The Twinkle Tray Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Twinkle Tray 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.
Twinkle Tray
The Insider’s Guide
Free brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Twinkle Tray’s own pages.
Made by Xander Frangos · checked Oct 9, 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 Twinkle Tray’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Twinkle Tray’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Twinkle Tray is a free Windows app that adds brightness sliders for every compatible monitor to the system tray, a control Windows lacks for external displays. It talks to monitors over DDC/CI and WMI, can change brightness by time of day or when the PC is idle, and can even out backlight levels between different monitors. Hotkeys and command-line arguments cover automation, and the code is published on GitHub under the MIT license.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Twinkle Tray, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It can also dim by time of day and even out screens that don't match.
- 1
Best for dimming external monitors from the Windows tray
Twinkle Tray puts a brightness slider for each external monitor in the Windows system tray, and it's free.
- 2
It is free
Twinkle Tray has no paid plan at all. The site says every option and feature is 100% free. It is offered as an installer from GitHub or through the Microsoft Store, where the US listing shows Free with no in-app purchases.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
Brightness sliders in the tray
A system tray icon opens a flyout with a slider for each compatible monitor, similar to the Windows volume flyout. Sliders can move one display or all of them together.
- 5
Time-of-day and idle adjustments
Brightness can change automatically at set times of day, or when the computer has been idle.
- 6
Backlight normalization
Levels can be evened out across monitors of different models. Version 1.17.2 added calibration points for a custom brightness curve on each display.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Twinkle Tray is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Twinkle Tray at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- Xander Frangos
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for dimming external monitors from the Windows tray
Twinkle Tray puts a brightness slider for each external monitor in the Windows system tray, and it's free. It can also dim by time of day and even out screens that don't match. Whether it works depends on your hardware: the monitor needs DDC/CI switched on, VGA and DVI may not work, docks can block it, and it runs on Windows 10 and 11 only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing and you just download and run it. The site says every option and feature is 100% free, the code is MIT licensed on GitHub, and the US Microsoft Store listing shows Free with no in-app purchases. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Every feature is free, from the GitHub installer, the Microsoft Store or winget. There's no paid version for anything to be held back behind. |
| Features | C | Brightness for external monitors is the one job here and it's done fully: a slider per screen, changes by time of day or idle, levels evened out between models, hotkeys, command-line control. It's a small job, and the listing warns DDC/CI may be off in your monitor's menu and that docks can defeat it. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: click the tray icon and drag a slider, much like the Windows volume flyout. If nothing moves, the first stop is your monitor's own menu, where DDC/CI is sometimes off. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows 10 and 11, and that's the lot. One operating system, no integrations and no API, so there's nothing to wire it into beyond the command line. |
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 Twinkle Tray is for
- Fits if you want to dim an external monitor from the taskbar instead of its buttons
- Works for two or three screens at different brightness, or for hotkey and command-line control
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it runs on Windows 10 and 11 only
- Not for you if your monitor lacks DDC/CI or has it off, or connects over VGA or DVI
- Tight if your screens hang off a USB, Thunderbolt or Surface dock, since those may not work
- Watch out: the AMD Radeon Control Panel can interfere, and the README warns some monitor models behave poorly
Good to know
Good for
- Windows desktop users who want to dim external monitors from the taskbar
- Multi-monitor setups whose screens differ in brightness
- People who script brightness changes or bind them to hotkeys
Worth knowing
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 only.
- Monitors must support DDC/CI, which can be switched off by default in a monitor's own menu; VGA and DVI connections may not be compatible.
- USB, Thunderbolt and Surface docks with HDMI or DisplayPort may not work, and the AMD Radeon Control Panel can interfere.
- The README warns that DDC/CI commands such as brightness and power state can make certain monitor models behave poorly.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Twinkle Tray is free to use.
It costs nothing and you just download and run it.
Twinkle Tray
$0
All features, from the GitHub installer (which the site recommends), the Microsoft Store or winget. MIT licensed.
The free plan
The site says every option and feature is 100% free. It is offered as an installer from GitHub or through the Microsoft Store, where the US listing shows Free with no in-app purchases.
Read from twinkletray.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Free brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, menu bar app, display control.
It's a small job, and the listing warns DDC/CI may be off in your monitor's menu and that docks can defeat it.
- Brightness sliders in the tray
- A system tray icon opens a flyout with a slider for each compatible monitor, similar to the Windows volume flyout. Sliders can move one display or all of them together.
- Time-of-day and idle adjustments
- Brightness can change automatically at set times of day, or when the computer has been idle.
- Backlight normalization
- Levels can be evened out across monitors of different models. Version 1.17.2 added calibration points for a custom brightness curve on each display.
- Hotkeys
- Keyboard shortcuts can be bound to raise or lower the brightness of a specific display or of all displays at once.
- Other DDC/CI controls
- Beyond brightness, the app can control DDC/CI features such as contrast, volume and power state, and the default slider can be swapped for a custom VCP code.
- Command-line arguments
- From version 1.13.0, a running copy accepts commands that list displays, set or offset brightness for one monitor or all, and send a specific VCP code.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Twinkle Tray is made by Xander Frangos.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Twinkle Tray's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Twinkle Tray has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Twinkle Tray’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Twinkle Tray is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
Twinkle Tray is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Control of displays through the operating system.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Twinkle Tray’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
f.lux, DisplayFusion, MonitorControl and BetterDisplay
The 4 tools Twinkle Tray is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 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 macOS and Linux apps.
- Twinkle Tray is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
DisplayFusion
Free plan · from $34 one-time
Multi-monitor taskbars, wallpaper and window control for Windows.
- Twinkle Tray is open source, according to its own site.
- DisplayFusion can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Twinkle Tray also covers menu bar app.
- 2.8GPA
MonitorControl
Free
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays.
- Only Twinkle Tray lists a Windows app.
- Only MonitorControl lists a macOS app.
- 2.6GPA
BetterDisplay
Free plan · from $21.99 one-time
Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac.
- Only Twinkle Tray lists a Windows app.
- Only BetterDisplay lists a macOS app.
- Twinkle Tray is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Twinkle Tray free?
Yes. Twinkle Tray is free to use.
How much does Twinkle Tray cost?
Twinkle Tray lists one plan. Twinkle Tray: $0.
What platforms does Twinkle Tray work on?
Twinkle Tray is available on Windows.
Does Twinkle Tray have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Twinkle Tray is listed for Windows.
Does Twinkle Tray have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Twinkle Tray is listed for Windows.
Is Twinkle Tray open source?
Yes. Twinkle Tray is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Twinkle Tray?
Twinkle Tray is made by Xander Frangos.
What are the alternatives to Twinkle Tray?
The closest alternatives to Twinkle Tray in our directory are f.lux, DisplayFusion, MonitorControl and BetterDisplay.
How does Twinkle Tray compare with other desktop utilities?
Twinkle Tray's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is Twinkle Tray good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Twinkle Tray A for value for money. Twinkle Tray has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Twinkle Tray?
Twinkle Tray is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Twinkle Tray’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Twinkle Tray's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-10.
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 Xander Frangos. Prices change, so check twinkletray.com 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
- Twinkle Tray, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/twinkle-tray
- 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, "Twinkle Tray: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/twinkle-tray
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/twinkle-tray/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Twinkle Tray, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- 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 Twinkle Tray’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. Twinkle Tray is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Xander Frangos. Prices and plans change: check twinkletray.com before you buy.