Core Temp vs Fan Control (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Core Temp and Fan Control share a 2.8 GPA, both have a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on whether you care more about ease of use, where Core Temp grades higher, or features, where Fan Control does.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Core Temp if
- Fits if you want a small readout of CPU temperature on a Windows PC
- Works for people who add plug-ins to show readings elsewhere
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want to set fan speeds, since it only reports
- Skip it if your PC is Arm based or runs Mac or Linux, as it covers x86 Windows only
- Too light for whole-system monitoring, which covers drives and graphics too
- Pricey if you run a company: one commercial license per physical machine, ordered by email
Pick Fan Control if
- Fits if you want to tune fan noise against temperature on a Windows PC
- Works for people who want one curve fed by several sensors
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux machine, since it is Windows only
- Skip it if you want hands-off setup, as each fan needs a curve
- Watch out: versions 237 and earlier shipped a driver Windows Defender flagged as a trojan; V238 and later use PawnIO
- Watch out: hardware support requests are not handled on the release repository
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACore TempGood | 2.8GPAFan ControlGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe download has no price. Businesses buy a commercial license at $25 per machine, falling to $6 each at 500 to 999 machines. | AFree to use, with the full program and optional donations by PayPal and Stripe. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe program is offered for download with no price and no trial clock. Only businesses are asked to buy. | AThe full program is free with no cap or trial clock. |
| Features | CPer-core temperatures, live readings, plug-ins and a standalone zip. It does that one job fully, but it is a smaller job: it reports processor data only and does not control fans. | BSeven curve types, mixed curves, fine-grained parameters, plug-ins and wide hardware support. The listing names no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but it is a small program you install and start using with nothing to set up. | CNo store rating is on record. Fan curves have to be set up per fan and tested, so there is some learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, on x86 Intel, AMD or VIA processors. No Mac, Linux or phone version. | DWindows only, Windows 10 and 11 per the release page. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | per-core CPU temperatures on Windows | setting fan curves on a Windows PC |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Core Temp and Fan Control. How we grade
Where they differ
- Core Temp also covers reports.
- Fan Control also covers workflow automation.
In commonFree planWindowsSystem monitor
At a glance
| Core Temp | Fan Control | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $25 per machine (commercial license) | Free |
| Free plan | The program is offered for download without a price; the vendor sells a separate commercial license for businesses. | Free to use; the maker accepts optional donations through PayPal and Stripe. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Alcpu | Rémi Mercier |
| Price read from | alcpu.com | getfancontrol.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Core Temp
- Windows only, on x86 Intel, AMD or VIA processors.
- It reports processor data only; it does not control fans.
- Companies need a commercial license, one per physical machine, ordered by email.
Fan Control
- Windows only; the maker's release page lists Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Versions 237 and earlier shipped a driver that Windows Defender flagged as a trojan; V238 and later ship a PawnIO build instead.
- Hardware support requests are not handled on the release repository; new hardware needs a working .NET code sample.
Key features
Core Temp
- Per-core temperatures
- Shows the temperature of each individual core of every processor, read from the CPU's digital thermal sensor instead of a motherboard sensor.
- Real-time readings
- Displays temperature changes live as the workload varies, with processor load and other vital information alongside.
- Broad CPU support
- Supports Intel, AMD and VIA x86 processors; the vendor publishes a list of supported processors.
- Plug-in platform
- Developers can add features through plug-ins, and the vendor hosts add-ons such as a gadget for Windows 7 and Vista.
- Installer or standalone
- Ships as an installer and as standalone 32-bit and 64-bit zip files, with language packs for over 30 languages.
Fan Control
- Fan curves
- Seven curve types and multiple saved configurations, with temperature tray icons and assisted setup for new users.
- Mixed curves
- Combine any number of fan curves bound to different temperature sensors and apply a function such as maximum or average to drive a fan.
- Fine-grained parameters
- Set fan calibration, RPM avoid zones, response time, hysteresis, step up and step down, and control start and stop logic for 0 RPM operation where supported.
- Wide hardware support
- Covers CPU, GPU and case fans across a range of motherboards, GPUs and AIOs, built on the LibreHardwareMonitor backend.
- Plug-ins
- A .NET plug-in system lets third parties add temperature, speed or control sensors by dropping a DLL in the plugin folder.
Plans
Core Temp
Standard download$0
Download and install or use the standalone zip; the vendor states no price for it.
Commercial license$25
per physical machine, one license each
For businesses; falls to $20 each for 2 to 9, $12 for 50 to 99, $6 for 500 to 999; ordered by email.
Fan Control
Free$0
The full program; donations are optional and fund continued development.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Core Temp or Fan Control?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Core Temp starts at $25 per machine (commercial license), and Fan Control is free.
Which has a free plan, Core Temp or Fan Control?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Core Temp and Fan Control have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.