Twinkle Tray vs Lunar

Twinkle Tray9.2Visit Lunar8.9Visit

Higher score Twinkle Tray #2 in Monitor Control Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Twinkle Tray

vs

Lunar #3 in Monitor Control Software 8.9/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Lunar

• Twinkle Tray fits best

  Free Windows multi-monitor control

• Lunar fits best

  Mac users wanting automation and sensors

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Side by side

Feature	Twinkle Tray 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Lunar 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.9
Ranking	#2 in Monitor Control Software	#3 in Monitor Control Software
Best for	Free Windows multi-monitor control	Mac users wanting automation and sensors
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$23 one-time
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	macOS
Support	Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features Twinkle Tray 6/6 · Lunar 6/6
DDC/CI control	✓	✓
Input switching	✓	✓
Monitor profiles	✓	✓
Settings scheduling	✓	✓
CLI or API access	✓	✓
Auto brightness	✓	✓
Specs
Supported platforms	Windows	macOS
Our review
Pros	Controls brightness, contrast, volume, power state, and inputs via DDC/CI Adds profiles, scheduling, ambient-light adjustment, hotkeys, and normalization Supports command-line controls and automatic launch with Windows	Free DDC control, input switching, and command-line integration Ambient-light adaptation with built-in or external sensors Shortcuts, scheduling, presets, and multi-monitor control
Cons	Windows-only coverage limits use on macOS and other platforms Some controls depend on compatible monitors and DDC/CI support Advanced display control may require configuration across different monitors	Supports macOS only DDC and input switching depend on monitor setup Advanced modes require the one-time Pro purchase
Our verdict	Twinkle Tray is a free Windows 10 and 11 desktop utility for managing brightness and display settings across compatible laptop and external monitors. It is aimed at people who use multiple displays and want more control than the standard… Read the review →	Lunar is a native macOS application for controlling external and Apple displays. It supports DDC hardware control for brightness, contrast, volume, and monitor inputs, with gamma-table fallback when DDC is unavailable. Its audience is Mac… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Twinkle Tray — where it wins

  • Controls brightness, contrast, volume, power state, and inputs via DDC/CI
  • Adds profiles, scheduling, ambient-light adjustment, hotkeys, and normalization
  • Supports command-line controls and automatic launch with Windows

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows-only coverage limits use on macOS and other platforms
  • Some controls depend on compatible monitors and DDC/CI support
  • Advanced display control may require configuration across different monitors

• Lunar — where it wins

  • Free DDC control, input switching, and command-line integration
  • Ambient-light adaptation with built-in or external sensors
  • Shortcuts, scheduling, presets, and multi-monitor control

  Where it doesn't

  • Supports macOS only
  • DDC and input switching depend on monitor setup
  • Advanced modes require the one-time Pro purchase

• Twinkle Tray9.2/10 · Free plan

  A capable free Windows utility for multi-monitor control, profiles, scheduling, and scripting.

  Visit Twinkle TrayFull verdict →
• Lunar8.9/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A capable Mac monitor controller with automation, sensors, and a low one-time Pro price.

  Visit LunarFull verdict →