Monitor Brightness Control
Monitor Brightness Control is a free Linux utility for adjusting brightness and contrast on external monitors through DDC/CI.
What Monitor Brightness Control is
Monitor Brightness Control is a free Linux utility for adjusting brightness and contrast on external monitors through DDC/CI. It offers a command-line interface, a graphical interface with real-time sliders, and a background service. Day, Night, and Gaming presets are included, and users can create custom profiles or apply one at startup. Customizable global shortcuts can change profiles or brightness. The utility detects compatible monitors, supports per-display adjustments, and can apply batch operations across connected screens. It requires a DDC/CI-compatible monitor and I2C communication, with ddcutil listed as a system dependency. DisplayPort and HDMI are fully supported, DVI-D support is limited, and VGA is unsupported. Setup instructions cover a shell script, pip, or source checkout, plus granting I2C group access and loading the i2c-dev module. It can run as a user systemd service and is licensed under MIT.
Good
- GUI includes real-time brightness and contrast sliders.
- Day, Night, and Gaming profiles are included.
- Customizable global shortcuts adjust brightness or switch profiles.
- Supports individual and batch multi-monitor control.
Watch out
- Requires a DDC/CI-compatible monitor and I2C access.
- VGA is unsupported; DVI-D support is limited.
- Input switching and automatic brightness are not supported.
Who it suits
This tool suits Linux users who want to adjust compatible external monitors individually or in groups. It is a fit for users who can meet its DDC/CI and I2C requirements and use a supported connection.
Verdict
Monitor Brightness Control offers several ways to adjust compatible displays, including presets, shortcuts, and multi-monitor operations. Confirm monitor compatibility and I2C setup requirements before installing.
Plans and prices
From Monitor Brightness Control's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | MIT-licensed Linux tool · requires DDC/CI-compatible monitor and I2C access |
The facts
Each one read from Monitor Brightness Control's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Compatibility
- The README lists Ubuntu 20.04+, Linux Mint 20+, Debian 11+, Fedora 35+, Arch Linux/Manjaro, and openSUSE as tested distributions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Connection limits
- DisplayPort and modern HDMI are listed as fully supported, DVI-D as limited, and VGA as unsupported.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Connections
- The README lists DisplayPort and HDMI as fully supported, DVI-D as limited, and VGA as unsupported.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Controls
- The GUI provides real-time brightness and contrast sliders, Day/Night/Gaming presets, and monitor refresh.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Hotkeys
- Global shortcuts can switch profiles or adjust brightness, and the key combinations are customizable.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README documents installation through a shell script, pip, or source checkout.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It uses ddcutil for DDC/CI communication and can run as a user systemd service on Linux.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- It provides a command-line interface, a graphical interface, and a background service.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under the MIT License.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Multi-monitor
- The tool detects compatible monitors, supports per-monitor control, and can apply batch operations across connected displays.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Multiple monitors
- Detects DDC/CI-compatible monitors and supports individual or batch control across connected displays.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Profiles
- It includes Day, Night, and Gaming profiles, supports custom profiles, and can apply a profile at startup.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Controls brightness and contrast of external monitors through DDC/CI on Linux.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- It requires a DDC/CI-compatible monitor and I2C communication; the README lists ddcutil as a system dependency.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Roadmap
- The roadmap lists a web interface, REST API, time-based profiles, and ambient-light integration as planned items.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security and privacy
- The README instructs users to grant I2C group access and load the i2c-dev module; it makes no security or compliance certification claim.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README invites bug reports, feature requests, and contributions through GitHub.checked 7 Oct 2026
Alternatives to Monitor Brightness Control
- 1
ddcutil
Free planAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.6Free plan - 2
ClickMonitorDDC
Free planWindows6.5Free plan - 3
Lunar
Free planmacOS6.5$23 one-time - 4
DisplayBuddy
macOSWindows6.3$24.99 one-time - 5
Monitor Switch
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.3Free plan - 6
AOC G-Menu
Free planWindows6.2Free plan