CPU-Z vs iStat Menus (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CPU-Z grades higher than iStat Menus: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
CPU-Z grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
iStat Menus
System monitor that lives in the Mac menu bar
Which one is for you
Pick CPU-Z if
- Fits if you want to check which CPU, board and RAM a Windows PC has
- Works for people who compare memory timings and clock speeds
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want temperatures or fan speeds, which sit in the separate HWMonitor
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux machine, as the page lists no version for either
- Too light for ongoing monitoring, since it mostly shows static hardware data
- Watch out: the site runs ads and asks ad-blocker users to consider donating
Pick iStat Menus if
- Fits if you want CPU, memory, network and temperatures in view on a Mac
- Works for laptop owners who check battery, sensors and fan speeds
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, or a Mac below macOS 11 (macOS 14 for the App Store edition)
- Watch out: weather data lasts 6 months, then costs from $2.49 for 12 months, or $0.99 a month in the App Store edition
- Not for you if you want fan control from the Mac App Store edition, which can't do it and needs a helper app for some stats
- Watch out: a license covers the current major version only, and version 6 owners pay an upgrade price for 7
- Tight if you have more than 3 computers: the single license covers 3, and the $14.99 family one 5 in one household
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACPU-ZGood | 2.4GPAiStat MenusFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFreeware. The vendor's page lists no paid plans, only an ask for PayPal donations. | A$11.99 once for up to 3 of your computers, or $14.99 for a family of 5. Utilities here sit around $2.99 a month in the middle, so you've paid for this one in four months and then stopped. Weather data packs from $2.49 for 12 months are the only extra. |
| Free plan and trial | AFreeware with no cap and no trial clock. | CNo free version. There's a 14-day trial and the listing shows no card being asked for, which is the ordinary deal here. After two weeks you buy or stop. |
| Features | CProcessor, mainboard, memory and live frequencies. It does that job fully, but the pages mostly report static data, and temperature and fan monitoring belong to the vendor's separate HWMonitor. | CIt reads per-core CPU, GPU, memory pressure, disks with S.M.A.R.T. status, network use per app, sensors and fans, and runs rules like CPU above 60% for 10 seconds. The gaps are its own notes: the App Store edition can't control fans, and weather stops after 6 months. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. | BNo store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: install it and the numbers are in your menu bar, with the detail in drop-down menus. Combined mode folds several items into one if the bar is crowded. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only. The page covers the x86/x64 edition and no Mac or Linux version. | DMac only. Bjango's own version needs macOS 11 or later, the Mac App Store one macOS 14. Weather comes from Apple Weather, AccuWeather and others, and the app is in Setapp too, but there's nothing for Windows or Linux. |
| Best for | reading what CPU, board and memory a Windows PC has | watching your Mac's vital signs from the menu bar |
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: CPU-Z and iStat Menus. How we grade
Where they differ
- iStat Menus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- CPU-Z also covers reports.
- iStat Menus also covers menu bar app.
At a glance
| CPU-Z | iStat Menus | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes |
| Free plan | Freeware; the vendor's page lists no paid plans for CPU-Z. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | CPUID | Bjango Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | cpuid.com | bjango.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
CPU-Z
- Windows only; this page covers the x86/x64 edition and no Mac or Linux version.
- Its detail pages mostly report static hardware data; temperature and fan monitoring are handled by the vendor's separate HWMonitor.
- The site is supported by ads and asks users with ad blockers to consider donating.
iStat Menus
- macOS only. The version on the vendor's site requires macOS 11 or later; the Mac App Store listing requires macOS 14.
- Weather data is included for 6 months, after which the direct version needs a paid data pack and the App Store edition a subscription.
- A license covers only the current major release; iStat Menus 6 owners pay an upgrade price for version 7.
- The pricing panel shows local-currency prices by visitor location, with local taxes on top.
Key features
CPU-Z
- Processor details
- Reports the processor name and number, codename, process, package and cache levels.
- Mainboard and chipset
- Identifies the mainboard and chipset, with BIOS and motherboard information drawn from DMI data.
- Memory specifications
- Shows memory type, size, timings and module specifications read from SPD.
- Live frequencies
- Measures each core's internal frequency and the memory frequency in real time.
- Validation and custom builds
- Results can be submitted to an online validation list, and the vendor offers custom versions for ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, Cooler Master and ASRock.
iStat Menus
- CPU and GPU monitoring
- Per-core usage, history graphs, load averages, uptime and the apps using the most CPU, plus GPU processor, memory, temperature and frequency on supported Macs.
- Memory, disks and network
- Memory pressure and swap, used and free disk space with S.M.A.R.T. status, and network bandwidth with a per-app breakdown, public and private IP addresses and a connectivity indicator.
- Sensors and fan control
- Lists temperatures, fans, voltages, current and power. Fan speeds can be controlled, or switched and ramped based on temperatures and battery state.
- Rules and notifications
- Notifies you about events such as CPU usage above 60% for more than 10 seconds, low disk space, a changed public IP address or a dropped internet connection.
- Weather
- Current conditions in the menu bar with an hourly forecast and weekly overview, for your location or elsewhere. Data comes from providers including Apple Weather and AccuWeather.
- Combined mode and customization
- Combined mode folds several items into a single menu bar item to save space. Colors, item order and what each menu shows can all be changed.
Plans
CPU-Z
Freeware$0
Installer and zip versions for Windows x86/x64; the page asks for ad-blocker exceptions or PayPal donations.
iStat Menus
Single License$11.99
one-time purchase, plus local taxes
iStat Menus 7 on up to 3 computers primarily used by the buyer, with 6 months of weather data included.
Family License$14.99
one-time purchase, plus local taxes
For up to 5 family members, on up to 5 computers in one household, with 6 months of weather data included.
Mac App Store edition$11.99
one-time purchase (US Mac App Store price)
Cannot control fan speeds and needs a helper app for some stats. Weather is an in-app subscription at $0.99 a month or $4.99 a year.
Weather data packFrom $2.49
one-off purchase for 12 months of weather data
Optional add-on for the direct version once the included weather period ends. Data packs do not renew automatically.
Ways to pay less
CPU-Z
No public discounts listed.
iStat Menus
- Other savings
Upgrade pricing from iStat Menus 6
Holders of an iStat Menus 6 license pay $9.99 for a single upgrade or $12.99 for a family upgrade. The discount is applied when upgrading from inside iStat Menus 7.
- Other savings
Included with a Setapp subscription
iStat Menus is also available through Setapp, which the vendor quotes at USD$9.99 a month for more than 250 Mac apps.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, CPU-Z or iStat Menus?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CPU-Z is free, and iStat Menus starts at $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes.
Which has a free plan, CPU-Z or iStat Menus?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only CPU-Z has a free plan. iStat Menus does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do CPU-Z and iStat Menus run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only CPU-Z lists a Windows app and only iStat Menus lists a macOS app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.