The Vivid Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Vivid 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.
Vivid
The Insider’s Guide
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Vivid’s own pages.
Made by Lumen Digital · checked Nov 13, 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 Vivid’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Vivid’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Vivid, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It does that one job, but only on XDR screens, and the free mode lights up just half the screen.
- 1
Best for extra brightness on an XDR Mac screen
Vivid pushes an XDR display past its normal brightness, system-wide.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
- 3
There is a free plan
Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like.
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
System-wide extra brightness
Uses the brightness range macOS normally keeps for HDR content, so the regular brightness keys go past the usual maximum.
- 6
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.
- 7
Battery automation
Vivid can switch on or off depending on battery state, according to its App Store listing.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 69 of 186
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 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.
Vivid at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Lumen Digital
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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 | B | Splitscreen 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 | C | Does 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 | B | No rating on record. You install it and flip a toggle; nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, and only certain Macs. No Windows, Linux, phone or web version. |
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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- M-series MacBook Pro owners who work in bright light
- Studio Display XDR and Pro Display XDR users
- Teams that want one-time licenses for several Macs
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Vivid has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store in-app purchase).
The vendor's own site prices it in euros.
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.
The free plan
Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like.
Read from getvivid.app on Nov 13, 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: macOS
Mac app that unlocks extra brightness on XDR displays. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, menu bar app, display control.
Does its one job fully: system-wide extra brightness, a menu bar toggle, shortcuts and battery automation.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Setapp
Vivid is made by Lumen Digital.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
69/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 75 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186
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 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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
BetterDisplay, Lunar, MonitorControl, Iris and f.lux
The 5 tools Vivid is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
BetterDisplay
Free plan · from $21.99 one-time
- 2.2GPA
Lunar
Free plan · from $23 one-time
- 2.8GPA
MonitorControl
Free
Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays.
- Vivid can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MonitorControl is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Iris
Free trial · from $1.99/mo
Screen color and brightness software for eye comfort.
- Vivid has a free plan. Iris does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Iris lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Vivid also covers menu bar app.
- 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.
- Vivid can be bought with a one-time purchase.
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 Vivid free?
Vivid has a free plan. Splitscreen Mode: half of the screen can reach full brightness, for as long as you like.
How much does Vivid cost?
Vivid lists 4 plans. Splitscreen Mode: $0.
What platforms does Vivid work on?
Vivid is available on macOS.
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.
What does Vivid integrate with?
Vivid's listing names Setapp. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Vivid?
Vivid is made by Lumen Digital.
What are the alternatives to Vivid?
The closest alternatives to Vivid in our directory are BetterDisplay, Lunar, MonitorControl, Iris and f.lux.
How does Vivid compare with other desktop utilities?
Vivid's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
Could I make my own version of Vivid?
To replace Vivid 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 Vivid’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
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 Lumen Digital. Prices change, so check getvivid.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Vivid, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/vivid
- 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, "Vivid: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/vivid
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/vivid/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
- Mos Insider's GuideFree Mac menu bar utility for smooth mouse wheel scrolling3.2 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 Vivid’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. Vivid is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Lumen Digital. Prices and plans change: check getvivid.app before you buy.