Best Mac display control apps

TeenyDisplay controls external monitor brightness, contrast, volume, input source, resolution, and presets from the menu bar. The homepage lists DDC/CI, keyboard shortcuts, presets, and support for USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, and DisplayPort. The Swift code backs that up with DDC display wrappers, brightness controllers, input controllers, shortcut handling, and a preset manager that saves and restores brightness, contrast, volume, input source, resolution, and refresh rate where supported.

This is the one I would choose for a normal desk setup: one or two external monitors, a need for reliable sliders, and a preference for a small native menu bar app over a dense display command center.

Pick it if you want the daily display controls without turning display management into a hobby.

MonitorControl is the free open-source starting point. Its GitHub page lists brightness, volume, and contrast control, native OSD, Apple keyboard keys, custom shortcuts, DDC control for external displays, and software dimming fallbacks for cases where hardware control is not available.

It is also honest about compatibility. Some display paths and adapters do not expose DDC well, and MonitorControl's own docs call out specific macOS and hardware limitations. Still, for many monitors, it is the fastest way to make the brightness keys work.

Pick it first if you need free DDC brightness and volume control.

BetterDisplay is much bigger than a brightness app. The project lists flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR brightness, virtual screens, DDC, picture-in-picture, EDID overrides, soft disconnect, layout protection, command-line integration, Shortcuts support, and a lot more.

That breadth is the reason to use it and the reason some people bounce off it. If you need custom scaling, virtual displays, or weird display troubleshooting, BetterDisplay is excellent. If you only want one slider for brightness, it may feel like bringing a shop full of tools to hang one picture.

Pick it if you want display surgery instead of basic display comfort.

Lunar is opinionated around automatic brightness. Its site lists Sync Mode, location and clock modes, sensor mode, DDC support, command-line integration, input switching, app presets, XDR brightness, and fallbacks when DDC fails. The free tier includes DDC controls, sub-zero dimming, brightness keys, volume keys, command-line integration, input switching, and multi-monitor support with limits. Pro removes limits and adds modes and automation.

Lunar is the one I would look at if the brightness should follow the room, the time of day, or the MacBook's internal display. It is more adaptive than TeenyDisplay and less sprawling than BetterDisplay.

Pick it if your monitor brightness should change by itself.

DisplayBuddy presents itself as a simple, polished display control app for Mac and Windows. Its homepage lists brightness, contrast, volume, presets, keyboard shortcuts, sync across displays, input sources, desktop widgets, Apple display support, Siri and Shortcuts automation, and brand coverage across Dell, LG, Samsung, BenQ, ASUS, and others.

I would put it in the same decision lane as TeenyDisplay: it is for people who want a finished product rather than a free open-source panel or a power-user toolkit. Check its current purchase page before deciding on price, since the homepage emphasizes the buy flow rather than a static public price in the sections I reviewed.

Pick it if the preset and widget workflow looks exactly like how you use your displays.