If you're a programmer looking for a new monitor, there are plenty of great options you can choose from. Even if most models aren't specifically designed with programming in mind, many include helpful productivity-focused features, like KVM switches and USB hubs. These help connect various devices directly to the monitor and make it easy to use them with different computers.
There are also a few performance-related aspects you should think about. For example, monitors with a wide viewing angle and good ergonomics are also beneficial if you constantly need to share your screen with a coworker next to you. If you code in a dark room while using a dark mode, having a high contrast ratio can help display deep blacks next to white text. On the other hand, a monitor with high brightness is mainly beneficial to fight glare in a well-lit room. Lastly, large screens with a high resolution can help you see more of your lines of code at once, along with sharp text, but keep in mind that size is a personal preference, so there's no perfect solution for everyone.
We've bought and tested more than 400 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best programming monitors. Also, check out our recommendations for the best ultrawide monitors, the best monitors for dual setup, and the best USB-C monitors. Also, see the best laptops for programming and the best keyboards for programming.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessSize32"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution6016 x 3384The best monitor for programming that we've tested is the ASUS ProArt Display PA32QCV. It's a 32-inch, 6k monitor with a ton of productivity perks. This includes a big USB hub with two USB-A ports and four USB-C ports, so you can connect your devices directly to the monitor. It supports Thunderbolt 4 to make full use of Thunderbolt laptops, and delivers 90W of power, enough to charge even the most power-hungry laptops. It also has a Thunderbolt output, meaning you can connect an external monitor directly to this for a multi-monitor setup.
Besides these features, its large screen and high resolution help you see more of your lines of code at once compared to a smaller screen. Letters look very sharp as well, but you may find that its matte coating makes text look hazy. There are positives to its coating, though, as it reduces glare from bright light sources really well. Combined with the monitor's high brightness, it's a great choice to use in any well-lit environment. It's worse for coding in dark rooms, though, as it has a low contrast ratio and a terrible local dimming feature. However, this is the case with most work monitors.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV is too expensive for you, the Dell U2725QE is another premium choice that you can get for a lot less. It has a smaller 27-inch screen than the ASUS, but this is what you have to expect by getting something cheaper. It also has a lower 4k resolution than the ASUS, but because it has high pixel density, text looks sharp regardless.
Besides that, it's fairly similar to the ASUS, with a KVM switch, support for Thunderbolt 4, and higher power delivery over USB-C. It even has extra USB ports, so you can connect more devices directly to it. Plus, it has an additional video output for daisy chaining another screen in a multi-display setup. It even uses an IPS Black panel, so it displays fairly deep blacks in dark rooms. However, it has a terrible edge-lit local dimming feature that makes blacks look gray when you use it. That said, this feature only turns on in HDR, so it's not an issue if you code in SDR anyway. It performs worse than the ASUS in bright rooms, though, as it has distracting reflections, and it isn't as bright. It's best to avoid using this monitor in a sunny environment because of that, but it's fine if you have a few lights around.
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Best Mid-Range Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you still don't have the budget for the Dell U2725QE, look into the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV instead. With a 4k, 27-inch screen, text is as sharp as on the U2725QE, but there are a few trade-offs for getting something cheaper. Firstly, it has fewer features, as it has a smaller USB hub and doesn't support Thunderbolt or have a KVM switch. This is something to consider if you want to connect different computers to the monitor. However, it still has DisplayPort out and supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, so you can easily connect your laptop to it, and it has three USB-A ports to connect other devices.
It's a decent choice to use in a bright room as it gets bright enough to fight glare, but bright reflections are distracting. It also comes with a very ergonomic stand, making it easy to adjust to your ideal position. However, a difference with the U2725QE is that it has a much lower contrast ratio, so blacks look even more gray, which is disappointing if you use your system or program's dark mode. You can check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx if having deeper blacks is important to you, but it tends to cost more, and it has a smaller USB hub.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160Should you want to save money without getting into the budget category, the Dell S2725QS is a solid choice as a lower mid-range pick. Like the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV, it's another 4k, 27-inch option, so you aren't losing out on screen size or text clarity. That said, the main difference versus the ASUS is the fact that it lacks a USB hub to connect any devices. This means you need to have enough ports available on your laptop or use an external hub to connect devices. While this is a downside for productivity, it's the trade-off for getting the cheaper screen while maintaining sharp text and similar performance.
In terms of picture quality, it's very similar to the ASUS. It also gets bright enough to fight some glare, although some reflections are distracting in a sunny room. It also has a wide viewing angle that keeps the image consistent from the sides, and its ergonomic stand makes it easy to adjust. Plus, it has a faster 120Hz refresh rate than the ASUS, offering a smoother feel when you quickly scroll long coding pages. Like the ASUS, though, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray in dark rooms.
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Best Budget Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate144 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you want the best monitor for coding in the budget category at a lower cost than the Dell S2725QS, then the Dell S2725DC is a good alternative. As a lower-end model, there are some notable trade-offs. For example, it has a lower 1440p resolution, so text isn't as sharp as on the S2725QS, which is what you have to expect at this price point. Other differences don't impact your coding experience as much, though, like the fact that this monitor doesn't support HDR at all.
It's actually very similar to the S2725QS in terms of performance. It also comes with an ergonomic stand, so it's easy to adjust for someone next to you, and its wide viewing angle helps keep the image consistent from the sides. It even has similar brightness and reflection handling, meaning it's a good choice if you have it in a well-lit office space. That said, like the ASUS, it also has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray. On the plus side, it comes with a USB hub that includes two USB-C ports, one of which supports 65W of power delivery. This makes this monitor a better choice than the S272QS if you want to connect a laptop over USB-C.
Notable Mentions
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BenQ MA270S:
The BenQ MA270S is a 5k alternative to the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV if you want to consider something a bit cheaper. The BenQ has a glossy coating with clearer images, but that means it has worse reflection handling than the ASUS.
See our review -
LG 27GM950B-B:
The LG 27GM950B-B is a high-end 5k monitor with Mini LED backlighting. This means it displays deeper blacks than the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV, making it a solid choice for use in dark rooms. However, the LG has a smaller USB hub and lacks Thunderbolt support.
See our review -
Dell U3225QE:
The Dell U3225QE is an upper mid-range 4k monitor that's a larger alternative to the Dell U2725QE. It has many of the same specs and features as the U2725QE. However, it costs more, so you're paying extra for its bigger screen.
See our review -
Dell S2725QC:
The Dell S2725QC is a higher-end model to the Dell S2725QS that performs similarly. The main difference is that the S2725QC has a USB hub, so it's the better choice if you want to connect your laptop over USB-C. However, the S2725QC tends to cost more.
See our review -
AOC Q27G3XMN:
The AOC Q27G3XMN is a budget-friendly monitor with a higher contrast ratio and better overall picture quality than the Dell S2725DC. This makes the AOC the better choice for use in dark rooms. However, it has a narrow viewing angle and lacks a USB hub.
See our review
Recent Updates
Aug 05, 2026:
We removed the Dell P2425H from the cheap category because it's hard to find. In the Notable Mentions, we added the LG 27GM950B-B.
Jun 11, 2026:
We moved the Dell S2725QC to the Notable Mentions as it's similar in performance to the mid-range pick, the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV, the Dell U5226KW, and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, and added the BenQ MA270S.
Apr 29, 2026:
We added the Dell U3225QE, the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, and the AOC Q27G3XMN to the Notable Mentions.
Mar 11, 2026:
We replaced the Dell U4025QW, which is hard to find, with the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV. We also added the Dell S2725QC as the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor for Programming' and replaced the Dell S2725QS with the Dell S2725DC for consistency with other recommendations. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the LG 40WP95C-W and the MSI G274QPF-QD with the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS.
Jan 26, 2026:
We renamed the Dell U4025QW as the 'Best Monitor For Programming' and the Dell U2725QE as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor For Programming' to better reflect their positions in the market. We also replaced the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX with the LG 40WP95C-W in the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for programming that are currently available in the United States. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, feedback from visitors, and price. For example, two monitors may perform the same, but the cheaper one will be recommended. We also consider availability, as we don't recommend a monitor that's hard to find.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.