Overview

The project brings together a graphical interface, command-line interface, and background service. You can adjust brightness and contrast, refresh monitor status, and switch between Day, Night, and Gaming profiles. Custom profiles and startup application make a preferred setup repeatable, while global shortcuts allow changes without opening the GUI.

Multi-monitor support is a real strength. Compatible displays are detected, each monitor can be controlled separately, and batch operations can apply changes across connected screens. That makes the utility a sensible fit for Linux workstations with several external monitors, provided every display exposes the required DDC/CI controls.

Key features

Profiles and shortcuts

Day, Night, and Gaming presets offer immediate starting points, and custom profiles let users tailor settings to different tasks. A profile can be applied at startup, which is useful for a consistent working environment. Customizable global hotkeys can switch profiles or change brightness quickly. There is no settings scheduling or automatic brightness, so time-based or sensor-driven changes are outside the current feature set.

Monitor controls

The GUI provides real-time brightness and contrast sliders, profile selection, and monitor refresh. Command-line access is valuable for scripts and repeatable workflows, while the background service can run as a user systemd service. The tool controls brightness and contrast; input switching and auto brightness are not included.

Compatibility and setup

A DDC/CI-compatible monitor and I2C communication are required, with ddcutil listed as a system dependency. DisplayPort and modern HDMI connections are fully supported, DVI-D is limited, and VGA is unsupported. Installation is documented through a shell script, pip, or a source checkout. Users must grant I2C group access and load the i2c-dev module, so it is more involved than a typical desktop brightness utility.

The README identifies Ubuntu 20.04+, Linux Mint 20+, Debian 11+, Fedora 35+, Arch Linux/Manjaro, and openSUSE as tested distributions. The project is MIT-licensed, and support is handled through GitHub bug reports, feature requests, and contributions. Planned work includes a web interface, REST API, time-based profiles, and ambient-light integration, but those capabilities are not part of the current tool.

Pricing

Free — free. This is an MIT-licensed Linux tool with no paid tier described. The trade-off is operational rather than financial: you need a compatible monitor, a supported connection, and I2C access configured on the system.

Platforms

Monitor Brightness Control supports Linux. The tested distribution list covers Ubuntu 20.04+, Linux Mint 20+, Debian 11+, Fedora 35+, Arch Linux/Manjaro, and openSUSE. DisplayPort and modern HDMI are fully supported, DVI-D has limited support, and VGA is unsupported.

Who it's for

Choose it if you run Linux with external DDC/CI-capable monitors and want several control methods, per-monitor handling, profiles, and keyboard shortcuts. It is particularly suitable for multi-display desks, command-line users, and people who want a user service to restore or manage settings.

Look elsewhere if your display lacks DDC/CI, uses VGA, or you need input switching, automatic brightness, or scheduled profile changes. The I2C permissions and module setup also make it a better fit for users comfortable with Linux system configuration.

Pros and cons

Pros: GUI, CLI, and background-service interfaces cover interactive and automated workflows.
Pros: Per-monitor and batch operations make multi-display management practical.
Pros: Built-in and custom profiles, startup application, and configurable global shortcuts support repeatable setups.
Cons: Operation depends on DDC/CI-compatible hardware and I2C access.
Cons: VGA is unsupported and DVI-D support is limited.
Cons: There is no input switching, scheduling, or automatic brightness.

Alternatives

See the Monitor Control Software directory for more options.

Lunar is the better direction for macOS users seeking a freemium monitor-control app with a free trial. Choose Monitor Switch for an MIT-licensed option spanning API, Linux, self-hosted, and web environments, though it requires a Raspberry Pi and is not yet released. AOC G-Menu suits Windows users with supported AOC devices.

Twinkle Tray is a free Windows 10 and 11 choice for most laptops and DDC/CI-enabled monitors. On macOS, BetterDisplay offers a freemium product with a 21.99 USD perpetual BetterDisplay Pro license for covered versions. DDCcontrol is another free Linux option, while ddcutil is free GPLv2 software for API, Linux, and self-hosted use. ASUS DisplayWidget Center is a free download for compatible ASUS monitors on macOS and Windows.

Verdict

Monitor Brightness Control is a strong free choice for Linux users with DDC/CI-capable external monitors, especially multi-monitor setups that benefit from profiles, hotkeys, and both GUI and command-line control. Its main reason to look elsewhere is equally clear: incompatible hardware, VGA connections, or a need for scheduling, ambient automation, or input switching will leave important requirements unmet.

	Monitor Brightness Control	Monitorian
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial		No
Paid from	Free	Free
Platforms	Linux	Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Supported platforms	Linux	Windows
DDC/CI control	Yes	Yes
Input switching	No
Monitor profiles	Yes
Settings scheduling	No
CLI or API access	Yes	Yes
Auto brightness	No

Monitor Brightness Control vs Monitorian

Monitor Brightness Control

Monitorian