The Best Monitor Control Software in 2026
We researched products from their official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings reflect the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features. This guide focuses on practical monitor control software.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
MonitorControl Pro#1 of 249.4/10A free, open-source Windows tool for advanced monitor control, profiles, and automation.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Twinkle Tray#2 of 249.2/10A capable free Windows utility for multi-monitor control, profiles, scheduling, and scripting.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Lunar#3 of 248.9/10A capable Mac monitor controller with automation, sensors, and a low one-time Pro price.
Free plan · 14-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 24 tools, best first
-
Best forPower users needing deep Windows automation
A free, open-source Windows tool for advanced monitor control, profiles, and automation.
- Settings scheduling
- Auto brightness
- Monitor profiles
9.4/10★★★★★Visit SysAdminDoc -
Best forFree Windows multi-monitor control
A capable free Windows utility for multi-monitor control, profiles, scheduling, and scripting.
- Settings scheduling
- Auto brightness
- Monitor profiles
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Twinkle Tray -
Best forMac users wanting automation and sensors
A capable Mac monitor controller with automation, sensors, and a low one-time Pro price.
- Settings scheduling
- Auto brightness
- Monitor profiles
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Lunar verdict → Visit LunarFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Lunar -
Best forCross-platform ASUS monitor owners
A free cross-platform control hub for compatible ASUS and ROG monitors.
- Settings scheduling
- Auto brightness
- Monitor profiles
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ASUS -
Best forMac users needing virtual-display features
A broad Mac display utility with strong virtual-screen features and a perpetual Pro option.
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
Free plan · 14-day trial Our BetterDisplay verdict → Visit BetterDisplayFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #5 · $59/mo →8.7/10★★★★☆Visit BetterDisplay -
Best forCross-platform users wanting polished control
A capable cross-platform monitor controller with profiles, scheduling, and scripting.
- Settings scheduling
- Auto brightness
- Monitor profiles
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit DisplayBuddy -
Best forFree Windows DDC/CI control
A capable free Windows tool for DDC/CI monitor control and automation.
- Settings scheduling
- Auto brightness
- Monitor profiles
8.0/10★★★★☆Try ClickMonitorDDC -
Best forSmart-home and API-driven monitor control
A flexible open-source bridge for scripted, automated, and home-automation monitor control.
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forFree Windows configuration and scripting
A free Windows utility for detailed monitor control, profiles and scripting.
- Monitor profiles
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
7.8/10★★★★☆Try ControlMyMonitor -
Best forFree macOS brightness and volume control
A focused, open-source macOS utility for controlling compatible displays.
- Auto brightness
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit MonitorControl -
Best forMac developers using command-line control
A focused open-source tool for scripting compatible monitor controls from macOS.
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit m1ddc -
Best forLinux developers needing a monitor API
A free, open-source monitor API with broad Linux DDC/CI control.
- Monitor profiles
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit ddcutil -
Best forSelf-hosted Linux and smart-home setups
A focused open-source service for controlling monitors from Linux, the web, APIs, and smart-home tools.
- Monitor profiles
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Monitor Switch -
Best forFree Linux desktop brightness control
A free Linux utility for DDC/CI monitor control with GUI, CLI, profiles, and hotkeys.
- Monitor profiles
- CLI or API access
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forLinux users wanting GUI and profile storage
A free, open-source Linux tool for GUI and command-line monitor control.
- Monitor profiles
- CLI or API access
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit DDCcontrol -
Best forSimple free Windows brightness control
A focused free option for Windows users who need multi-monitor brightness control.
- CLI or API access
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Monitorian -
Best forFree LG monitor owners
A free way for LG monitor owners to manage layouts, picture settings, and updates.
- Monitor profiles
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit LG -
Best forAOC monitor owners wanting gaming profiles
A free Windows control hub for AOC monitor profiles, RGB, and peripherals.
- Monitor profiles
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit AOC -
Best forMinimalist macOS command-line control
A focused, free macOS utility for scripting compatible external-monitor controls.
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit ddcctl -
Best forLinux developers needing low-level DDC/CI
A focused open-source CLI for querying and controlling compatible Linux monitors.
- Input switching
- CLI or API access
6.4/10★★★☆☆View ddcci -
Best forWindows developers needing portable DDC/CI
A focused, free Windows utility for scriptable low-level monitor control.
- CLI or API access
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit winddcutil -
Best forWindows users focused on brightness control
A focused open-source Windows tool for DDC/CI monitor brightness control.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit ExtLume -
Best forDell users needing firmware and driver updates
A free Windows utility for keeping compatible Dell client systems updated.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Dell -
Best forWindows users needing a command launcher
A free, open-source command launcher for Windows, with search, bookmarks, and extensions.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Microsoft
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | DDC/CI control | Input switching | Monitor profiles | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MonitorControl Pro | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Twinkle Tray | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Lunar | Yes | $23 one-time | macOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 4 | ASUS DisplayWidget Center | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | BetterDisplay | Yes | $21.99 one-time | macOS | Yes | Yes | No | 8.7 |
| 6 | DisplayBuddy | No | $24.99 one-time | macOS, Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | ClickMonitorDDC | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 8 | DDC-CI Control Bridge | Yes | Free | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 9 | ControlMyMonitor | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 10 | MonitorControl | Yes | Free | macOS | Yes | 7.7 | ||
| 11 | m1ddc | Yes | Free | macOS (Apple Silicon) | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 12 | ddcutil | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 13 | Monitor Switch | Free | web, Linux, API, self-hosted Raspberry Pi | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 14 | Monitor Brightness Control | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | No | Yes | 7.3 |
| 15 | DDCcontrol | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 16 | Monitorian | Yes | Windows | Yes | 7.1 | |||
| 17 | LG OnScreen Control | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS | Yes | Yes | 7.0 | |
| 18 | AOC G-Menu | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | 6.7 | |
| 19 | ddcctl | Yes | Free | macos | Yes | Yes | 6.5 | |
| 20 | ddcci | Free | Linux | Yes | Yes | 6.4 | ||
| 21 | winddcutil | Yes | Free | windows | Yes | 6.3 | ||
| 22 | ExtLume | Free | Windows | Yes | No | No | 6.2 | |
| 23 | Dell Command | Update | Yes | Free | 6.1 | ||||
| 24 | PowerToys Command Palette | Yes | Free | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- MonitorControl Pro vs Twinkle Tray
- MonitorControl Pro vs Lunar
- MonitorControl Pro vs ASUS DisplayWidget Center
- MonitorControl Pro vs BetterDisplay
- MonitorControl Pro vs DisplayBuddy
- MonitorControl Pro vs ClickMonitorDDC
- MonitorControl Pro vs DDC-CI Control Bridge
- Twinkle Tray vs Lunar
- Twinkle Tray vs ASUS DisplayWidget Center
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How we rank monitor control software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update