BetterDisplay vs HazeOver
We give BetterDisplay a 3.2 GPA and HazeOver a 2.6, out of 4.0. BetterDisplay grades higher on the free plan and features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
BetterDisplay
Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac
HazeOver
Mac utility that dims every window except the active one
How we grade them
| 3.2GPABetterDisplayVery good | 2.6GPAHazeOverGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APro is $21.99 once, tax may apply, and covers up to two personal Macs. No subscription. You get the current major version and at least one year of updates. A later major version may need a new or upgrade license, mind. | A$4.99 once, from the vendor's store or the US Mac App Store. That's about a month of a typical focus app, paid a single time. Tips of $5, $7 or $15 are optional at checkout. |
| Free plan and trial | AFor non-business users the free features stay after the trial: DDC brightness, volume and input control, software dimming, the resolution slider and basic virtual screens. The terms say no purchase pop-ups or ads. Businesses don't get this, though. They have to buy Pro. | CThere's no free plan. You can download a free trial from hazeover.com, but the site doesn't say how long it lasts. |
| Features | AIt changes brightness, volume, contrast and input on external monitors, scales displays to HiDPI, pushes XDR screens up to 1600 nits, makes virtual screens and shows any display Picture in Picture. There's a command-line interface and an HTTP interface too. For display control, that's the lot. | BIt dims background windows, and it does that one thing fully: adjustable strength and colour, modes for multiple displays, and separate settings for Light and Dark. Shortcuts, Focus filters and AppleScript can all drive it. It doesn't block apps or websites, or time your work. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating is on record to go by, so a B. It's a menu bar app with sliders, and the native keys can work an external monitor. There's a long list of what's free and what's Pro, so check which side the thing you want sits on. | BWe have no App Store rating on record for it, so a B is as far as we'll go. It lives in the menu bar: scroll over the icon to change the strength, double-click to switch it off. One quirk is that the whole screen dims when every window of the current app is closed. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, and the current v5 release needs macOS 26.3 or later, with older releases kept for earlier systems. It does talk to other things: Apple Shortcuts, a URL scheme, an HTTP interface, and LG, Samsung and Philips TVs. | DMac only, and the current version needs macOS Ventura 13 or later. It does hook into Shortcuts, AppleScript, Raycast, Alfred, BetterTouchTool and Keyboard Maestro. |
| Best for | controlling external monitors from a Mac | dimming everything but the window you're in, on a Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: BetterDisplay and HazeOver. How we grade
Where they differ
- BetterDisplay starts at $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply). HazeOver starts at $4.99 one-time purchase.
- BetterDisplay has a free plan. HazeOver does not, though it has a free trial.
- BetterDisplay also covers display control.
At a glance
| BetterDisplay | HazeOver | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply) | $4.99 one-time purchase |
| Free plan | Non-business users keep the free features after the trial: DDC brightness, volume and input control, software dimming, the resolution slider and basic virtual screens. The terms say there are no purchase pop-ups or ads. | None |
| Free trial | 14-day trial with all Pro features unlocked | Free trial download from hazeover.com; no length is stated |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Kodeon Software | Maxim Ananov |
| Price read from | betterdisplay.pro | hazeover.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
HazeOver
- Large or multiple displays, where the active window is easy to lose
- Cutting glare from bright background windows, especially in Dark Mode
- Cleaner screenshots and screen recordings with the background dimmed
- Mac users who automate their setup with Shortcuts or Focus modes
Worth knowing
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.
HazeOver
- Mac only: the current version needs macOS Ventura 13 or later, with older builds offered for earlier systems.
- It only dims background windows; it does not block apps or websites or time work sessions.
- There is no free plan, and the site does not say how long the free trial lasts.
- When every window of the current app is closed or minimized, the whole screen dims until you switch to another app.
Key features
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.
HazeOver
- Automatic window dimming
- HazeOver highlights the frontmost window or app as you switch and fades everything behind it. The desktop is revealed automatically when you use it.
- Adjustable intensity and color
- Dimming runs from a light shade to a fully opaque background, with a custom color and a fade lasting up to 5 seconds. Scrolling over the menu bar icon changes the intensity.
- Multiple display modes
- It can highlight the front window on each connected screen or dim the displays without keyboard focus, and dimming can be turned off for a specific display.
- Light and Dark appearance settings
- Separate dimming settings are saved for the Light and Dark system appearance, so dimming can switch on, or change strength, along with Dark Mode.
- Shortcuts, Focus filters and AppleScript
- Dimming state and settings can be automated with the Shortcuts app, Focus filters that revert when a Focus mode ends, and AppleScript. A Raycast extension adds quick commands.
- Quick toggles
- A keyboard shortcut or a double-click on the menu bar icon turns dimming on or off, and holding the Fn key pauses it while you drag between apps.
Plans
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.
HazeOver
HazeOver$4.99
one-time purchase
A license from the vendor's store at $4.99 USD, or the app on the US Mac App Store at the same price. Optional tips of $5, $7 or $15 can be added at checkout.
Ways to pay less
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.
HazeOver
- Education
Student discount
The buy page says HazeOver is available with a student discount and links to Student App Centre for it. The page does not state the amount.
- Other savings
Also available through Setapp
The buy page says HazeOver is available to Setapp subscribers, and the download page lists a Setapp Subscription option next to the Mac App Store and direct download.
