Comparison
LUMEL vs BrightIntosh
BrightIntosh is a cheap, open-source brightness booster. LUMEL brightens too — and also dims below the minimum, with a free tier that never expires and no data collected. Here's the honest picture, including where BrightIntosh wins.
Updated June 2026 · Free download · Pro unlock $2.99
The short version
It goes both ways
LUMEL brightens beyond the max AND dims below the minimum. BrightIntosh only brightens.
A free tier that never expires
Compare boost plus unlimited Eclipse dimming, free forever — vs a short trial, then $1.99.
Higher peak, zero data
Toward the panel's ~1600-nit peak (vs ~1000), sandboxed with no data collected.
How LUMEL compares.
A focused, private brightness utility at a small price. Here is the honest picture against the apps people ask about — including where we trade a feature away.
| Capability | LUMEL | Vivid | BrightIntosh | LumiMax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direction | Both — boost + dim | Brighten only | Brighten only | Brighten only |
| Price | Free; Pro unlock $2.99 | €10 direct; $24.99 on the App Store | $1.99 in-app | $16.35 + 10% fee direct |
| Brightness claim | Up to ~1600 nits peak | 1000 nits sustained; App Store references XDR up to 1600 | Up to 1000 nits | Up to 1600 nits |
| Below-minimum dimming | Yes — Eclipse | No — brighten only | No — brighten only | No — brighten only |
| Battery automation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Configurable auto-off timer | Yes | No public evidence | Yes | No public evidence |
| Free tier / trial | Free tier: Compare boost + full Eclipse | Unlimited split-screen trial | 3-day trial | 3-day trial |
| Native brightness keys | No (sandbox tradeoff) | Yes | Yes, after activation | Yes, Pro |
| Privacy | Sandboxed, no network entitlement | App Store: data not collected | App Store: data not collected | States: no data collected |
"No public evidence" means we could not confirm the capability from public sources at the time of writing, not that it is necessarily absent.
Last verified: June 20, 2026.
Where BrightIntosh is the better pick
We'll be straight with you. BrightIntosh is open-source, it's a dollar cheaperat $1.99, and it hooks into your Mac's native brightness keys after activation. If open source matters to you, or you only ever need to go brighter and want the lowest one-time price, BrightIntosh is genuinely a great choice.
If you also want to dim below the minimum at night, a free tier that never expires, the panel's higher peak, and zero data collection — that's LUMEL.
LUMEL vs BrightIntosh — quick answers
Is LUMEL or BrightIntosh cheaper?
BrightIntosh is $1.99 and LUMEL's full-screen Pro unlock is $2.99 — so BrightIntosh is about a dollar cheaper. But LUMEL is free to download with a free tier that never expires (Compare boost plus unlimited Eclipse dimming), so you can use it indefinitely for $0.
Is BrightIntosh open source?
Yes — BrightIntosh is open-source, which is a genuine plus if that matters to you. LUMEL is closed-source, but it's sandboxed with no network entitlement and collects no data.
Can BrightIntosh dim the screen below the minimum?
No. BrightIntosh only brightens. LUMEL also has Eclipse mode, which dims below the macOS minimum for dark rooms and night — so one app covers both directions.
Do they get equally bright?
Both use Apple's public Extended Dynamic Range path. BrightIntosh targets up to about 1000 nits; LUMEL targets the panel's ~1600-nit peak on supported hardware. The real ceiling is set by your Mac, not the app.
Which should I choose?
If you only ever brighten and want open-source at the lowest price, BrightIntosh is a great pick. If you want two-way control (brighten and dim) and a free tier that never expires, choose LUMEL.
Try the two-way one. It's free.
Download LUMEL free, then unlock full-screen boost for a one-time $2.99.
See the full field? Compare every Mac brightness app →