HWiNFO vs Stats (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, HWiNFO grades higher than Stats: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
HWiNFO grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use 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 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
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
| 3.0GPAHWiNFOVery good | 2.8GPAStatsGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFreeware with no price on record. The listing's price source is unverified. | 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 or trial clock, but its project page says for non-commercial use only. | 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 | 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. | 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 is the only current desktop platform; DOS and WinPE are the other listed targets. No Mac, Linux or phone 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 every sensor and part inside a Windows PC | 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: HWiNFO and Stats. How we grade
Price against what you get
HWiNFO has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Stats has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
HWiNFO scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than HWiNFO 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.
- HWiNFO also covers reports.
- Stats also covers menu bar app.
In commonFree planSystem monitor
At a glance
| HWiNFO | Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Described on its SourceForge project page as freeware for non-commercial use only. | 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 | HWiNFO | exelban |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | mac-stats.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
HWiNFO
Pricing could not be confirmed. See hwinfo.com.
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, HWiNFO or Stats?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both HWiNFO and Stats are free to use.
Which has a free plan, HWiNFO or Stats?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both HWiNFO and Stats have a free plan.
Which platforms do HWiNFO and Stats run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only HWiNFO 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.