CPU-Z vs Stats (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CPU-Z and Stats share a 2.8 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which platforms you need.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
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 Stats if
- Fits if you want CPU, memory and network readings in the Mac menu bar at no cost
- Works for Apple silicon and Intel Macs on macOS 12 or newer
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to control your fans, since that part is in legacy mode with no updates or fixes
- Not for you if you run macOS betas, which aren't supported, or Windows or Linux
- Too light for anyone who needs a support line, as one solo developer handles problems through GitHub issues
- Watch out: the Sensors and Bluetooth modules are the least efficient, and turning them off can cut its CPU use by up to 50%
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACPU-ZGood | 2.8GPAStatsGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFreeware. The vendor's page lists no paid plans, only an ask for PayPal donations. | AFree and open source under the MIT licence, a download anyone can run, with no subscriptions and optional donations. System Stats, a separate remote monitoring service from the same developer, is where the paid plans are. |
| Free plan and trial | AFreeware with no cap and no trial clock. | AAll 9 modules and 13 widget styles are free, as a direct download or through Homebrew. Nothing in the app is held back for paying users. |
| 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. | CMenu bar readings are its one job and it covers them: CPU load and temperature with the hungriest processes, GPU, memory pressure, disk and SMART health, network speeds, sensors, battery cycles, Bluetooth levels. Fan control is the hole: the listing says it's legacy, with no updates or fixes. |
| 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 readings appear in the menu bar. A tip from the developer, turning off the Sensors and Bluetooth modules can cut its CPU use by up to 50% in some cases. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only. The page covers the x86/x64 edition and no Mac or Linux version. | DMac only, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 12 or newer. Beta versions of macOS aren't supported. The one hook-up is System Stats, for watching a Mac from another device. |
| Best for | reading what CPU, board and memory a Windows PC has | free system readings in the Mac 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 Stats. 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. Stats has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score 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 Stats 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
- Stats is open source, according to its own site.
- CPU-Z also covers reports.
- Stats also covers menu bar app.
In commonFree planSystem monitor
At a glance
| CPU-Z | Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Freeware; the vendor's page lists no paid plans for CPU-Z. | The whole app is free and open source, with no subscriptions. System Stats, a separate remote monitoring service from the same developer, has paid plans. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | CPUID | exelban |
| Price read from | cpuid.com | mac-stats.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.
Stats
- macOS only. It supports macOS 12 Monterey and newer, and beta versions of macOS are not supported.
- Fan control is in legacy mode and receives no updates or fixes.
- The Sensors and Bluetooth modules are the least efficient; the developer says disabling them can cut the app's CPU use by up to 50% in some cases.
- It is maintained by a solo developer, and the FAQ points users with problems to the project's GitHub issues.
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.
Stats
- CPU and GPU
- Real-time CPU load, frequency and temperature with a list of the most demanding processes, plus GPU utilization, memory and temperature for Intel, AMD and Apple silicon graphics.
- RAM and disk
- Memory pressure, used and free RAM, swap and the top memory-consuming apps, along with free and used disk space, read and write activity and SMART health for each drive.
- Network
- Upload and download speeds, total data usage, and local and public IP addresses.
- Sensors, battery and Bluetooth
- Temperature, voltage, power and fan-speed sensors, battery charge, health and cycle count, and the battery levels of connected Bluetooth devices.
- 13 widget styles
- Each module can appear in the menu bar as a chart, a number, a gauge or a dot, and widgets can be combined, reordered and recolored.
- Remote module
- Stats can stream metrics to System Stats, a separate web dashboard service from the same developer, so a Mac can be monitored from another device.
Plans
CPU-Z
Freeware$0
Installer and zip versions for Windows x86/x64; the page asks for ad-blocker exceptions or PayPal donations.
Stats
Stats$0
All 9 modules and 13 widget styles, as a direct download or through Homebrew. Open source under the MIT license; donations are optional.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, CPU-Z or Stats?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both CPU-Z and Stats are free to use.
Which has a free plan, CPU-Z or Stats?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both CPU-Z and Stats have a free plan.
Which platforms do CPU-Z and Stats run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only CPU-Z lists a Windows app and only Stats 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.