Lunar vs Vivid (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Vivid grades higher than Lunar: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Vivid 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
Vivid
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays
Free plan · from $9.99 one-time
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 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
| 2.2GPALunarFair | 2.6GPAVividGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$23 once for Pro, under a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. | 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 | CFree works for manual control but stops at 100 adjustments and 100 action calls a day. The Pro trial lasts 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 | CBrightness, volume and input control over DDC, Apple display support and keyboard keys. Sync, schedules and XDR need Pro, and some monitors block DDC. | 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 | CNo rating on record. Some monitors and ports need the fallback method, so expect trial and error. | BNo rating on record. You install it and flip a toggle; nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, and the version 7 beta needs macOS 14 and Apple Silicon. Shortcuts is the one listed integration. | DMac only, and only certain Macs. No Windows, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | external monitor brightness from a Mac's keyboard | 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: Lunar and Vivid. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonFree planmacOSOne-time purchaseMenu bar appDisplay control
At a glance
| Lunar | Vivid | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $23 one-time | $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase) |
| 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. | Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like. |
| Free trial | 14-day trial of Pro included | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | THE LOW-TECH GUYS SRL | Lumen Digital |
| Price read from | lunar.fyi | getvivid.app |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Lunar or Vivid?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Lunar starts at $23 one-time, and Vivid starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
Which has a free plan, Lunar or Vivid?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Lunar 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.