BetterDisplay vs Twinkle Tray
BetterDisplay
betterdisplay.pro
Twinkle Tray
twinkletray.comSide by side
| Figure | BetterDisplay | Twinkle Tray |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Monitor Control Software | 8.1 (#5) | 7.2 (#17) |
| Automation | Integrations include macOS Shortcuts, a command-line interface, custom URLs, HTTP, notifications, and scripts. | It supports brightness adjustments by time of day or when the computer is idle. |
| Compatibility limits | Feature availability depends on the Mac, macOS version, display, and connection, and the developer does not guarantee compatibility with every hardware or software configuration. | VGA/DVI connections and some USB, Thunderbolt, or Surface docks with HDMI or DisplayPort may not be compatible. |
| Privacy | Licensing uses Paddle, crash detection and log collection use Sentry, and the privacy policy says users can disable crash reporting, licensing features, and automatic update checks. | The privacy policy says it collects user settings, operating system, CPU name, app version, user interactions, and estimated location through Google Analytics, with an opt-out in Settings. |
| Support | Community help is available through GitHub Issues, Discussions, and Discord; support is voluntary and a license does not guarantee personalized support. | The official site links to GitHub source code, opened issues, and troubleshooting documentation. |
Plans
In their own words
BetterDisplay
BetterDisplay is a macOS app for managing display brightness, resolution, color, and connections. It can provide flexible HiDPI scaling for internal and natively connected external displays, and create virtual screens with different aspect ratios and resolutions. XDR and HDR brightness upscaling is available, though support depends on the Mac and display. Picture in Picture windows can show physical displays or virtual screens, and the app can capture selected windows or groups. Compatible connections support DDC hardware control and HDMI-CEC; network control is listed for LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, Philips Android TV, and Yamaha AVR. Automation options include macOS Shortcuts, command-line access, custom URLs, HTTP, notifications, and scripts. The app is free for non-business users after the 14-day trial, but Pro features require a license. BetterDisplay Pro costs $21.99, paid once for a perpetual license for covered versions and includes at least one year of updates. Businesses need a Pro license after the trial even for free functionality. Compatibility varies with the Mac, macOS version, display, and connection.
Twinkle Tray
Twinkle Tray is a Windows utility for managing brightness on multiple monitors from a system-tray icon. Sliders can adjust one display or all displays at once, and the app can control DDC/CI monitor features such as contrast, volume, and power state. It supports most laptops and DDC/CI-enabled monitors, using WMI for internal laptop displays and DDC/CI for external displays. Users can schedule brightness adjustments by time of day or when the computer is idle, and bind hotkeys to particular displays or all of them. Command-line arguments support custom scripting, and the application is localized in over 20 languages. Twinkle Tray is free and can be obtained through the Microsoft Store or as a GitHub installer. Compatibility may be limited with VGA or DVI connections and some USB, Thunderbolt, or Surface docks using HDMI or DisplayPort. Its privacy policy describes collection of settings, operating system, CPU name, app version, user interactions, and estimated location through Google Analytics; users can opt out in Settings.