Home Brightness
Apps whose makers say they act on Brightness
Brightness control is the most common thing screen apps do. Some change the monitor's own hardware brightness over DDC, some dim the picture in software, some do both. The tag shows the method only where the maker's quote says it.
11 of 15 apps say so in their own words.
BetterDisplay
Mac, US$21.99 once
“Brightness, volume, and color control: Adjust displays through software controls, DDC, sliders, and keyboard shortcuts, including software dimming down to black.”
Hardware and softwareSource: github.comCareUEyes
Mac, Windows, US$2.90/mo
“CareUEyes adjusts screen brightness through software-based gamma control, so it does not introduce additional PWM flicker.”
SoftwareSource: care-eyes.com“Hardware brightness stays high, where flicker is lowest, while a software overlay does the dimming.”
SoftwareSource: circadianshield.comIris
Mac, Windows, US$1.99/mo
“Your second option is to use Iris which uses the video card to reduce the luminance of the screen.”
SoftwareSource: iristech.coColorControl
Windows, Price not stated
“HDR: toggle HDR and control the SDR brightness setting”
Source: github.comDisplayBuddy
Mac, Windows, US$24.99 once
“DisplayBuddy talks directly to your monitor over DDC. That means real hardware brightness control, not just dimming.”
HardwareSource: displaybuddy.appLunar
Mac, US$23 once
“Lunar uses DDC (Display Data Channel) to send commands like set brightness to 30% or switch input to HDMI 2 directly to the monitor.”
HardwareSource: lunar.fyiMonitorControl
Mac, Free
“Seamlessly combined hardware and software dimming extends dimming beyond the minimum brightness available on your display.”
Hardware and softwareSource: github.comMonitorian
Windows, Free
“The user can change the brightness of monitors, including external ones, either individually or in unison.”
Source: github.comPangoBright
Windows, Free
“It has one job, and one job only: to dim your screen(s).”
Source: pangobright.comTwinkle Tray
Windows, Free
“Twinkle Tray lets you easily manage the brightness levels of multiple monitors.”
Source: twinkletray.com
Mentioned, not claimed
- f.lux: Advice to use the laptop backlight, not an app feature.
- Windows Night light: For external monitors Microsoft points you to the monitor's own buttons.
Not stated
Apple Night Shift, Stillcolor.
Not stated means the maker's pages do not say it. It is not a no.