AppBreakup
Submit an app
MonitorControl logo

MonitorControl

Free, open-source Mac app for controlling external monitor brightness and volume.

Open sourceDisplay and brightness tools
Visit MonitorControlSee 3 alternatives
Verified facts
3 of 3
Alternatives ranked
3
Approved reviews
0
Visits sent from here
0

About MonitorControl

MonitorControl is a free, open-source macOS menu bar app that lets you adjust the brightness and volume of external monitors the same way you would an Apple display. It sends DDC commands to monitors that support them, so the change happens in the monitor's own backlight, and it falls back to software dimming for displays that don't. Apple keyboard brightness and volume keys work out of the box, custom shortcuts can be set, and the app shows the native macOS on-screen indicator. It does one job and keeps the interface small, which is the main reason people pick it over feature-heavy paid tools. It is maintained by volunteers on GitHub under the MIT license. It has no scaling, virtual screen or automatic brightness-syncing features, and DDC support depends on the monitor and the Mac's port.

Best for: Mac users who just want brightness and volume keys to work on an external monitor, for free.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Free and open source (MIT)
  • Uses the Mac's own brightness and volume keys and native OSD
  • Small, focused app with little to configure

Why people leave

  • No HiDPI scaling, virtual screens or brightness syncing
  • DDC can fail on some monitors and ports
  • macOS only

Top MonitorControl alternatives

See all 3
  1. 1BetterDisplay logo
    BetterDisplay

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

    66.5
  2. 2Lunar logo
    Lunar

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

    62.6
  3. 3DisplayBuddy logo
    DisplayBuddy

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

    59.6

Why people left MonitorControl

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 MonitorControl, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of MonitorControl
Your rating of MonitorControl

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.

MonitorControl: common questions

Is MonitorControl free?

Yes. MonitorControl is free, open-source software.

Is MonitorControl open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at MonitorControl/MonitorControl.

What platforms does MonitorControl run on?

MonitorControl is available for macOS.

What are the best alternatives to MonitorControl?

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

See all 3 MonitorControl alternatives