XDR upscaling and much more.

Lunar logo

Best MonitorControl alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Lunar

Adds automatic brightness syncing with the MacBook's light sensor and fallbacks for DDC-less docks.

DisplayBuddy logo

Best MonitorControl alternative for Mac

DisplayBuddy

Paid but polished, with input switching and Wi-Fi control of LG and Samsung smart monitors.

MonitorControl alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to MonitorControl?

BetterDisplay ranks first right now. Free tier adds HiDPI scaling and virtual screens; Pro unlocks XDR upscaling and much more. Lunar and DisplayBuddy follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to MonitorControl?

Yes. BetterDisplay (free plan + paid) 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 MonitorControl?

None of the 3 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from MonitorControl?

The complaints we hear most: no HiDPI scaling, virtual screens or brightness syncing; DDC can fail on some monitors and ports; macOS only.

How is this list ranked?

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