MonitorControl Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to MonitorControl for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is Crisp - Monitor Control, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to MonitorControl and 17 are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to MonitorControl are Dimly, Brightintosh, MoniVol and Lunar.

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Alternatives
MonitorControl alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Crisp - Monitor Control icon

    Crisp - Monitor Control

     4 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • NO flagNorway
    Crisp's menu bar panel: per-display resolution and brightness, Dark Mode / Night Shift / True Tone, presets, and tools
    The same panel localized in Simplified Chinese (????)
    Good alternative?
     
  2. Dimly icon

    Dimly

     8 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • IE flagIreland
    • European Union flagEU
    Compact Mode
    Good alternative?
     
  4. Brightintosh icon

    Brightintosh

     4 likes

    BrightIntosh is lightweight, works system-wide, has optional launch-at-login functionality and includes a global hotkey to toggle the extra brightness.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Brightintosh screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  5. MoniVol icon

    MoniVol

     Like

    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.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    MoniVol in Control Center
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Lunar icon

    Lunar

     7 likes

    Intelligent adaptive brightness for your external display.

    28 Lunar alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • RO flagRomania
    • European Union flagEU
    Lunar screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  8. DisplayBuddy icon

    DisplayBuddy

     2 likes

    DisplayBuddy lets you control external displays connected to your Mac right from your menu bar! No need to touch your clunky monitor buttons!

    28 DisplayBuddy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    DisplayBuddy screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  9. BetterDisplay icon

    BetterDisplay

     5 likes

    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!.

    30 BetterDisplay alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • FI flagFinland
    • European Union flagEU
    BetterDisplay screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  10. LayoutKeeper icon

    LayoutKeeper

     1 like

    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.

    4 LayoutKeeper alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    LayoutKeeper screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  11. QuickShade icon

    QuickShade

     2 likes

    A macOS app to quickly change the brightness of your Mac.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    QuickShade screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  12. Lumino icon

    Lumino

     2 likes

    Lumino is a Mac utility that automatically controls the brightness of connected external displays based on ambient light. It uses the built-in light sensor of supported Macs and works with DDC/CI when available, with fallback options for displays that don’t fully support...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU
    Lumino screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  13. TotalXDR icon

    TotalXDR

     2 likes

    TotalXDR is a macOS menubar app that removes the brightness limit of your MacBook Pro display and keeps XDR/HDR brightness always on.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    TotalXDR
    Good alternative?
     
  14. Brisync icon

    Brisync

     3 likes

    Synchronize your external monitor brightness with built-in display. Application reads current brightness of your built-in display and passes it to external monitors via DDC interface. You can adjust brightness by menu in system status bar.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
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