MonitorControl vs Crisp
Side-by-side comparison for macOS
MonitorControl
8.5Tool to control external monitor brightness & volume
Crisp
8.0Menu bar display manager: DDC brightness, HiDPI, presets, virtual displays
| Metric | MonitorControl | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Utilities | Utilities |
| AI Score | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| 30-day Installs | 3.0K | 323 |
| 90-day Installs | 9.0K | 323 |
| 365-day Installs | 33.0K | 323 |
| Version | 4.3.3 | 1.5.0 |
| Auto-updates | Yes | Yes |
| Deprecated | No | No |
| GitHub Stars | 32.6K | 1.2K |
| GitHub Forks | 938 | 53 |
| Open Issues | 18 | 9 |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Swift | Swift |
| Last GitHub Commit | 6mo ago | 4d ago |
| First Seen | Aug 9, 2023 | Aug 27, 2026 |
Reviews
MonitorControl
MonitorControl is a macOS app that allows users to control external monitor brightness and volume, providing a seamless experience as if using a native Apple display. It supports keyboard shortcuts and displays native macOS OSDs, making it a must-have for users with external monitors.
Controls brightness and volume of external monitors using keyboard shortcuts or custom commands, displaying native macOS OSDs.
Pros
- + Integrates seamlessly with macOS, providing a native experience.
- + Supports multiple monitors and customizable shortcuts.
- + Actively maintained with a strong community and regular updates.
- + Free and open-source under MIT license.
- + Strong community support and responsive developers.
Cons
- - Some compatibility issues with older macOS versions or specific hardware, though resolved.
- - Limited to macOS, requiring different solutions for other platforms.
Crisp
Crisp is a free, open-source menu bar app for managing displays on macOS, offering features like DDC brightness control, HiDPI scaling, and virtual displays. It serves as a cost-effective alternative to paid apps like BetterDisplay and Lunar, benefiting users with multiple monitors or those seeking precise display control.
Crisp manages display settings through the menu bar, providing tools for brightness adjustment, HiDPI scaling, and virtual display creation.
Pros
- + Free and open-source alternative to paid display management apps
- + Comprehensive features including DDC brightness and HiDPI scaling
- + Actively maintained with regular updates and bug fixes
Cons
- - Low installation count indicating limited adoption
- - Some features may require troubleshooting