LG OnScreen Control vs Monitor Switch
LG OnScreen Control
lg.comMonitor Switch
github.comSide by side
| Figure | LG OnScreen Control | Monitor Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Monitor Control Software | 7.5 (#13) | 8.0 (#6) |
| Monitor controls | The app can adjust brightness, contrast, and other monitor settings; a USB connection between the PC and monitor is required for these settings and firmware updates. | It can expose monitor controls including brightness, contrast, volume, mute, picture mode, colour temperature, RGB gain, and black level. |
| Purpose | OnScreen Control lets users manage LG monitor features from a PC, including Screen Split, monitor settings, and software or firmware updates. | Monitor Switch changes a monitor’s input source using DDC/CI, controlled through HTTP, a web UI, or Home Assistant. |
Plans
In their own words
LG OnScreen Control
LG OnScreen Control is a desktop utility for managing features on certain LG monitors from Windows or macOS. It offers Screen Split, which divides the display into regions, and controls for brightness, contrast, and other monitor settings. My application Preset can change picture mode when you click a chosen application window, while Game mode settings let you adjust game-related monitor settings. The 5:9 Preview feature displays an application in a 5:9 area that you can move to a preferred position. The app can also update monitor firmware. A USB connection is required for settings and firmware updates; firmware updates also need internet access and a supported USB cable. Support depends on the monitor model, so LG advises checking its owner’s manual. The app does not support the PC’s Duplicate display setting; LG advises using Extend mode if its menu does not appear. A non-genuine cable or adapter can prevent DDC/CI communication, and using a third-party monitor may limit some features. The download is free for supported models.
Monitor Switch
Monitor Switch is an MIT-licensed service for switching a monitor’s input and controlling its DDC/CI features through a browser interface, HTTP API, scripts, or Home Assistant. It is designed for people who use one monitor with multiple computers, including when the computer currently displayed is asleep or off. Where a monitor exposes the controls, the service can adjust brightness, contrast, volume, mute, picture mode, colour temperature, RGB gain, and black level. It can also read usage hours, firmware level, refresh rates, and power state. Editable profiles set monitor values and can replace incorrect capability detection. For Home Assistant, MQTT discovery presents profile features as entities such as selectors, sliders, and sensors. The service runs on a Raspberry Pi connected to the monitor by HDMI; setup requires Raspberry Pi OS and SSH, and installation uses an Ansible playbook. The project is described as usable but not yet released. Hardware verification is reported only for a Samsung Odyssey G9 with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W; other monitors have not been verified.