CrackMacCrackMac vs BetterDisplay for a damaged MacBook screen: which to use
Both can keep you working on a MacBook whose screen is damaged along an edge, in different ways. BetterDisplay, a general display utility, streams a smaller virtual screen onto the working part of the panel. CrackMac, built only for damaged screens, keeps your normal desktop and fences windows, the menu bar and the pointer out of the dead strip. If you already own BetterDisplay Pro, try its method first. If you want something set up in a minute that does only this, CrackMac is simpler.
How each one works
BetterDisplay describes the method in its documentation as salvaging parts of a damaged screen with virtual screen streaming. You create a virtual screen with a resolution or aspect ratio that fits the undamaged area, connect it, and stream it onto the damaged display, then use the layout and zoom controls so the broken edges fall outside the stream. macOS then uses the virtual screen as your desktop, menu bar included. The documentation notes that some of these features need a Pro licence and that the app needs screen recording permission.
CrackMac leaves your display as it is. You drag a line on a picture of your screen where the damage starts. From then on, windows are kept out of that area, the dead strip is painted black, the menu bar and Apple menu are redrawn inside the working area, and the pointer stops at the edge. It uses Accessibility permission to move windows.
Side by side
| CrackMac | BetterDisplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Damaged screens only | Display management in general; damaged screens are one use |
| Setup | Drag a line on a picture of the screen | Create a virtual screen, pick a fitting resolution, start streaming and position it |
| Damage it handles | Along any edge, or several | Near the edges, per its documentation |
| Menu bar | Redrawn inside the working area | Part of the virtual screen, so inside the stream |
| Pointer | Held at the edge of the damage | Kept to the virtual screen |
| Permission | Accessibility | Screen recording, for streaming |
| Other features | None, it does one job | Many: resolutions, brightness, virtual displays, picture in picture |
| Price, October 2026 | $14.99 once, $9.99 at launch | Free version; Pro $21.99 once |
| Trial | 30 minutes of use | 14 days of Pro |
Where BetterDisplay is the better pick
- You already own it, or you want its other features, such as custom resolutions and brightness control for external monitors.
- You like the whole desktop shrunk to the good area, with no part of the system aware of the damage.
- You want a long trial. Fourteen days beats thirty minutes.
Where CrackMac is the better pick
- You want it working in a minute, without choosing resolutions or positioning a stream.
- Your desktop should stay sharp and native. CrackMac doesn't change the resolution or route the picture through a stream.
- The damage isn't one neat edge, for example a strip on the left and another along the bottom.
- You'd rather not grant screen recording permission to fix a display problem.
A word of caution with any method
If the damaged screen is your only display, a wrong setting can leave you with a picture you can't use. BetterDisplay's documentation suggests setting keyboard shortcuts to stop streaming first, and starting the app in safe mode by holding Shift. CrackMac has a panic shortcut that switches everything off instantly. Either way, keep an external monitor or TV within reach the first time. Here's how to connect one even when you can't see the screen.
Free alternatives
- Window tiling apps such as Rectangle can snap windows to part of the screen, but macOS still treats the whole panel as usable, so menus and new windows land in the damage. Why the usual tricks fall short.
- An external monitor sidesteps the problem at a desk.
- A repair fixes it for good. See Apple's prices for your model.
Prices and features as of 15 October 2026, from betterdisplay.pro and BetterDisplay's own documentation.
Quick answers
Can BetterDisplay hide a broken part of a MacBook screen?
Yes, with a method its own documentation describes for damaged screens: you create a virtual screen sized to the working area and stream it onto the damaged display, so the broken edges stay blank. It works best when the damage is near an edge.
What is the difference between CrackMac and BetterDisplay?
BetterDisplay is a general display utility that can work around damage by streaming a smaller virtual screen onto the panel. CrackMac is built only for damaged screens: it keeps the normal desktop and confines windows, menus and the pointer to the working area.
Which is cheaper, CrackMac or BetterDisplay?
As of October 2026, BetterDisplay Pro is a one-time $21.99, with a 14-day trial. CrackMac is a one-time $14.99, $9.99 at the launch price, with a 30-minute trial.
Want to try the purpose-built option?
CrackMac does one job: it keeps windows, the menu bar and the pointer on the part of your screen that still works and paints the damaged strip black. Set it up by dragging a line on a picture of your screen. Free for 30 minutes.
- Works on macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Free for 30 minutes of use, then a one-time price. No subscription.
- A refund within 7 days, no questions asked.