If you're a programmer looking for a new monitor, there are plenty of great options you can choose from. Even if most monitors aren't specifically designed with programming in mind, many include helpful productivity-focused features. There are a few factors to consider when buying a new display. Large screens can help you see more of your lines of code at once, but keep in mind that size is a personal preference, so there's no perfect solution for everyone. On top of that, having a high resolution can result in sharp text clarity.
There are also a few performance-related aspects you should consider. 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 to show them your work. 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 in a well-lit room.
We've bought and tested more than 380 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 BrightnessErgonomicsContrastSize32"Panel 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, which is great if you have a Thunderbolt laptop, 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. Text looks very sharp as well, but you may find that its matte coating is 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 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 BrightnessErgonomicsContrastSize27"Panel 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. You can also consider the similar Dell U3225QE if you want a 32-inch option, but you're paying more for the extra size. The U2725QE has a lower 4k resolution than the ASUS, but because it has high pixel density, text looks sharp.
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. Plus, it uses an IPS Black panel, so it displays fairly deep blacks in dark rooms. 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 BrightnessErgonomicsContrastSize27"Panel 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. 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. However, it only has a better contrast ratio in HDR, and it has a smaller USB hub than the ASUS.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessErgonomicsContrastSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160Should you be looking for the best monitor for coding and you have a more limited budget, check out the Dell S2725QC. It's another 4k, 27-inch monitor, so it delivers the same sharp text as the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV, with enough screen space to open two windows side by side. The main difference of getting this instead of the ASUS is that it has one fewer USB-A, and it has less power delivery over USB-C, which is something to consider if you have a power-hungry laptop. Unlike the ASUS, it doesn't have a video output to connect to other monitors, either.
Regardless, it's a solid low-cost monitor that offers the basics for work. It has a wide viewing angle that keeps the image consistent when you're sharing the screen with a coworker next to you. Plus, its ergonomic stand makes it very easy to adjust. Like the ASUS, it gets bright and is a good choice for a moderately lit office space, but reflections are distracting if you have it facing a sunny window. It's a poor choice for coding in dark rooms, though, as it has a low contrast ratio and lacks local dimming to further improve it.
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Best Budget Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessErgonomicsContrastSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate144 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you want a budget-friendly coding monitor at a lower cost than the Dell S2725QC, 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 S2725QC, 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 it doesn't support HDR at all.
It's actually very similar to the S2725QC in terms of features. It also comes with an ergonomic stand, and it has similar picture quality for the most part. It even gets slightly brighter and has marginally better reflection handling, so it performs a bit better if you have it in a well-lit office space. Plus, it comes with the same USB hub that includes two USB-C ports, one of which supports 65W of power delivery. If you don't need a USB hub, the Dell S2725QS is a budget-friendly model you can consider with a higher 4k resolution. However, it costs a bit more than the S2725DC.
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Best Cheap Monitor For Programming
OfficeSDR PictureText ClaritySDR BrightnessErgonomicsContrastSize24"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate100 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1920 x 1080Should you want the best monitor for coding that's cheap and simple, consider the Dell P2425H. It's a basic, entry-level monitor that has a lower resolution than the Dell S2725DC. This means text isn't as sharp, but the text clarity is decent enough for programming. This is what you can expect from low-cost monitors, and they have smaller screens. Though its smaller screen makes it a good choice if you have limited desk space or you want to get two of them to use side by side.
Regardless, it offers more features than other cheap monitors, including a USB hub with three USB-A ports and a USB-C port. However, it doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode like the S2725DC does, so its USB-C port is meant for data transfer or charging devices and not for video signals. Besides that, it has an incredibly ergonomic stand, making it easy to adjust. Unfortunately, it doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare, so it's best to use this in a dim room.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV:
The ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV is a 5k alternative to the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV if you want to consider something a bit cheaper. However, the PA27JCV has fewer features because it lacks Thunderbolt support.
See our review -
Dell U5226KW:
The Dell U5226KW is a big 52-inch ultrawide monitor with a ton of screen real estate. It's a better choice than the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV if you need something for multitasking and don't mind the added cost. Unfortunately, though, the Dell has lower pixel density and worse text clarity.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS:
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is a 1440p monitor that competes with the Dell S2725DC. The main advantage of getting the ASUS is that it has better motion handling, which helps if you scroll through long webpages a lot. That said, it tends to cost more than the Dell.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
Oct 01, 2025:
We replaced the Dell P2423D with the Dell S2725QS, which has a higher resolution and is easier to find. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the Dell S2722QC with the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX and the Dell S2725QC, respectively, and we added the MSI G274QPF-QD.
May 29, 2025:
We replaced the Dell U2723QE with the Dell U2725QE, which has additional features. We also added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV as the 'Best Mid-Range Monitor.' We replaced the Dell S2721QS with the Dell P2423D, as the S2721QS is harder to find. Lastly, we replaced the Dell U3223QE and the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B with the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV in the Notable Mentions.
Feb 19, 2025:
We introduced a new format to the article and updated the text to reflect these changes. We also removed the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV, as it's very similar to the Dell U2723QE and has better contrast.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best displays for coding and programming that are currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
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.