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BetterDisplay vs Lunar
Which is the better display management for Mac in 2026?
We compared BetterDisplay and Lunar across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. For most users in 2026, BetterDisplay is the better choice because it's open source. Read our full breakdown below.
BetterDisplay
Display management and customization tool
FreeOpen Source
VS
Lunar
Adaptive brightness for external displays
Free
Visual Comparison
BetterDisplay
BetterDisplay — Official Website
Lunar
Lunar — Official Website
Our Verdict
For most users in 2026, BetterDisplay is the better choice because it's open source. However, Lunar remains a solid option for users who prefer its unique features.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BetterDisplay | Lunar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | Yes | No |
| Monthly Installs | N/A | N/A |
| GitHub Stars | N/A | N/A |
| Category | System Utilities | System Utilities |
Quick Install
BetterDisplay
brew install --cask betterdisplayLunar
brew install --cask lunarLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is BetterDisplay?
BetterDisplay (formerly BetterDummy) is the ultimate display utility for macOS, renowned for unlocking HiDPI (Retina) scaling on sub-4K monitors—a feat macOS natively struggles with. Born from the open-source 'BetterDummy' project, it has evolved into a sophisticated tool that creates virtual displays to trick macOS into rendering better resolutions. Beyond scaling, it offers robust DDC/CI hardware control for brightness and volume, XDR brightness upscaling for compatible displays, and comprehensive EDID management. As of 2026, it stands as the de-facto standard for fixing blurry text on external monitors and managing complex multi-display setups with a lightweight, native-feeling footprint. BetterDisplay has rapidly become the go-to display management utility for power users on macOS, particularly those running non-Apple external monitors that lack native brightness and resolution controls. Developed by István Tóth (the same developer behind MonitorControl), BetterDisplay goes far beyond simple brightness adjustment — it creates virtual displays, enables XDR and HDR brightness upscaling on compatible screens, allows custom HiDPI resolutions for monitors that macOS does not natively support, and provides granular color profile management. As of 2026, BetterDisplay supports macOS Sequoia and Tahoe natively, runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and has amassed over 20,000 GitHub stars, making it one of the most popular open-source Mac utilities in the display management category.
What is Lunar?
Lunar is an intelligent display management application designed to make external monitors behave as smartly as Apple's built-in screens. Its headline feature is 'Adaptive Brightness,' which uses data from your MacBook's ambient light sensor (Sync Mode), an external sensor, or your geographical location (Location Mode) to automatically adjust monitor brightness throughout the day. Lunar uses DDC/CI (Display Data Channel) to control the monitor's actual hardware backlight rather than just darkening the video signal. With a distinct, visually rich dashboard interface, Lunar appeals to users who want powerful automation and deep customization options for inputs and gamma curves. Lunar has carved out a unique niche by focusing on intelligent, automated brightness adjustments that adapt to your environment without manual intervention. Its standout feature is adaptive brightness syncing that matches your external monitor's brightness to your MacBook's built-in display or ambient light sensor readings, so your screens stay visually consistent as room lighting changes throughout the day. Lunar also supports XDR brightness for Apple displays, Sub-zero dimming for working in dark rooms, custom keyboard shortcuts, and a CLI for scripting brightness changes. The app uses DDC/CI, gamma tables, and software overlays depending on your hardware, ensuring broad compatibility with monitors from Dell, LG, Samsung, BenQ, and virtually every major manufacturer.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Resolution & HiDPI Scaling
CriticalBetterDisplayExcellent
This is BetterDisplay's crown jewel. It allows you to force HiDPI (Retina) resolutions on 1440p or 1080p monitors where macOS normally disables them. It creates virtual 'dummy' displays that mirror to your physical screen, bypassing macOS limitations to deliver crisp text. It also offers precise custom resolution lists.
LunarFair
Lunar focuses primarily on brightness and DDC controls. While it has some resolution switching capabilities, it relies more on standard macOS APIs and does not offer the advanced virtual display mirroring or 'dummy' creation tools that define BetterDisplay's text-sharpening capabilities.
Verdict: BetterDisplay is the undisputed king of resolution scaling and text clarity.
Adaptive Brightness (Automation)
HighBetterDisplayGood
BetterDisplay supports brightness syncing (matching external monitor brightness to the built-in display). However, its implementation is generally simpler and less customizable regarding sensor curves compared to Lunar's dedicated engines.
LunarExcellent
Lunar excels here with multiple automation modes: Sync (matches MacBook), Location (sun position), and Sensor (external hardware support). It allows for complex curve calibration, ensuring that '50%' brightness on your MacBook matches the perceptual '50%' on your specific external monitor.
Verdict: Lunar offers the most sophisticated and customizable automated brightness controls.
XDR/HDR Brightness Upscaling
HighBetterDisplayExcellent
BetterDisplay popularized the method of unlocking the full 1600 nits of Apple's XDR displays for standard desktop content. Its implementation is stable, offering a slider to push brightness beyond the standard 500-nit SDR limit seamlessly.
LunarGood
Lunar also supports XDR brightness unlocking. It works effectively, but users often report that BetterDisplay's implementation feels slightly more consistent across sleep/wake cycles and different macOS updates.
Verdict: BetterDisplay provides a slightly more stable and integrated XDR unlocking experience.
DDC/CI Hardware Control
CriticalBetterDisplayExcellent
Provides direct hardware control for brightness, volume, and contrast via DDC. It supports a wide range of connection types (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C) and includes features to overcome DDC blocking on M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs.
LunarExcellent
Lunar is built on a robust DDC engine (which the developer helped pioneer for Apple Silicon). It offers extensive troubleshooting options for stubborn monitors that don't respond well to standard DDC commands, including Raspberry Pi-based external sensor integration.
Verdict: Both apps handle hardware control exceptionally well, with negligible difference in reliability.
Input Switching
MediumBetterDisplayGood
Allows changing monitor inputs (e.g., HDMI 1 to DP) via the menu bar or keyboard shortcuts. It's functional and reliable but tucked away in the menu lists.
LunarExcellent
Lunar treats input switching as a first-class feature, with a prominent UI and dedicated hotkeys that are easier to set up for KVM-style workflows. It even attempts to detect the active input state more aggressively.
Verdict: Lunar makes managing multiple inputs and computers significantly easier.
Virtual/Dummy Displays
HighBetterDisplayExcellent
The core differentiator. You can create fully customizable virtual screens, use them for Picture-in-Picture, or stream them to other devices. Essential for headless Mac Minis or creating specific aspect ratios for streaming.
LunarLimited
Lunar does not natively support the creation of virtual dummy displays. It focuses on managing the physical displays you have connected.
Verdict: BetterDisplay is the only choice if you need virtual display capabilities.
Interface & Native Feel
MediumBetterDisplayExcellent
Designed to look and feel exactly like a macOS system menu. It lives in the menu bar and uses standard Apple UI controls (sliders, toggles), making it feel like a native extension of the OS.
LunarGood
Uses a custom, non-native UI design. While beautiful and information-dense, it stands out visually from the rest of macOS. Some users love the 'dashboard' look; others find it distracting.
Verdict: BetterDisplay blends seamlessly into macOS, while Lunar imposes its own aesthetic.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Web Developer
BetterDisplay
Needs to test responsive designs on various resolutions. BetterDisplay's virtual screens allow simulating 4K or mobile viewports instantly.
2The Photographer
Lunar
Needs consistent lighting. Lunar's ability to lock brightness or use an external sensor ensures the monitor doesn't drift during editing sessions.
3The Office Worker
BetterDisplay
Uses a standard 1440p monitor that looks blurry on macOS. BetterDisplay fixes the text sharpness immediately with HiDPI overrides.
4The Smart Home Enthusiast
Lunar
Wants their setup to react to the environment. Lunar's location mode dims the screens automatically as the sun sets.
5The Minimalist
BetterDisplay
Wants a utility that hides in the menu bar and uses negligible RAM. BetterDisplay fits the 'invisible utility' ethos perfectly.
6The Developer with a Non-Standard Monitor Setup
BetterDisplay
Developers running ultrawide, 4K, or high-refresh-rate monitors that macOS does not natively support at ideal resolutions will find BetterDisplay indispensable. Its virtual display feature forces macOS to recognize custom resolutions like scaled HiDPI modes on 1440p monitors, delivering the crisp text rendering that Apple reserves for its own displays. This eliminates the blurry text problem that plagues many third-party monitors on macOS and makes long coding sessions significantly more comfortable.
7The Night Owl Working in Low Light
Lunar
If you frequently work in dimly lit environments and find even your monitor's minimum brightness too harsh, Lunar's Sub-zero dimming feature is a game-changer. It uses software dimming to push brightness below the hardware minimum, creating a comfortable viewing experience in near-darkness without eye strain. Combined with its automatic brightness scheduling that can gradually dim your screens as evening approaches, Lunar provides a set-it-and-forget-it solution for protecting your eyes during late-night sessions.
8The Creative Professional Needing Color Accuracy
BetterDisplay
Photographers and video editors who need precise control over color profiles, gamma curves, and white point settings benefit from BetterDisplay's advanced display configuration options. The ability to create and apply custom ICC color profiles, override macOS display defaults, and fine-tune gamma channels individually gives creatives the level of control typically only found in hardware calibration tools. BetterDisplay also supports HDR content workflows, enabling proper tone mapping on compatible displays.
Migration Guide
Betterdisplay → Lunar
Uninstall BetterDisplay (drag to trash). Install Lunar. You will lose your virtual display configurations, as Lunar does not support them. You will need to re-calibrate your brightness preferences, as Lunar uses a curve-based approach rather than simple linear sliders. Set up 'Sync Mode' immediately to replicate BetterDisplay's brightness control.
Lunar → Betterdisplay
Uninstall Lunar. Install BetterDisplay. If you relied on Lunar's 'Location Mode', you will need to manually adjust brightness more often. You gain the ability to set custom resolutions. Check the 'Displays' menu to enable 'High Resolution (HiDPI)' for any monitors that looked blurry before.
Pro Tips
Do not run both apps simultaneously for DDC control. They will fight over the monitor connection, causing flickering or unresponsive controls. Choose one master app for brightness.
Final Verdict
Overall Winner
BetterDisplay
9.2/10
Winner
8.8/10
Runner-up
In the battle of Mac display utilities, **BetterDisplay** takes the crown by being the more versatile all-rounder. Its ability to fix fundamental macOS resolution issues (HiDPI) while simultaneously offering robust brightness control makes it an essential install for almost every external monitor user. It feels like a native part of the operating system. **Lunar** is an exceptional runner-up that remains the superior choice for users specifically focused on *automation*—if you want your monitors to 'breathe' with the daylight, Lunar is unmatched. But for the broader set of problems Mac users face (scaling, inputs, and manual control), BetterDisplay is the more complete solution.
Bottom Line: Download BetterDisplay first for the resolution magic; switch to Lunar only if you need advanced automated brightness syncing.
Video Tutorials
BetterDisplay Mac Tutorial: Fix Display Resolution & Refresh Rate
Rafal Reyzer • 28.8K views
BetterDisplay Resolution Scaling Fix For Mac HiDPI mode
MacHow2 • 79.2K views
Useful Mac App #6 BetterDisplay #apple #mac
ASHEN • 9.9K views
Tip - BetterDisplay - Preview
ScreenCastsONLINE • Apple-focused Videos • 21.5K views
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically yes, but it is not recommended. Both apps attempt to send DDC commands to your monitor hardware. If both try to adjust brightness simultaneously, it can cause conflicts, flickering, or command timeouts. If you must use both (e.g., BetterDisplay for resolution and Lunar for brightness), you must disable DDC control in BetterDisplay's settings to prevent it from interfering with Lunar's brightness operations.
About the Author
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Related Technologies & Concepts
BetterDisplayLunarDDC/CIHiDPIWaydabberAlin PanaitiuEDIDXDR UpscalingDummy DisplayAmbient Light Sensor
BetterDisplay (Main Subject), Lunar (Main Subject), DDC/CI (Core feature for hardware control), HiDPI (Key feature of BetterDisplay), Waydabber (Developer of BetterDisplay), Alin Panaitiu (Developer of Lunar), EDID (Display data managed by both apps), XDR Upscaling (High brightness unlock feature), Dummy Display (Virtualization tech in BetterDisplay), Ambient Light Sensor (Used by Lunar for Sync Mode)
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
- 1BetterDisplay GitHub Repository & Wiki
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 2Lunar - Intelligent Adaptive Brightness
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 3BetterDisplay Pro Pricing & Licensing
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 4Lunar Pro Features & Pricing
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 5Reddit: Monitor Control Apps Comparison 2025
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
Research queries: BetterDisplay vs Lunar Mac comparison 2025 2026; Lunar app adaptive brightness features vs BetterDisplay; BetterDisplay Pro pricing vs Lunar Pro pricing 2025; BetterDisplay GitHub open source license status; BetterDisplay vs Lunar CPU memory usage