BetterDisplay vs DisplayFusion

BetterDisplay

• Controlling an external monitor's brightness, volume and input from the Mac
• Running scaled HiDPI resolutions on external displays
• Headless Macs that need a virtual screen for remote access
• Scripting display changes through the CLI or macOS Shortcuts

DisplayFusion

• Windows users working across two or more monitors
• Ultrawide owners who want to split one screen into virtual monitors
• IT teams deploying one license key across a site with MSI and ADMX templates

BetterDisplay

• macOS only. The current v5 release requires macOS 26.3 or later; older releases for earlier macOS versions are still listed for download.
• Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR and HDR upscaling, Picture in Picture and display disconnection all need the $21.99 Pro license.
• Businesses must buy a Pro license to use any feature, free or Pro, beyond the 14-day trial.
• A license covers the current major version plus at least one year of updates; a later major version may need a new or upgrade license.

DisplayFusion

• Windows only: the current version needs Windows 11, Windows 10 (1607 or higher) or Windows Server 2016, 2019 or 2022.
• The Free version is licensed for personal use only; company use needs a Pro license.
• Multi-monitor taskbars, Monitor Profiles, monitor splitting, Triggers, monitor fading and Window Position Profiles are Pro features.
• The vendor notes that full-screen videos and games cannot currently be constrained to monitor splits.

BetterDisplay

DDC monitor control

Changes brightness, volume, contrast, input and power on external monitors over DDC, using sliders, the native keys or custom shortcuts. These controls are in the free feature set.

Flexible HiDPI scaling

Converts built-in and natively connected external displays to flexibly scaled HiDPI screens. The resolution slider is free; flexible scaling needs Pro.

XDR and HDR brightness upscaling

Raises brightness beyond the standard range, up to 1600 nits on XDR displays, with display-dependent boosts on external HDR screens. A Pro feature.

Virtual screens and Picture in Picture

Creates virtual screens with chosen aspect ratios and resolutions, and shows any display in a Picture in Picture window. Basic virtual screens are free; Picture in Picture and streaming need Pro.

Disconnect and configuration protection

Disconnects and reconnects displays without unplugging them, and protects a display's resolution, refresh rate, rotation and color profile from changing. Both need Pro.

CLI, Shortcuts and HTTP integration

Offers a command-line interface, macOS Shortcuts actions, a custom URL scheme and an HTTP interface. Access is free, but operations that change Pro features still need Pro.

DisplayFusion

Multi-monitor taskbars

Pro adds a taskbar to every monitor, showing all windows or only those on that monitor, with button grouping, pinned items, a clock and system tray icons.

Wallpaper per monitor

Sets a different image on each monitor or spans one across several, from local files or online sources. Wallpaper Profiles and random image rotation need Pro.

Monitor configuration and splitting

Sets resolution, colour depth, refresh rate and orientation. Pro saves Monitor Profiles and splits a monitor into smaller virtual monitors, with padding for bezel compensation.

Functions and TitleBar Buttons

More than 30 pre-configured Functions move, size and span windows from key combinations or extra title bar buttons. Custom Functions and C# or VB.net scripted ones need Pro.

Triggers

Pro listens for events such as window creation, window focus, desktop unlock or system idle, then moves or resizes the window, shows a notification or runs a Function.

Window profiles and remote control

Pro saves and reloads window layouts as Window Position Profiles, and can be controlled from an iPhone, iPad or Android device to change wallpaper or toggle monitors.

BetterDisplay

• Free$0

  For non-business users: DDC brightness, volume and input control, software dimming, resolution slider, refresh rate selector and basic virtual screens.

• Pro License$21.99

  one-time purchase per license (€19.99), tax may apply

  All Pro features for the current major version on up to two personal Macs, with at least one year of updates including major upgrades.

DisplayFusion

• Free$0

  Personal use only. Per-monitor wallpaper, monitor configuration, TitleBar Buttons, key combinations and window snapping, without the Pro features.

• Pro Standard$34

  one-time purchase per machine, lifetime license

  All Pro features on 1 computer, for personal or company use. Valid for all future versions.

• Pro on Steam$39.99

  one-time purchase through Steam, lifetime license

  All Pro features wherever the buyer's Steam account is installed. The Steam desktop client is needed to install it, not to run it.

• Pro Personal$49

  one-time purchase, lifetime license

  All Pro features on any number of personal computers in one household, plus 1 company computer that only the buyer uses.

• Pro Site$899

  one-time purchase per site, lifetime license

  Unlimited machines at 1 site under a single license key, with no license server.

• Pro Enterprise$3,899

  one-time purchase, lifetime license

  Unlimited computers at an unlimited number of company-owned sites.

BetterDisplay

• Education

  25% student discount via Student App Centre

  The purchase guide says Student App Centre offers 25% off BetterDisplay through its membership, which has a seven-day free trial and then renews as a paid yearly subscription.

• Nonprofit

  Free features open to nonprofits

  The license terms do not treat nonprofits, charities, churches and similar entities as businesses, so they may use the free version without buying Pro.

• Other savings

  Volume licensing for 25 or more computers

  For deployments of 25 or more computers, the vendor asks businesses to contact the developer about volume licensing.

DisplayFusion

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime license for all future versions

  Every Pro license is a one-time purchase that the vendor describes as a lifetime license, valid for all future versions.

• Other savings

  Discount for owners of other Binary Fortress apps

  The purchase page says buyers save money if they already own ClipboardFusion, FileSeek, LogFusion, TrayStatus or VoiceBot. The amount is not stated.