AppBreakup
Submit an app
DisplayBuddy logo

DisplayBuddy

Paid Mac app for hardware brightness, volume and input control of external monitors.

PaidDisplay and brightness tools
Visit DisplayBuddySee 3 alternatives
Verified facts
4 of 4
Alternatives ranked
3
Approved reviews
0
Visits sent from here
0

About DisplayBuddy

DisplayBuddy is a macOS app for controlling external monitors from the menu bar and keyboard. It uses DDC to change a monitor's real backlight brightness, volume and input, switches to gamma-based dimming automatically when a display ignores DDC, and reaches LG webOS and Samsung Tizen smart monitors over Wi-Fi, which many competing apps can't do. It also supports presets so brightness and input settings can be changed together. It is sold as a one-time purchase with lifetime updates, including major versions, and a seven-day refund window instead of a time-limited trial; it is also included in Setapp. It is a narrower tool than BetterDisplay, with no resolution scaling or virtual screens, and it runs only on Macs.

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

Pros and cons

What works

  • 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

Why people leave

  • No free tier
  • No HiDPI scaling or virtual screens
  • macOS only

Top DisplayBuddy alternatives

See all 3
  1. 1BetterDisplay logo
    BetterDisplay

    Free tier plus a broader Pro feature set, including HiDPI scaling and virtual screens.

    66.5
  2. 2Lunar logo
    Lunar

    Similar DDC control with automatic brightness syncing and a free version to start with.

    62.6
  3. 3MonitorControl logo
    MonitorControl

    Free and open source for the basics: brightness and volume keys on external monitors.

    59.6

Why people left DisplayBuddy

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from DisplayBuddy, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of DisplayBuddy
Your rating of DisplayBuddy

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

DisplayBuddy: common questions

Is DisplayBuddy free?

No, DisplayBuddy is a paid product. Price: $24.99 one-time (checked on DisplayBuddy's own site).

Is DisplayBuddy open source?

No, DisplayBuddy is not open source. Open-source alternatives include MonitorControl.

What platforms does DisplayBuddy run on?

DisplayBuddy is available for macOS.

What are the best alternatives to DisplayBuddy?

The highest-ranked DisplayBuddy alternatives right now are BetterDisplay, Lunar and MonitorControl. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 3 DisplayBuddy alternatives