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smcFanControl vs MonitorControl

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

smcFanControl

7.0
System Tools

Sets a minimum speed for built-in fans

MonitorControl

8.5
Utilities

Tool to control external monitor brightness & volume

Metric smcFanControl MonitorControl
Category System Tools Utilities
AI Score 7.0 8.5
30-day Installs 314 2.9K
90-day Installs 998 8.6K
365-day Installs 3.3K 30.2K
Version 2.6 4.3.3
Auto-updates No Yes
Deprecated No No
GitHub Stars 2.5K 32.6K
GitHub Forks 303 938
Open Issues 56 18
License GPL-2.0 MIT
Language Objective-C Swift
Last GitHub Commit 2y ago 2mo ago
First Seen Aug 9, 2023 Aug 9, 2023

Reviews

smcFanControl

smcFanControl allows users to set custom fan speeds for better cooling on Intel Macs. It's ideal for those needing precise thermal control, offering features like fan monitoring and target speed adjustments. The app is free, open-source, and compatible with many Intel-based Mac models.

Controls fan speeds to help maintain optimal temperatures on Intel Macs.

Pros

  • + Customizable fan speed control for better cooling
  • + Real-time fan monitoring with temperature tracking
  • + Compatible with a wide range of Intel Mac models
  • + Free and open-source under GPL-2.0

Cons

  • - No auto-update feature requiring manual checks
  • - Known issues with newer Mac models like the 2018 MacBook Pro and 16-inch 2019 MacBook Pro
  • - High energy usage reported in older macOS versions

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.