Monitor Switch

Overview

Monitor Switch is a free, MIT-licensed tool for controlling a monitor’s input and other DDC/CI settings through a browser, HTTP API, scripts, or Home Assistant. It suits people who share a monitor between computers and are comfortable setting up a Raspberry Pi. Its broad controls and automation potential are appealing, but its unreleased status and narrow hardware verification make compatibility a real consideration.

Key features

Input switching is the central draw: a Raspberry Pi connected to the monitor can change its source without relying on software installed on each computer. The same service can adjust brightness, contrast, volume, mute, picture mode, colour temperature, RGB gain, and black level when the monitor exposes those controls. It can also report usage hours, firmware level, refresh rates, and power state.

Editable profiles let users define monitor values and override capability auto-detection when a monitor reports its controls incorrectly. Home Assistant uses MQTT discovery to present profile features as entities, including selectors, sliders, and sensors. That makes Monitor Switch a better fit for users who want monitor controls in an existing home-automation setup than for someone seeking only a conventional desktop brightness slider.

There are practical delays and blind spots. Switching to a computer that is off can leave a black screen, and the service cannot detect that situation beforehand. After an input change, a full reread of monitor values takes around 20 seconds on a Pi Zero, so readings may briefly lag. Home Assistant state is polled from the monitor, with input-source polling set to 15 seconds by default.

Pricing

MIT-licensed open-source software: free. The free plan is the software itself, with DDC/CI input switching, monitor controls, and browser, API, script, and Home Assistant access. There is no paid tier to weigh against it; the trade-off is that setup requires a Raspberry Pi running Raspberry Pi OS, an HDMI connection to the monitor, and SSH access.

The project is usable but not yet released. That matters for anyone who needs a finished, broadly verified tool rather than a free project they can configure and assess for their own hardware.

Platforms

Monitor Switch is categorized for web, Linux, API, and self-hosted Raspberry Pi use. Its setup requires Raspberry Pi OS on a Pi connected to the monitor by HDMI and reachable over SSH; the browser interface is one way to access the service, not a replacement for that deployment requirement.

Who it's for

Choose Monitor Switch if you switch one monitor among computers, want controls available independently of the displayed computer, or want to expose monitor settings to Home Assistant. It is less suitable if you cannot run a Raspberry Pi, need the service to identify an offline computer before switching, or require proven support for a particular monitor: the maker reports real-hardware checks only with a Samsung Odyssey G9 and Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.

Security also narrows the right environment. The service has no authentication and is intended for a trusted LAN. It binds to a configurable address rather than 0.0.0.0 by default, but that does not make it appropriate for an untrusted network.

Pros and cons

Pros

• More than input switching: It can expose a wide range of monitor settings and information, subject to what the monitor supports.
• Useful automation hooks: HTTP, scripts, and MQTT-discovered Home Assistant entities offer several ways to incorporate controls into an existing setup.
• Profiles can correct detection: Editable values provide a workaround when a monitor reports its capabilities incorrectly.
• Free and MIT-licensed: There is no software price or proprietary license barrier.

Cons

• Setup depends on a Raspberry Pi: Installation requires Raspberry Pi OS, HDMI connection, and SSH access, so this is not a simple desktop-only utility.
• Compatibility evidence is narrow: Only a Samsung Odyssey G9 with a Pi Zero 2 W has been verified by the maker.
• Offline targets can produce a black screen: The service cannot warn in advance that the selected computer is off.
• Unreleased and unauthenticated: The project is not yet released and is intended only for a trusted LAN.
• Values can lag after switching: A full reread takes around 20 seconds on a Pi Zero, while Home Assistant input state is polled every 15 seconds by default.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Monitor Control Software.

• AOC G-Menu is a free Windows option for supported AOC devices; choose it if you want a vendor utility and do not need Monitor Switch’s Raspberry Pi and Home Assistant approach.
• ASUS DisplayWidget Center is a free download for compatible ASUS monitors on macOS or Windows; it suits users whose monitor and computer fit that combination.
• ddcutil is a free Linux, API, and self-hosted alternative under GPLv2; consider it as another option in that platform category.
• LG OnScreen Control is free for supported monitor models on Windows or macOS, making it a vendor-specific alternative for those systems.
• Lunar is a freemium macOS alternative; consider it if you want a macOS option instead.
• Monitor Brightness Control is a free MIT-licensed Linux tool requiring a DDC/CI-compatible monitor and I2C access; it may suit a Linux brightness-control need without Monitor Switch’s Pi setup.
• Twinkle Tray is free for Windows 10 and 11 and supports most laptops and DDC/CI-enabled monitors; choose it for a Windows-based route.
• ClickMonitorDDC is free for personal use on Windows.

Verdict

Monitor Switch is a strong fit for technically confident users who want to switch a shared monitor and bring its controls into Home Assistant without paying for software. Its combination of profiles, broad DDC/CI controls, and multiple access methods is the reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need a released tool with verified support for your specific monitor, cannot run a Raspberry Pi, or need authentication beyond a trusted LAN.