Crisp
Free, open-source macOS alternative to BetterDisplay and Lunar: a lightweight menu bar app with sharp HiDPI/Retina scaling for external monitors (no more blurry or tiny text), plus brightness (DDC), virtual displays, presets, and color.
What is it?
What it is
Crisp is a free, open‑source, native macOS menu‑bar application that manages external displays, providing HiDPI (Retina‑style) scaling, DDC brightness control, display arrangement, color profiles, presets, virtual screens, and system toggles such as Dark Mode and Night Shift.
Why it exists
It was created to give macOS users a fully free alternative to paid tools like BetterDisplay and Lunar, adding missing features (proper HiDPI scaling, external‑display brightness, disconnecting displays, etc.) without a Pro tier or license key.
Who should use it
macOS users with external monitors who want better scaling, brightness control, and display management features
Who should avoid it
users without external displays, those running macOS older than 15, or those unwilling to grant accessibility/admin permissions
How it works
A quick walkthrough in plain English
How Crisp works
Step 1 of 3
You interact with it
Open Crisp, send a request, or connect it to your stack.
Features
Advantages
- Free and open-source (MIT license) with no Pro tier or license key
- Lightweight, native macOS menu bar app
- Provides proper HiDPI scaling for external monitors, making them look sharp
- Hardware DDC brightness control with software fallback
- Supports presets for quick display configuration changes
- Includes display arrangement and disconnect capabilities
- Offers system toggles (Dark Mode, Night Shift, True Tone) from menu bar
- Provides color adjustment and virtual display creation
- Additional extras like combined brightness slider, auto-brightness, notch hiding, launch at login
- Fully localized in English and Simplified Chinese
Disadvantages
- Requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later
- App is not notarized; first launch requires manual override in Privacy & Security
- Initial HiDPI setup requires administrator password to install display override files
- Brightness-key routing to display under cursor requires Accessibility permission
- Some features (like disconnect displays) may be limited to Apple Silicon
- Relies on DDC support; monitors without DDC may fall back to software gamma only
Installation
native
brew install --cask didriksg/tap/crisp Or download Crisp.dmg from the latest release and drag Crisp to Applications. On first launch, if blocked, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.
FAQ
How do I install Crisp on my Mac?
You can install Crisp via Homebrew with `brew install --cask didriksg/tap/crisp`, or download the latest DMG from the releases page and drag the app into Applications. If you use the DMG, the first launch will be blocked by macOS; open System Settings > Privacy & Security, find Crisp, and click Open Anyway.
Why does Crisp need an administrator password and what does it do?
When you enable HiDPI scaling for a display, Crisp writes an override file into `/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides`. That directory is protected, so the first time you toggle HiDPI you’ll be prompted for your admin password. Subsequent toggles are password‑free.
How can I control the brightness of an external monitor with Crisp?
Crisp uses hardware DDC to adjust brightness on supported displays, with a software gamma fallback for others. It also routes the built‑in brightness keys to the monitor under the cursor (requires Accessibility permission). You can also set auto‑brightness to follow your built‑in screen.
What are presets and how do I use them?
Presets let you save a named configuration of resolution, brightness, and arrangement, complete with a custom icon and color. After creating a preset, you can apply it with a single click from the menu, and you can update it in place.
Can I create virtual HiDPI displays with Crisp?
Yes. Crisp allows you to create HiDPI virtual screens that act like extra monitors. These can be useful for multitasking or for testing layouts without additional hardware.
Featured in Videos
YouTube tutorials and walkthroughs for Crisp
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