Display Switches and the Volume Mixer vs. Twinkle Tray, Monitorian, EarTrumpet and DisplayFusion
Windows makes you dig for three everyday things: the brightness of an external monitor (its own buttons, under the bezel), the volume of one program (a
Windows makes you dig for three everyday things: the brightness of an external monitor (its own buttons, under the bezel), the volume of one program (a mixer page in Settings), and which monitor is the main one (Settings > Display, then a confirmation dialog). Good small tools fill those gaps: Twinkle Tray and Monitorian for brightness, EarTrumpet for per-app volume, and DisplayFusion for everything about monitors.
SlyPilot puts the everyday part of all of them into two cards that open with one key, work by voice, are sized for touch, and never take the focus.
Facts about other products were checked in October 2026; see their sites for the current features and prices.
📊 Side by Side
| SlyPilot (free) | Twinkle Tray / Monitorian | EarTrumpet | DisplayFusion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness of every monitor (built-in and DDC/CI) | Yes, − / + per monitor | Yes, sliders, more options (schedules, linked levels) | — | Yes |
| Resolution and refresh rate | Yes, from the driver's list, kept only when you press Keep (else put back after 15 s) | — | — | Yes, with profiles |
| Make a monitor the main one | Yes, also "make this monitor the main one" by voice | — | — | Yes |
| Per-program volume and mute | Yes, plus "spotify volume 60" by voice | — | Yes, a tray flyout | — |
| Where the sound comes out | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| Bluetooth headphones: connect and battery | Yes, "connect my headphones" | — | — | — |
| Voice, palette, automations | Yes | Hotkeys | — | Hotkeys, triggers |
| Taskbars, wallpapers per monitor, window management | Window management yes (snap, rules), taskbars and wallpapers no | — | — | Yes, its strength |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Paid (free version with fewer features) |
🧭 What Is Different About SlyPilot's
- One key each, one card each.
Ctrl+Alt+Win+Bfor displays,Ctrl+Alt+Win+Xfor sound. The key again closes them. - By voice. "make this monitor the main one", "mute chrome", "connect my headphones", "headphones battery".
- It can't leave you with a black screen. Every display change waits for Keep.
- In automations. "When a call starts, connect my headphones"; "at 6 pm, start my evening mode".
⚖️ When Another Tool Is the Better Choice
- Brightness on a schedule or linked across monitors with sliders: Twinkle Tray.
- Monitor profiles, taskbars on every monitor, wallpapers per monitor: DisplayFusion.
- A per-app volume flyout right in the tray: EarTrumpet, beloved for good reason.