BetterDisplay
Kodeon Software / waydabber · Mac display controls for brightness, resolution and monitor arrangement, with paid Pro features for HiDPI scaling, image adjustments, virtual screens and streaming.
About
BetterDisplay is Kodeon Software's macOS display-management application, developed by waydabber. It provides menu-bar controls for users working with external monitors, multiple displays, scaled interfaces and specialized presentation or remote-access setups.
Features and license boundaries
- Change display resolution, brightness, refresh rate and rotation through menu-bar controls, where supported.
- Use DDC or supported network-device controls for monitor brightness, volume and input selection; HDMI-CEC support depends on compatible connections.
- Arrange displays visually, configure display groups and access display diagnostics.
- Pro enables flexible HiDPI scaling, advanced image filters and custom 3D LUTs, plus supported XDR/HDR brightness expansion.
- Pro features include advanced virtual screens, display connection management, configuration protection and picture-in-picture or selected-window streaming.
- Automation includes a built-in console, CLI and Shortcuts; advanced integration and per-display command execution require Pro.
Not every menu item is free or available on every monitor. Consult the official free/Pro comparison before relying on a feature.
Installation and first use
Install brew install --cask betterdisplay, or download the official DMG appropriate for your macOS version and drag BetterDisplay.app to Applications. Launch it and open its menu-bar icon; Settings contains explanations for individual controls. Start with ordinary brightness and resolution controls, then configure more advanced features only when supported by your hardware. Grant requested macOS permissions for the features you choose, such as screen capture/streaming. Homebrew also installs a betterdisplaycli command wrapper; a separate CLI package is not a prerequisite for basic use.
System requirements and platforms
BetterDisplay 5.1.1 supports Apple Silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 26.3 or later according to its official release record and current README. The publisher also documents macOS 27 compatibility. Older macOS systems should use the appropriate older app line: BetterDisplay 4 for macOS 13.2 and newer, 2.3.9 for macOS 12.4 and newer, and 1.4.15 for older supported systems. Homebrew's macOS-specific variations select older versions on Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia. These variants do not mean version 5.1.1 runs on those older systems.
This is a macOS application, with no official Windows or Linux build listed. The cask declares no additional formula dependency. A compatible physical display and connection are needed for hardware controls; DDC, HDMI-CEC, HDR, XDR and color-format features depend on the Mac, cable, monitor and OS. The app cannot guarantee every display capability. No fixed RAM or installed-storage minimum was confirmed in the retrieved official requirements. The universal 5.1.1 DMG download is 29,221,663 bytes, distinct from installed space.
Conflicts, safety and cleanup
Homebrew declares no named cask conflict. Other display or brightness tools controlling the same display can produce competing settings; test controls separately if adjustments behave unexpectedly. Some OSD tools deliberately integrate with BetterDisplay, so their presence alone does not establish a conflict. A manual BetterDisplay.app installation can occupy the same Applications path.
Version 5.0.6 adds protections for disconnecting the built-in display on affected base M3 MacBooks and for color-table adjustments with custom profiles. Overriding those safeguards may require a restart to recover a disconnected screen or expose a macOS black-screen issue. Read the app's warnings rather than assuming all overrides are safe for your setup. Optional Homebrew zap removes BetterDisplay/BetterDummy support data, preferences and caches; preserve settings you need first.
Accounts, price and license
BetterDisplay is proprietary software, not an open-source application simply because releases and issue tracking are hosted on GitHub. Many features are free for non-business use. The official current release states that business use beyond the trial requires a license. A 14-day trial enables Pro features. Pro is a paid perpetual license rather than a subscription, with at least one year of updates including major upgrades released during that coverage period. Checkout price, currency and taxes may vary; use the official purchase page for the current total.
BetterDisplay 5 is a free upgrade for Pro licenses bought on or after January 1, 2025. Built-in upgrades preserve an existing activation with an older license but show an outdated-license notice. Such a license cannot activate a new or deactivated version 5 installation: do not deactivate an existing installation if you intend to retain that activation. Purchasing and activation are separate from merely installing the app; review the upgrade FAQ for your license.
Official references
New What’s new in 5.1.1 Oct 7 · OpenNavo editorial
- ControlsImprove native USB audio response and volume feedback routing.
- RecoveryFix brightness jumps and lingering Control Center OSD after wake.
- InterfaceAdd guide links and contextual help in Settings.