Lunar vs MonitorControl (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, MonitorControl grades higher than Lunar: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
MonitorControl 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.
Lunar
Mac app that sets external monitor brightness over DDC
Free plan · from $23 one-time
MonitorControl
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays
Free
Which one is for you
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
Pick MonitorControl if
- Fits if your external monitor ignores the brightness keys on your Mac keyboard
- Works for desks with several screens you want dimmed together
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if your monitor uses the built-in HDMI port of an M1 Mac, a 2018 Intel Mac mini or an entry-level M2 Mac mini
- Watch out: most TVs, DisplayLink docks and some EIZO displays get software dimming only, not the real backlight
- Not for you if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only, and macOS 10.15 runs it with limits
- Too light for XDR and HDR brightness upscaling, which is in BetterDisplay, a separate app
- Watch out: macOS 27 needs version 4.4.0 or newer, and the Apple keys need Accessibility permission
How we grade them
| 2.2GPALunarFair | 2.8GPAMonitorControlGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$23 once for Pro, under a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. | AFree and open source under the MIT licence, a download anyone can run from the GitHub releases page or Homebrew. There's nothing to buy and nothing held back for a paid tier. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree works for manual control but stops at 100 adjustments and 100 action calls a day. The Pro trial lasts 14 days. | AThe whole app is free: brightness, volume and contrast, shortcuts, brightness sync and software dimming. For extras the README points you to BetterDisplay, a separate app from the maintainer. |
| Features | CBrightness, volume and input control over DDC, Apple display support and keyboard keys. Sync, schedules and XDR need Pro, and some monitors block DDC. | CIts one job is getting at an external display's brightness, volume and contrast, and it covers that: sliders, the Apple keys, dimming down to black, one slider driving every screen. Its own notes show the holes, though: most TVs and DisplayLink docks get software dimming only. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Some monitors and ports need the fallback method, so expect trial and error. | BNo store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: it sits in the menu bar and the keys you already press start working. Using the Apple keys wants Accessibility permission first. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, and the version 7 beta needs macOS 14 and Apple Silicon. Shortcuts is the one listed integration. | DMac only. Version 4 has full functionality from macOS 11 and runs on 10.15 with limits. No integrations are listed, and there's nothing for Windows or Linux. |
| Best for | external monitor brightness from a Mac's keyboard | brightness keys that work on an external Mac monitor |
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: Lunar and MonitorControl. How we grade
Where they differ
- Lunar can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MonitorControl is open source, according to its own site.
In commonFree planmacOSMenu bar appDisplay control
At a glance
| Lunar | MonitorControl | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $23 one-time | Free |
| Free plan | 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. | The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, from the GitHub releases page or Homebrew. The README points to BetterDisplay for extra features. |
| Free trial | 14-day trial of Pro included | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | THE LOW-TECH GUYS SRL | MonitorControl |
| Price read from | lunar.fyi | github.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
MonitorControl
- macOS only. Version 4 runs on macOS 10.15 with limits, has full functionality from macOS 11, and needs v4.4.0 or newer for macOS 27.
- DDC control does not work over the built-in HDMI port of M1 Macs, the 2018 Intel Mac mini or the entry-level M2 Mac mini; USB-C or software dimming is the fallback.
- Most TVs, DisplayLink docks and some displays such as EIZO models get software dimming only, not hardware backlight control.
- XDR and HDR brightness upscaling and support for more Macs and displays are in BetterDisplay, a separate app from the maintainer.
Key features
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.
MonitorControl
- Brightness, volume and contrast
- Sliders in the menu bar adjust an external display's backlight, speaker volume and contrast over DDC/CI, which most modern LCD monitors support.
- Apple keys and custom shortcuts
- The brightness and media keys on Apple keyboards control external displays, or custom shortcuts can be set. Using the Apple keys needs Accessibility permission.
- Native on-screen display
- Brightness and volume changes show the same on-screen indicator macOS uses for Apple displays.
- Hardware and software dimming
- Software dimming continues below a display's minimum backlight level, down to full black, with smooth brightness transitions.
- Brightness sync
- Changes on the built-in or an Apple display, including those from the ambient light sensor, can be copied to other displays, and one slider can drive every screen.
- Several control methods
- DDC for external displays, Apple's native protocol for Apple and built-in screens, gamma tables for software dimming, and a shade overlay for AirPlay, Sidecar and DisplayLink.
Plans
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.
MonitorControl
MonitorControl$0
Brightness, volume and contrast control, native on-screen display, keyboard shortcuts, brightness sync and software dimming. MIT licensed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Lunar or MonitorControl?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Lunar starts at $23 one-time, and MonitorControl is free.
Which has a free plan, Lunar or MonitorControl?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Lunar and MonitorControl 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.