Alternatives · Utilities
Iris alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Iris alternative is f.lux (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Iris compared with 6 alternatives: f.lux, Lunar, BetterDisplay, MonitorControl, Twinkle Tray and 1 more.
Iris is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $1.99 per month. All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Iris sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| IrisThis tool | Free trial · from $1.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| f.lux | Free plan · from $24 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Lunar | Free plan · from $23 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| BetterDisplay | Free plan · from $21.99 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| MonitorControl | Free | Free | macOS |
| Twinkle Tray | Free | Free | Windows |
| Vivid | Free plan · from $9.99 one-time | Yes | macOS |
Price against what you get
Iris starts at $1.99 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 2 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
MonitorControl and Twinkle Tray start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Iris
f.lux
Warms your screen's color at night to match the time of day
- f.lux starts at $24 per device, one-time (Windows Corporate Edition).
- f.lux has a free plan, which Iris lacks.
- f.lux also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People who use a computer in the evening and want a warmer screen
Lunar
Mac app that sets external monitor brightness over DDC
- Lunar starts at $23 one-time.
- Lunar has a free plan, which Iris lacks.
- Lunar lists no Windows and Linux apps, which Iris has.
- Lunar also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac users with external monitors who want to use the keyboard brightness keys on them
BetterDisplay
Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac
- BetterDisplay starts at $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply).
- BetterDisplay has a free plan, which Iris lacks.
- BetterDisplay lists no Windows and Linux apps, which Iris has.
- BetterDisplay also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Controlling an external monitor's brightness, volume and input from the Mac
MonitorControl
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays
- MonitorControl is free.
- MonitorControl has a free plan, which Iris lacks.
- MonitorControl lists no Windows and Linux apps, which Iris has.
- MonitorControl is open source, according to its own site.
- MonitorControl also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac users whose external monitor ignores the keyboard brightness keys
Twinkle Tray
Free brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows
- Twinkle Tray is free.
- Twinkle Tray has a free plan, which Iris lacks.
- Twinkle Tray lists no macOS and Linux apps, which Iris has.
- Twinkle Tray is open source, according to its own site.
- Twinkle Tray also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Windows desktop users who want to dim external monitors from the taskbar
Vivid
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays
- Vivid starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
- Vivid has a free plan, which Iris lacks.
- Vivid lists no Windows and Linux apps, which Iris has.
- Vivid also covers menu bar app.
Suits: M-series MacBook Pro owners who work in bright light
Limits worth knowing in Iris
- Iris Pro is a license for one version; major feature updates need the subscription or the Lifelong license.
- Each license covers one device at a time, though it can be moved to a new machine.
- Iris mini, the free version, has no interface and fixed settings.
- Downloading the trial asks for an e-mail address, which the vendor says it uses for tips and product news.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Iris?
The alternatives to Iris in this directory are f.lux, Lunar, BetterDisplay, MonitorControl, Twinkle Tray and Vivid. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Iris.
Is there a free alternative to Iris?
Yes. MonitorControl and Twinkle Tray are free to use. f.lux, Lunar, BetterDisplay and Vivid have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to Iris?
MonitorControl and Twinkle Tray are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 6, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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