BetterDisplay vs Vivid (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BetterDisplay and Vivid share a 2.6 GPA, both have a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
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
Vivid
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays
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 Vivid if
- Fits if you own a MacBook Pro or Studio Display with an XDR screen
- Works for people who want more brightness in sunlight and don't mind a battery hit
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if your Mac isn't an XDR model, as Intel Macs, MacBook Air, the M1 13-inch Pro and the non-XDR Studio Display don't work
- Tight if you want full-screen brightness free, since the free mode only covers half the screen
- Watch out: macOS can cut maximum brightness when the display gets warm, the vendor says
- Watch out: the site shows euros and the dollar price is only on the US App Store listing
How we grade them
| 2.6GPABetterDisplayGood | 2.6GPAVividGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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$9.99 one-time on the US Mac App Store, under a year of the typical utility subscription at about $40. The vendor's own site prices it in euros. |
| 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. | BSplitscreen Mode is free with no time limit, but only half the screen reaches full brightness. One person could live with it for a while. |
| 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. | CDoes its one job fully: system-wide extra brightness, a menu bar toggle, shortcuts and battery automation. It is a small job, and only XDR displays work. |
| 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. | BNo rating on record. You install it and flip a toggle; nothing to configure. |
| 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 only certain Macs. No Windows, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | controlling external monitors from a Mac | extra brightness on an XDR Mac screen |
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 Vivid. How we grade
Where they differ
At a glance
| BetterDisplay | Vivid | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply) | $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app 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. | Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like. |
| Free trial | 14-day trial with all Pro features unlocked | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Kodeon Software | Lumen Digital |
| Price read from | betterdisplay.pro | getvivid.app |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
Vivid
- Only XDR displays are supported; Intel MacBooks, MacBook Air, the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro and the non-XDR Studio Display are not.
- Macs only; there is no Windows or Linux version.
- The vendor's site prices licenses in euros; a dollar price is shown only on the US Mac App Store listing.
- macOS can limit maximum brightness when the display gets warm, the vendor says.
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.
Vivid
- System-wide extra brightness
- Uses the brightness range macOS normally keeps for HDR content, so the regular brightness keys go past the usual maximum.
- Menu bar toggle and shortcuts
- Turn Vivid on or off from the menu bar, with custom keyboard shortcuts to toggle and to raise or lower brightness.
- Battery automation
- Vivid can switch on or off depending on battery state, according to its App Store listing.
- Free Splitscreen Mode
- Half the screen reaches full brightness with no time limit, so you can check it fits your workflow before buying.
- Several ways to buy
- Available on the vendor's site, on Gumroad, on the Mac App Store with an in-app purchase, and through Setapp.
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.
Vivid
Splitscreen Mode$0
Free: half of the screen goes into full brightness mode.
Single License$9.99
one-time, for personal devices; the vendor's site shows € 10
Unlocks the whole screen. The $9.99 is the Mac App Store in-app purchase as listed in the US store.
Team License€40
one-time, for up to 5 devices
About € 8 per device; the site lists this price in euros only.
Company License€60
one-time, for up to 10 devices
About € 6 per device; the site lists this price in euros only.
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.
Vivid
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BetterDisplay or Vivid?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BetterDisplay starts at $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply), and Vivid starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
Which has a free plan, BetterDisplay or Vivid?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both BetterDisplay and Vivid 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.