Ensure accurate color with the best monitor calibration tools.
Having the best monitor calibrator will help you verify that your monitor displays colors as accurately as possible. While visiting this site, chances are you are working with color, whether it’s for video, digital art, design, or photography. And as such, you will know that precision is key. Here’s our guide to the best monitor calibrators on the market right now.
Why do I need a monitor calibrator?
Calibrating your monitor ensures that your colors are accurate. Essentially, that means you know that what you’re seeing on your screen is what everyone else will see. This is especially important as your work environment can have a huge impact on how colors will appear on a screen.
Calibrating a monitor correctly also means that you are taking care of yourself. It will help reduce eyestrain when you work hard.
If you or your business have invested in a good quality monitor, these tools will help ensure that it works as it should. If you are not making the most of it, then you are not giving yourself the best opportunity to do a great job.
There are many different options for monitor calibration tools, including software downloads, online tools, and the built-in calibration tools in Windows and macOS. But nothing offers the precision and continued reliability of a hardware calibrator. This is by far the best method to ensure that you get an accurate display that reflects the colors of the real world.
Now let’s look at the top gauges of the monitor. We’ve rounded up the best options based on price, features, usability, and overall effectiveness. We answer the questionwhat is the best calibrator for monitors? keep option 1 in mind.
Best monitor calibrators for design and photography
01. Datacolor Spyder5ELITE
The best monitor calibrator for professionals.
Settings: Unlimited | Laptop and desktop computer: yes, more front projector screens | Connector: USB
- Use in assistant or expert mode
- Designed for professionals.
- Expensive
In addition to making laptop and desktop monitor screens correct, it provides a lot more in terms of setup, but only takes about five minutes to calibrate (less for subsequent calibrations).Spyder5ELITE
There is a simple wizard-based mode, but also an expert mode. There are ‘unlimited’ calibration settings plus gray balance. You can calibrate all of your displays on a single target, while there is ambient light monitoring to determine the optimal monitor brightness. You can see the ‘before and after’ results using your own images.
02. X-Rite i1 Display Pro
Another top professional calibrator
Settings: Unlimited | Laptop and desktop computer: yes, more projectors | Connector: USB
- Reuse the same profile on multiple displays
- Many options
- expensive
The incredible X-Rite i1 Display Pro It comes with a ton of options, but then you pay for it. You can use your profile on multiple displays (either on the same machine or network), as well as evaluate the ambient light in your workspace to configure your monitor for the best results.
A technology called Flare Correct will measure and adjust your screen profile to reduce the contrast ratios caused by glare on your screen. Video color standards are also incorporated, so video editors can also configure their display for better results.
The X-Rite i1 Display PRO is a bit pricey, but our price comparison tool scours the web to find the best price. The X-Rite i1 Display Studio below is a cheaper option.
Want to measure super bright screens over 1000 nits? Then go for the X-Rite i1Display Pro Plus (also below).
03. Datacolor Spyder5EXPRESS
Best entry-level screen calibrator
Settings: 2 | Laptop and desktop: yes | Connector: USB
- Budget option
- Easy to use
- Not as many settings as most
- Professionals probably want more
the Datacolor Spyder5EXPRESS it’s a really simple route to color accuracy and is best for hobbyists, students, and prosumers rather than professional designers. It’s an easy four-step process with just two settings and you can see a ‘before and after’ view on the preset images.
The software is available through a download link provided with the box. However, creative professionals will likely be looking for more.
04. X-Rite i1Display Studio
No ambient light monitoring, but it will do the rest
Settings: N / A | Laptop and desktop: yes | Connector: USB
- Easy to use
- Good value for what you get
- No ambient light monitoring
Sitting under the X-Rite i1 Display Pro Above is the X-Rite i1Display Studio which offers almost all of the same features. The key difference is the lack of ambient light monitoring. This is a definite drawback if you really want to get things going in an office environment.
The measurement speed is also not as high as the Pro, but this may or may not bother you. For our money, this will calibrate your screen very well without the added expense of the Pro or Pro Plus.
05. Datacolor Spyder5PRO
Another great monitor calibrator from Datacolor
Settings: 16 | Laptop and desktop: yes | Connector: USB
- Easy to use
- Many configurations
- There are cheaper alternatives
Datacolor has a number of monitor calibrators on this list, and for good reason, as the company is a trustworthy name when it comes to making sure its monitors display colors as accurately as possible. the Datacolor Spyder5PRO is richer in features (and more expensive) than the Spyder5EXPRESS, but not as complete as the Spyder5ELITE. This makes it a brilliant choice for people who want the best designer monitor gauges, but want to strike a balance between features and price. It’s easy to use and can help you calibrate your monitor in minutes. Despite its simplicity, there are a variety of ambient light settings and profiles, with in-depth software to help you get the most out of your display.
06. X-Rite i1Display Pro Plus
Calibrate super bright displays, projectors and printers
Settings: N / A | Laptop and desktop: yes | Connector: USB-A and USB-C
- Calibrate screens and projectors
- Supports HDR and super bright displays
- Expensive
The Pro Plus is at the higher end of the range of calibrators X-Rite i1Display And it’s the one if you need to deal with super-bright displays. The other company gauges we’ve covered above handle up to 1,000 nits, while this will handle up to 2,000 nits.
As such it is the best calibrator for HDR displays on this list, as well as other super bright monitors that we are now seeing more of on the market. It also supports black current subtraction to minimize noise. And, as with other company calibrators we’ve featured, you can profile up to four separate displays. Today’s best prices for the best monitor calibrators for designers