Apps similar to MonitorControl include Twinkle Tray, which is free and open source. Other options are Crisp - Monitor Control, Dimly, Monitorian and ddcutil. Screen Dimmers like MonitorControl are a crowded field, with more than 25 alternatives for Mac, Windows and Linux.
Twinkle Tray enables brightness control on external displays in Windows 10 & 11. Even th Windows is capable of adjusting the backlight on most monitors, it doesn't support external monitors natively.
United States
Open-source macOS menu bar app enabling HiDPI scaling on external monitors, DDC brightness with software dimming, icon-based display presets, virtual displays, drag-to-arrange multi-monitor layouts, ICC profile switching, auto-brightness sync, and quick access toggles for display modes.
Norway
Open-source macOS menu utility for unified brightness, blackout, and sleep control of external monitors, using hybrid DDC/CI and software overlays, per-display settings, custom profiles, hotkeys, panic shortcut, privacy by design, and secure signed builds.
Ireland
EU
Monitorian is a Windows desktop tool to adjust the brightness of multiple monitors with ease.
Japan
Most monitors, other than laptop displays, have a Virtual Control Panel (VCP), which implements features defined in the Montor Control Command Set (MCCS). Typically, ddcutil communicates with the monitor's VCP over an I2C bus, as per the Display Data Channel/Command...
BrightIntosh is lightweight, works system-wide, has optional launch-at-login functionality and includes a global hotkey to toggle the extra brightness.
It adds software volume control for HDMI/DisplayPort outputs, so the normal Mac volume keys work again. It's free and intentionally doesn't include EQ/mixer features.
RomaniaEU
DisplayBuddy lets you control external displays connected to your Mac right from your menu bar! No need to touch your clunky monitor buttons!
Unlock your displays on your Mac! Smooth scaling, HiDPI unlock, XDR/HDR extra brightness upscale, DDC, brightness and dimming, virtual screens, PIP and lots more!.
FinlandEU
LayoutKeeper is a free, open source menu bar app for macOS. It remembers where each window sits on your external monitor (position, size and Mission Control Space) and puts everything back when that monitor is plugged in again, either after asking you or automatically.
DDCcontrol is software for controlling monitor parameters such as brightness, contrast, and RGB color levels. It includes a command-line tool and a GUI tool.
