MonitorControl vs Vivid (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MonitorControl grades higher than Vivid: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
MonitorControl grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
MonitorControl
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays
Free
Vivid
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays
Free plan · from $9.99 one-time
Which one is for you
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
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
| 2.8GPAMonitorControlGood | 2.6GPAVividGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 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. | BNo rating on record. You install it and flip a toggle; nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | DMac only, and only certain Macs. No Windows, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | brightness keys that work on an external Mac monitor | 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: MonitorControl and Vivid. How we grade
Where they differ
- MonitorControl is open source, according to its own site.
- Vivid can be bought with a one-time purchase.
In commonFree planmacOSMenu bar appDisplay control
At a glance
| MonitorControl | Vivid | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase) |
| Free plan | 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. | Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | MonitorControl | Lumen Digital |
| Price read from | github.com | getvivid.app |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
MonitorControl
MonitorControl$0
Brightness, volume and contrast control, native on-screen display, keyboard shortcuts, brightness sync and software dimming. MIT licensed.
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, MonitorControl or Vivid?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MonitorControl is free, and Vivid starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
Which has a free plan, MonitorControl or Vivid?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both MonitorControl 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.