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 productivity-focused features that can help while you're working. When looking for a monitor, there are a few factors to consider. Large screens also 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.
Monitors with wide viewing angles and good ergonomics are also beneficial if you constantly need to share your screen with a coworker to show them your work, as the image remains consistent from the sides. If you code in a dark room while using a dark mode, having a high contrast ratio can help display deep blacks, but a monitor with high brightness is mainly beneficial in a well-lit room.
We've bought and tested more than 335 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 work monitors. Also see the best laptops for programming and the best keyboards for programming.
The best monitor for programming we've tested is the Dell U2723QE. It's a 27-inch, 4k monitor with a ton of useful productivity features. It has a massive USB hub with three USB-Cs and five USB-A ports, so you can easily connect various devices. It supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, which is great if you want to connect a laptop and charge it using a single cable. It even has a KVM switch that makes it easy to switch between two different computers and use the same keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor.
Besides that, the high resolution means you can easily read your coding text and view more lines simultaneously. It also uses an IPS Black panel that has a decent contrast ratio, especially for an IPS display, and it's good enough to use in dark rooms. However, if you code in a dark room and want something with deeper blacks, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. It uses Mini LED backlighting and has decent local dimming, but it has a smaller USB hub than the Dell and costs more.
If you want an ultrawide screen to open multiple windows next to each other, check out the Dell U4025QW. It has a wider 21:9 aspect ratio than the Dell U2723QE, so it's easier to see more of your work at once. With a 5120x2160 resolution, it has a similar pixel density as the U2723QE, resulting in fantastic text clarity. It also uses an IPS Black panel like the U2723QE, so it's good enough to use in dark rooms.
This monitor is great for multitasking as it supports Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, and it has a KVM switch that makes it easy to switch between two computers connected to the monitor. It has a massive USB too, with five separate USB-C ports so you can connect various devices. Two of those ports support Thunderbolt 4, with one of them meant for daisy-chaining a second monitor directly to this one, and the other supports at least 90W of power, so it can charge your laptop while you're working. However, it costs a lot, so you can also check out the smaller Dell U3425WE if you want to save some money. It has similar features as the U4025QW, but text isn't as sharp.
If you don't want an ultrawide monitor like the Dell U4025QW and find the Dell U2723QE too expensive, the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV is a good alternative that you can often find for less than the other Dell monitors. Although it's designed for content creators, it still performs well for productivity because it has similar specs to the U2723QE and many of the same features, but there are some trade-offs for the cheaper cost. It doesn't have an IPS Black panel like the Dell monitors, so it has a worse contrast ratio, and blacks look gray in dark rooms. It lacks a KVM switch too, so it's not as good of a choice for multitasking, but it still supports Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes.
Besides that, it has everything you'd want in a monitor for programming, as text looks sharp, and it gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room. Plus, it still has a USB hub that includes a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90W of power delivery, so you can connect your laptop to work on it and charge it with a single cable.
If you're looking for the best monitor for coding on a budget, check out the Dell S2721QS. It's a step-down model from the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV in terms of features, but it's still very similar in display specs as it also has a 27-inch screen and 4k resolution, resulting in extremely sharp text. That said, the main trade-off for getting something cheaper is that it has fewer features, as it doesn't have any USB ports, so you can't connect any extra devices to it. If you want something with USB ports, you can also consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV, which has a lower 1440p resolution, so you must decide between the higher resolution or extra features.
On the plus side, you can easily use this Dell in a bright room without issues, thanks to its high brightness and good reflection handling. However, like the ASUS, it has a low contrast ratio and blacks look gray, which is disappointing if you plan on using your system or program's dark mode.
Should you be looking for the best monitor for coding that's cheap and simple, then look into the Dell P2425H. It's a basic, entry-level monitor that has a lower resolution and smaller screen than the Dell S2721QS, which is what you have to expect from low-cost monitors. This means there's less screen space to view your code than on the S2721QS, and the text isn't as sharp, but the text clarity is decent. This makes it a good choice if you need something small or you want to get two of them to use side by side.
Regardless, it has more features than other cheap monitors as it has a USB hub, which the S2721QS doesn't even have. It has three USB-A ports and a USB-C port, but it doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode, so the USB-C port is meant for data transfer or charging, and not for video signals. Besides that, it also has an incredibly ergonomic stand, so it's easy to adjust.
The Dell U3223QE is a larger alternative to the Dell U2723QE, which has many of the same features. It's worth getting if you want the larger screen, but it also costs more.
See our reviewThe Dell S2722QC is a mid-range monitor that you can sometimes find for cheaper than the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. It's another good choice as it also has a 4k, 27-inch screen, but it has a smaller USB hub and delivers less power over USB-C than the ASUS.
See our reviewThe Dell G2724D is a cheap monitor with a higher 1440p resolution than the Dell P2425H. It has sharper text clarity and a larger screen, which is ideal if you prefer that. However, it has fewer productivity features than the P2425H, as it lacks a USB hub.
See our reviewWe swapped the Dell S2722QC with the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV between the 'Best Mid-Range Monitor' and the Notable Mentions because the ASUS has more features and for consistency with other recommendations.
Sep 18, 2024: We replaced the Dell U3223QE with the Dell U2723QE to be consistent with other recommendations. We also replaced the Dell G2724D with the Dell P2425H, which has more productivity features. We updated the Notable Mentions by replacing the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV and the LG 40WP95C-W with the G2724D and the U3223QE.
Jun 26, 2024: Replaced the ASUS VG246H with the Dell G2724D as 'Best Cheap,' as it has a larger screen, better text clarity, and better overall performance.
May 03, 2024: Replaced the LG 40WP95C-W with the Dell U4025QW as it has more ports and gets brighter.
Mar 04, 2024: Removed the Gigabyte M27Q P as a Notable Mention, as it's harder to find.
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.