CPU-Z vs SpeedFan (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CPU-Z grades higher than SpeedFan: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
CPU-Z grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features 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 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 SpeedFan if
- Fits if your PC is older and has a monitor chip it recognises
- Works for people who want disk health and temperatures in one window
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if your PC is new, as the page shows 4.52 with a copyright of 2000 to 2020
- Not for you if you run Windows 11, which the page does not mention
- Too light for fans it cannot see: control works only with supported chips
- Watch out: nothing on the page shows recent updates, so support for new hardware may be limited
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACPU-ZGood | 2.6GPASpeedFanGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFreeware. The vendor's page lists no paid plans, only an ask for PayPal donations. | AFree to download and use, with a PayPal donation link. |
| Free plan and trial | AFreeware with no cap and no trial clock. | AThe full program is free with no cap or trial clock. |
| 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. | CSensor readings, fan control, disk health and RAID support. Fan control works only with monitor chips it supports, and the 2020 copyright suggests newer hardware may be missing. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. | CNo store rating is on record. Fan control means matching chips and setting speeds by hand. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only. The page covers the x86/x64 edition and no Mac or Linux version. | DWindows only, from Windows 9x through Windows 10 and Server 2012. Windows 11 is not mentioned. |
| Best for | reading what CPU, board and memory a Windows PC has | reading fan and temperature chips on older Windows PCs |
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 SpeedFan. How we grade
Price against what you get
CPU-Z has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. SpeedFan has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
CPU-Z scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than CPU-Z for less, and none scores higher than SpeedFan for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- CPU-Z also covers reports.
- SpeedFan also covers workflow automation.
In commonFree planWindowsSystem monitor
At a glance
| CPU-Z | SpeedFan | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Freeware; the vendor's page lists no paid plans for CPU-Z. | Free to download and use; the site takes PayPal donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | CPUID | Alfredo Milani Comparetti |
| Price read from | cpuid.com | almico.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
SpeedFan
- Windows only; the page lists versions from Windows 9x through Windows 10 and Server 2012 and does not mention Windows 11.
- The vendor's site shows 4.52 with a copyright of 2000-2020, so support for newer hardware may be limited.
- Fan control works only with hardware monitor chips it supports.
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.
SpeedFan
- Sensor readings
- Reads motherboard, CPU, per-core, chipset and nVidia video card temperatures, along with voltages and the speed of each fan.
- Fan speed control
- Changes fan speeds according to current temperatures to reduce noise, with custom events for handling situations automatically.
- Disk health
- Shows S.M.A.R.T. and SCSI attributes and disk temperatures, and compares SMART data to a model built from reports.
- RAID support
- Reads SMART data through software RAID from Windows and through ARECA, CSMI and AMCC 3ware controllers.
- Wide hardware support
- The 4.52 release notes add IPMI support and a list of motherboard chips and SMBus controllers.
Plans
CPU-Z
Freeware$0
Installer and zip versions for Windows x86/x64; the page asks for ad-blocker exceptions or PayPal donations.
SpeedFan
Free$0
The full program; the download page says it costs nothing and offers a donation link.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, CPU-Z or SpeedFan?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both CPU-Z and SpeedFan are free to use.
Which has a free plan, CPU-Z or SpeedFan?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both CPU-Z and SpeedFan 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.