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BetterDisplay vs Lunar (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 12, 2026, BetterDisplay grades higher than Lunar: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.

Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA

BetterDisplay grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features 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

Free plan · from $21.99 one-time
Full detailsbetterdisplay.pro

Lunar

Mac app that sets external monitor brightness over DDC

Free plan · from $23 one-time
Full detailslunar.fyi

Which one is for you

Pick BetterDisplay if

  • Fits if you want to change an external monitor's brightness, volume and input from your Mac
  • Works for a headless Mac that needs a virtual screen for remote access

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you're on Windows, as it's macOS only, and v5 needs macOS 26.3 or later
  • Not for you if you're a business hoping to stay free, since businesses must buy Pro after the 14-day trial
  • Tight if you're staying free and want HiDPI scaling, HDR upscaling or Picture in Picture, as all need the $21.99 Pro license
  • Watch out: a license covers the current major version plus at least a year of updates; a later major version may cost again
  • Watch out: 25 or more computers means contacting the developer, as volume prices aren't published

Pick Lunar if

  • Fits if you use external monitors and want the Mac brightness keys to control them
  • Works for desktop Macs that need brightness on a schedule or by sunrise

Look elsewhere if

  • Tight if you stay on free, since it stops at 100 adjustments and 100 action calls a day
  • Skip it if your monitor or port blocks DDC, because you will rely on the fallback method
  • Not for you if you use Windows, as it is Mac only
  • Watch out: Sync, Sensor, Clock, Location, XDR and BlackOut are Pro, and the licence covers 5 personal computers

How we grade them

2.6GPABetterDisplayGood2.2GPALunarFair
Value for money
APro is $21.99 once, tax may apply, and covers up to two personal Macs. That single payment is under a year of what subscriptions in this category average, and there's nothing to renew. A later major version may need a new or upgrade license, mind.
A$23 once for Pro, under a year of what this category's middle subscription costs.
Free plan and trial
BNon-business users keep a real set for good: DDC brightness, volume and input control, software dimming, the resolution slider and basic virtual screens, with no pop-ups or ads. Plenty could live on that. But HiDPI scaling, HDR boosting and Picture in Picture are Pro, and businesses must buy after 14 days.
CFree works for manual control but stops at 100 adjustments and 100 action calls a day. The Pro trial lasts 14 days.
Features
CDisplay control is one job and BetterDisplay covers it: brightness, volume, contrast and input over DDC, HiDPI scaling, XDR brightness to 1600 nits, virtual screens, Picture in Picture, plus a CLI and an HTTP interface. A narrow job covered in full, with half of it behind Pro.
CBrightness, volume and input control over DDC, Apple display support and keyboard keys. Sync, schedules and XDR need Pro, and some monitors block DDC.
Ease of use
BNo rating is on record, but there's nothing to configure: it's a menu bar app with sliders, and your keyboard's own brightness keys start working on an external monitor. Worth reading which features sit on the free side before you count on one.
CNo rating on record. Some monitors and ports need the fallback method, so expect trial and error.
Platforms and integrations
DMac only, one operating system, 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 version 7 beta needs macOS 14 and Apple Silicon. Shortcuts is the one listed integration.
Best forcontrolling external monitors from a Macexternal monitor brightness from a Mac's keyboard

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 Lunar. How we grade

Where they differ

    In commonFree planmacOSOne-time purchaseMenu bar appDisplay control

    At a glance

    BetterDisplayLunar
    PricingFree planFree plan
    Starts at$21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply)$23 one-time
    Free planNon-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.DDC brightness control, sub-zero dimming, brightness and volume keys, input switching and multi-monitor support, with 100 adjustments and 100 action calls per day.
    Free trial14-day trial with all Pro features unlocked14-day trial of Pro included
    macOS
    Made byKodeon SoftwareTHE LOW-TECH GUYS SRL
    Price read frombetterdisplay.prolunar.fyi
    CheckedOct 6, 2026Nov 12, 2026

    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.

    Lunar

    • Mac only; the version 7 beta needs macOS 14 and Apple Silicon, while the current release lists macOS 11 or newer.
    • The free version stops at 100 adjustments and 100 action calls per day.
    • Some monitors or ports block DDC commands, and the site lists a fallback method for those cases.
    • The license covers 5 personal computers; more need a volume license, according to the EULA.

    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.

    Lunar

    DDC control
    Sends brightness, volume and input commands straight to the monitor rather than dimming with an overlay.
    Apple display support
    Controls Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, LG UltraFine for Mac and Thunderbolt Display natively.
    Keyboard control
    Uses the Mac brightness and volume keys for external monitors, with hotkeys to switch inputs.
    Sync and sensor modes
    Pro copies the MacBook's adaptive brightness to monitors, or reads an external ambient light sensor for desktop Macs.
    Clock and location modes
    Pro changes brightness on a schedule or by the sun's position, with sunrise and sunset offsets.
    XDR brightness and BlackOut
    Pro can lift the macOS brightness cap on XDR panels and turn off selected displays with a hotkey.

    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.

    Lunar

    • Free$0

      Manual control of external monitors, limited to 100 adjustments and 100 action calls per day.

    • Lunar Pro$23

      one-time, lifetime license

      Unlimited adjustments and actions, plus Sync, Sensor, Clock and Location modes, XDR brightness, FaceLight and BlackOut.

    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.

    Lunar

    No public discounts listed.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, BetterDisplay or Lunar?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, BetterDisplay starts at $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply), and Lunar starts at $23 one-time.

    Which has a free plan, BetterDisplay or Lunar?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, both BetterDisplay and Lunar have a free plan.

    More comparisons

    How this page was made

    • The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
    • The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
    • Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
    • The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.
    How we review and grade