The BetterDisplay Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about BetterDisplay in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
BetterDisplay
The Insider’s Guide
Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from BetterDisplay’s own pages.
Made by Kodeon Software · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from BetterDisplay’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on BetterDisplay’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
BetterDisplay is a macOS menu bar utility from Kodeon Software for managing built-in and external displays. Its free features cover DDC brightness, volume and input control, software dimming, resolution and refresh rate selection, and basic virtual screens. A one-time Pro license adds flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR and HDR brightness upscaling, Picture in Picture and display disconnection. Businesses need a Pro license to keep using it after the 14-day trial.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about BetterDisplay, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Worth reading which features sit on the free side before you count on one.
- 1
Best for controlling external monitors from a Mac
BetterDisplay is a Mac menu bar app for screens: brightness, volume and input on an external monitor, the resolution slider and basic virtual screens are free for personal use.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply).
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 36 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace BetterDisplay you would be making control of displays through the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
BetterDisplay at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14-day trial with all Pro features unlocked
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Kodeon Software
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for controlling external monitors from a Mac
BetterDisplay is a Mac menu bar app for screens: brightness, volume and input on an external monitor, the resolution slider and basic virtual screens are free for personal use. HiDPI scaling, HDR upscaling and Picture in Picture need Pro at $21.99 once, and a later major version may need a new license. It's macOS only, v5 needs macOS 26.3, and a business has to buy Pro to use any of it past the 14-day trial.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Pro 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Non-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. |
| Features | C | Display 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who BetterDisplay is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Controlling an external monitor's brightness, volume and input from the Mac
- Running scaled HiDPI resolutions on external displays
- Headless Macs that need a virtual screen for remote access
- Scripting display changes through the CLI or macOS Shortcuts
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$21.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
BetterDisplay has a free plan. Paid plans start at $21.99 one-time purchase (Pro license, tax may apply).
That single payment is under a year of what subscriptions in this category average, and there's nothing to renew.
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.
The 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.
Trying it first
14-day trial with all Pro features unlocked
Read from betterdisplay.pro on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on betterdisplay.proNonprofit
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.
Stated on betterdisplay.proOther 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.
Stated on betterdisplay.pro
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, menu bar app, display control.
A narrow job covered in full, with half of it behind Pro.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Shortcuts
- LG webOS TV
- Samsung Tizen TV
- Philips Android TV
- Yamaha AVR
- DisplayLink
BetterDisplay is made by Kodeon Software.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
36/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
BetterDisplay's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. BetterDisplay’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- BFree plan and trialAbove 37 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace BetterDisplay you would be making control of displays through the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $21.99, paid once.
What you could not
- Control of displays through the operating system.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Apple Shortcuts, LG webOS TV and Samsung Tizen TV among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: Shortcuts.
What this rests on. BetterDisplay’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
MonitorControl, f.lux, Twinkle Tray and DisplayFusion
The 4 tools BetterDisplay is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
MonitorControl
Free
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays.
- BetterDisplay can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MonitorControl is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
f.lux
Free plan · from $24 one-time
Warms your screen's color at night to match the time of day.
- Only f.lux lists Windows and Linux apps.
- BetterDisplay can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Twinkle Tray
Free
Free brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows.
- Only BetterDisplay lists a macOS app.
- Only Twinkle Tray lists a Windows app.
- BetterDisplay can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
DisplayFusion
Free plan · from $34 one-time
Multi-monitor taskbars, wallpaper and window control for Windows.
- Only BetterDisplay lists a macOS app.
- Only DisplayFusion lists a Windows app.
- BetterDisplay also covers menu bar app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is BetterDisplay free?
BetterDisplay has a 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.
How much does BetterDisplay cost?
BetterDisplay lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does BetterDisplay work on?
BetterDisplay is available on macOS.
Does BetterDisplay offer any discounts?
BetterDisplay publicly lists the following: 25% student discount via Student App Centre; Free features open to nonprofits; Volume licensing for 25 or more computers.
Does BetterDisplay have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. BetterDisplay is listed for macOS.
Does BetterDisplay have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. BetterDisplay is listed for macOS.
Is BetterDisplay open source?
BetterDisplay is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does BetterDisplay integrate with?
BetterDisplay's listing names Apple Shortcuts, LG webOS TV, Samsung Tizen TV, Philips Android TV, Yamaha AVR and DisplayLink.
Does BetterDisplay have a student discount?
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.
Does BetterDisplay have a free trial?
Yes. 14-day trial with all Pro features unlocked.
Who makes BetterDisplay?
BetterDisplay is made by Kodeon Software.
What are the alternatives to BetterDisplay?
The closest alternatives to BetterDisplay in our directory are MonitorControl, f.lux, Twinkle Tray and DisplayFusion.
How does BetterDisplay compare with other desktop utilities?
BetterDisplay's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Could I make my own version of BetterDisplay?
To replace BetterDisplay you would be making control of displays through the operating system.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from BetterDisplay’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from BetterDisplay's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-20.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Kodeon Software. Prices change, so check betterdisplay.pro before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- BetterDisplay, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/betterdisplay
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "BetterDisplay: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/betterdisplay
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/betterdisplay/guide
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See our other guides
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- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what BetterDisplay’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. BetterDisplay is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Kodeon Software. Prices and plans change: check betterdisplay.pro before you buy.