Fan Control vs HWiNFO (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, HWiNFO grades higher than Fan Control: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
HWiNFO 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 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
Pick HWiNFO if
- Fits if you want to see exactly which parts are in a Windows PC
- Works for people who watch temperatures and loads while gaming or stress testing
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want it for work, as the project page says non-commercial use only
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux machine, as there is no version for either
- Watch out: the vendor site returned a bot check, so these details come from SourceForge
- Watch out: commercial terms were not readable
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAFan ControlGood | 3.0GPAHWiNFOVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to use, with the full program and optional donations by PayPal and Stripe. | AFreeware with no price on record. The listing's price source is unverified. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full program is free with no cap or trial clock. | AFreeware with no cap or trial clock, but its project page says for non-commercial use only. |
| Features | BSeven curve types, mixed curves, fine-grained parameters, plug-ins and wide hardware support. The listing names no gap in the core job. | BHardware inventory, real-time sensors, tables, graphs, tray icons, an on-screen display, and exports to XML, CSV and HTML. The listing names no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating is on record. Fan curves have to be set up per fan and tested, so there is some learning curve. | BNo store rating is on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, Windows 10 and 11 per the release page. No Mac, Linux or phone version. | DWindows is the only current desktop platform; DOS and WinPE are the other listed targets. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | setting fan curves on a Windows PC | reading every sensor and part inside 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: Fan Control and HWiNFO. How we grade
Price against what you get
Fan Control has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. HWiNFO has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
HWiNFO scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than Fan Control for less, and none scores higher than HWiNFO 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
- Fan Control also covers workflow automation.
- HWiNFO also covers reports.
In commonFree planWindowsSystem monitor
At a glance
| Fan Control | HWiNFO | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to use; the maker accepts optional donations through PayPal and Stripe. | Described on its SourceForge project page as freeware for non-commercial use only. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Rémi Mercier | HWiNFO |
| Price read from | getfancontrol.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
HWiNFO
- Its vendor site returned a bot check when read, so these details come from its SourceForge project page.
- The project page says freeware use is for non-commercial purposes only; commercial terms were not readable.
- Windows is the only current desktop platform covered here; the other listed targets are DOS and WinPE.
- No Mac, Linux or mobile version is listed.
Key features
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.
HWiNFO
- Hardware inventory
- Shows components in a hierarchy that unfolds into deep detail, or as a quick summary overview, for a full hardware report or spot checks.
- Real-time monitoring
- Tracks parameters across CPUs, GPUs, mainboards, drives and peripherals to help spot overheating, overload or performance loss.
- Customizable display
- Shows sensor data in customizable tables, graphs, tray icons and an on-screen display.
- Reports and logging
- Exports reports to XML, CSV and HTML, logs status over time and can interface with other tools or add-ons.
- Broad OS and hardware coverage
- The project page lists DOS, Windows 95 through Windows 11 and WinPE, on platforms from the i8086 to Xeon Platinum.
Plans
Fan Control
Free$0
The full program; donations are optional and fund continued development.
HWiNFO
Pricing could not be confirmed. See hwinfo.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Fan Control or HWiNFO?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Fan Control and HWiNFO are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Fan Control or HWiNFO?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Fan Control and HWiNFO 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.