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Best Monitor Buddy Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026

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Monitor Buddy is a desktop utility for controlling external monitor settings from a computer. It is intended for users who want software access to brightness, volume, input, and related display controls without using the monitor's physical buttons.

Developer: Monitor Buddy Price: N/A 🎯 monitorbuddy.com
desktop utility monitor control display utilities brightness control

Top 6 Monitor Buddy alternatives

1

BetterDisplay

BetterDisplay

💡 Pick it for deeper macOS display management, custom resolutions, and virtual-monitor features.

BetterDisplay is a macOS utility for managing external and virtual displays. It supports brightness and volume control, custom resolutions, display arrangement, and...

Pros

  • More extensive display and virtual-screen controls than Monitor Buddy
  • Supports custom resolutions, HiDPI scaling, and dummy displays
  • Free tier covers many common brightness and volume controls

Cons

  • More complex interface than Monitor Buddy
  • Advanced features require the Pro upgrade
  • macOS-only

Free, Pro from $19.99 one-time

Alternatives to BetterDisplay → Visit site
2 MonitorControl logo

MonitorControl

MonitorControl contributors

💡 Pick it if you want a free, open-source macOS replacement focused on brightness and volume.

MonitorControl is an open-source macOS utility for controlling built-in and external display brightness from the keyboard or menu bar. It can use...

Pros

  • Provides keyboard brightness control for external Mac displays
  • Open-source alternative with software-dimming fallback
  • Integrates more closely with macOS than BGLightCE can

Cons

  • Only targets macOS
  • External-display behavior varies by monitor support
  • Not useful on legacy Windows CE hardware

Free

Alternatives to MonitorControl → Visit site
3

Lunar

Nate Hagerty

💡 Pick it for automated brightness matching, presets, and multi-monitor workflows on macOS.

Lunar is a macOS display manager for controlling brightness, contrast, volume, and monitor behavior. It is aimed at users with multiple monitors...

Pros

  • More advanced monitor automation than BGLightCE
  • Supports presets, synchronization, and adaptive adjustments
  • Strong fit for Mac users with several external displays

Cons

  • macOS-only
  • Advanced features require the paid edition
  • More complex than a basic brightness toggle

Freemium, Pro from $20

Alternatives to Lunar → Visit site
4

DisplayBuddy

DisplayBuddy

💡 Pick it when you need the same monitor controls on both macOS and Windows.

DisplayBuddy is a Windows utility for managing brightness, volume, input sources, and other settings on external monitors. It targets users who want...

Pros

  • Controls brightness, contrast, volume, inputs, and other monitor settings
  • Provides more monitor-management features than Twinkle Tray
  • Supports keyboard shortcuts and per-display configuration

Cons

  • Some features require a paid upgrade
  • More resource-intensive than lightweight open-source utilities
  • External-monitor support depends on DDC/CI compatibility

Freemium

Alternatives to DisplayBuddy → Visit site
5

Twinkle Tray

Xander Frangos

💡 Pick it for a free Windows tray utility with shortcuts, schedules, and per-monitor brightness.

Twinkle Tray is a Windows utility for controlling the brightness of one or more connected monitors from the system tray. It supports...

Pros

  • Controls multiple external monitors from one tray interface
  • Supports DDC/CI hardware brightness instead of only software dimming
  • Offers keyboard shortcuts, brightness schedules, and customizable controls

Cons

  • Requires compatible DDC/CI support for hardware brightness control
  • Windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version
  • Some monitors and adapters expose incomplete DDC/CI controls

Free

Alternatives to Twinkle Tray → Visit site
6 Monitorian logo

Monitorian

💡 Pick it for a lightweight Windows app dedicated to straightforward multi-monitor brightness control.

Monitorian is a Windows desktop tool for adjusting the brightness of multiple monitors. It offers a simple and intuitive interface for controlling...

Free

Alternatives to Monitorian → Visit site

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