Controlling multiple 7 segment displays

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Hello

I want to control 6 (maybe more) 7 segment LED displays from an Arduino. Given my current level of knowledge (and what's lurking in my IC box) I know I could use

6 X 74HC595

Or

a MAX7221

The former seems like a lot of ICs for something relatively simple and the latter seems like a waste as the max handles in and out (IIRC)

Better solutions?

Thanks
Jim

2

The former seems like a lot of ICs for something relatively simple

Yes but any simple thing repeated enough becomes a complex thing.