Side by side

ddcutil vs Monitor Switch

Both stand on monitor control software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

ddcutil

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted

ddcutil offers both command-line monitor controls and a graphical interface, with a C API for programmatic use. Its Linux and display compatibility limits matter, particularly for laptop screens and virtual machines.

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Monitor Switch

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

Monitor Switch combines input switching with a broad set of monitor controls and Home Assistant integration. Consider its early release status, Raspberry Pi setup, limited hardware verification, and LAN-only security model before using it.

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The facts

	ddcutil	Monitor Switch
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Linux, Self-hosted	API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	2	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	ddcutil.com	github.com
On monitor control software	#5 of 24	#9 of 24

ddcutil: what it does well

Reads and changes monitor VCP feature values.
Includes a graphical interface for modifiable settings.
Saves and restores color-related monitor settings.
Provides a C API through libddcutil.so.

What to know first

Does not support laptop displays.
Generally will not run in virtual machines.
Requires the Linux i2c-dev module and user permissions.

Monitor Switch: what it does well

Free and MIT licensed.
Controls input source and exposed monitor settings.
Profiles can override incorrect capability detection.
MQTT discovery exposes Home Assistant controls and sensors.
Reads monitor details including usage hours and power state.

What to know first

Usable but not yet released.
No authentication; intended for a trusted LAN.
Only Samsung Odyssey G9 hardware was verified.
Switching to an off computer shows a black screen.

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