Vivid review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays
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Vivid report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for extra brightness on an XDR Mac screen
Vivid pushes an XDR display past its normal brightness, system-wide. It does that one job, but only on XDR screens, and the free mode lights up just half the screen.
Who Vivid is for
- 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
Who Vivid is not for
- 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
Why Vivid gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$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.
- BFree plan and trialSplitscreen Mode is free with no time limit, but only half the screen reaches full brightness. One person could live with it for a while.
- CFeaturesDoes 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.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. You install it and flip a toggle; nothing to configure.
- DPlatforms and integrationsMac only, and only certain Macs. No Windows, Linux, phone or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Lumen Digital's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/vivid#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/vivid.svg" alt="Vivid: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Vivid stands among desktop utilities
Vivid's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 55 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Vivid’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- BFree plan and trialAbove 75 of 186, level with 31
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186, level with 110
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186, level with 108
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186, level with 110
Keep Vivid, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Vivid 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 $9.99, 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.
What this rests on. Vivid’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.
What is Vivid?
Vivid is a macOS menu bar app that makes the extra brightness range of Apple's XDR displays available for everyday content, not only HDR video. It works with M-series MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models, Studio Display XDR and Pro Display XDR. A free Splitscreen Mode covers half the screen, and the full app is a one-time purchase.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
Vivid pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Vivid has a free plan, and paid plans start at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
- Starts at
- $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase)
- Free plan
- Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Splitscreen Mode | $0 | Free: half of the screen goes into full brightness mode. |
| Single License | $9.99one-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 | €40one-time, for up to 5 devices | About € 8 per device; the site lists this price in euros only. |
| Company License | €60one-time, for up to 10 devices | About € 6 per device; the site lists this price in euros only. |
Read from getvivid.app on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Vivid before you buy.
Works with
Vivid alternatives
- Vivid vs BetterDisplay
Free plan · from $21.99 one-time
- Vivid vs Lunar
Free plan · from $23 one-time
- Vivid vs Iris
Free trial · from $1.99/mo
- Vivid vs f.lux
Free plan · from $24 one-time
Common questions
Does Vivid have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Vivid is listed for macOS.
Does Vivid have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Vivid is listed for macOS.
Is Vivid open source?
Vivid is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.