# ctrlhq vs BetterDisplay: External monitor brightness, from the notch.

> ctrlhq vs BetterDisplay, MonitorControl and Lunar: control external monitor brightness, contrast and volume over DDC from the Mac notch, with brightness keys for every screen.

- ctrlhq: $19 once (launch price, regular $49), no subscription, 14-day money-back guarantee. Native, about 12 MB. macOS 26 Tahoe or later.
- BetterDisplay: display utility. Price: Free, Pro $21.99 once. Source: https://betterdisplay.pro
- Facts checked September 2026. Also relevant if you're looking at MonitorControl, Lunar.

BetterDisplay is a deep display tool: HiDPI scaling, virtual screens, XDR extra brightness, EDID overrides and DDC control. MonitorControl and Lunar focus on brightness. They're all great, and each is another menu bar app.

Most people install them for one thing: changing an external monitor's brightness from the Mac. ctrlhq does that from the notch, with a slider for every display, real DDC brightness, contrast and speaker volume, a software fallback for adapters that block DDC, and brightness keys that follow your pointer.

## ctrlhq vs BetterDisplay at a glance

| | ctrlhq | BetterDisplay |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once (launch price, then $49) | Free, Pro $21.99 once |
| Brightness for every display | Yes | Yes |
| DDC brightness, contrast and volume | Yes | Yes |
| Software dimming fallback | Yes | Yes |
| Brightness keys for external monitors | Yes | Yes |
| Remembers levels per monitor | Yes | Yes |
| HiDPI scaling and virtual screens | No | Yes |
| XDR/HDR extra brightness | No | Yes |
| Extra menu bar icon | No, it's in the notch | Yes |

## Choose BetterDisplay if

- You need HiDPI scaling, virtual displays, EDID overrides or XDR boost.
- You only want a display tool and nothing else.

## Choose ctrlhq if

- You just want to change monitor brightness without another menu bar app.
- You'd use ctrlhq's other tools anyway: tasks, time, clipboard, recording.

## Lightweight by design

ctrlhq is a native Swift app, about 12 MB to download, with no background daemons. It replaces a handful of single-purpose apps with one that's already running in your notch.

## The ctrlhq features that cover BetterDisplay

- [Display brightness](https://ctrlhq.app/features/display-brightness): A slider for each display, including external monitors. Contrast and speaker volume too, where the monitor supports them.

## FAQ

### Is ctrlhq a MonitorControl alternative?

Yes. Same approach, DDC with a software fallback, built into the notch instead of the menu bar.

### Does DDC work through my dock?

Many USB-C adapters, docks and DisplayLink block DDC. ctrlhq notices and dims in software instead. A direct USB-C or DisplayPort cable usually gives full control.

### Intel Macs?

Supported with software dimming. Hardware DDC control is for Apple silicon.

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BetterDisplay is a trademark of its owner. ctrlhq isn't affiliated with it. Download ctrlhq: https://ctrlhq.app/download · All comparisons: https://ctrlhq.app/compare