Best Monitor Control Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ASUS DisplayWidget Center is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of ddcutil and Lunar. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ddcutil.
Adjusting a monitor from your computer can involve direct controls, profiles or automation. Compare DDC/CI control, input switching and auto brightness with monitor profiles, settings scheduling, and CLI or API access. Supported platforms, free plans and paid-from prices help round out the comparison. DeepPurge, ASUS DisplayWidget Center and Lunar are among the first entries, with Twinkle Tray and ClickMonitorDDC also near the start. Consider which controls you need to reach, whether you want settings to follow a schedule, and whether scriptable access matters for your monitor setup.
25 monitor control software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
6 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASUS DisplayWidget CenterWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 2 | ddcutilLinux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 3 | LunarMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 4 | Twinkle TrayWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | ClickMonitorDDCWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 6 | MonitorControlMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | DeepPurgeWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 8 | DDC-CI Control BridgeWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 9 | WhatInStartupWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 10 | BetterDisplayMac | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 11 | ControlMyMonitorWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 12 | DDCcontrolLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | ddcctlMac | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | ExtLumeWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | LG OnScreen ControlWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | m1ddcMac | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | Monitor Brightness ControlLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | Monitor SwitchWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | AOC G-MenuWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | ddcciLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | Dell Command | UpdateWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | DisplayBuddyWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | MonitorianWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | winddcutilWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | PowerToys Command PaletteNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which monitor control software is ranked first on Freedom251?
ASUS DisplayWidget Center is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 6.4. ddcutil is second and Lunar third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.