iStat Menus vs Macs Fan Control (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Macs Fan Control grades higher than iStat Menus: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
iStat Menus grades higher on ease of use. Macs Fan Control grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
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
Macs Fan Control
Free Mac fan monitor with custom speeds and presets in Pro
Which one is for you
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
Pick Macs Fan Control if
- Fits if an older MacBook or iMac runs hot or loud
- Works for Mac owners who need basic fan control at no cost
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you only want a readout, as the control side can do harm if misused
- Watch out: the vendor disclaims liability for damage caused by misuse
- Pricey if you own several Macs, as Pro is priced per computer
- Watch out: the Windows version works only through Boot Camp, and its download is a 14-day trial
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAiStat MenusFair | 2.6GPAMacs Fan ControlGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | APro is $14.95 once per Mac, under 60% of a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | BThe free download monitors, sets custom RPM and sensor-based control and shows the menu bar. One person could live on it; presets are Pro. |
| Features | 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. | CMonitors fans and sensors and controls them. It is a narrow job done fully, and presets and priority support are Pro. |
| Ease of use | 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. | CNo rating on record. The vendor calls it a tool for advanced users, and setting fan speeds wrongly can cause trouble. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | CMac, plus Windows through Boot Camp on Intel Macs, where the Windows build is a 14-day trial. Computers only. |
| Best for | watching your Mac's vital signs from the menu bar | watching and setting fan speeds on a Mac |
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: iStat Menus and Macs Fan Control. How we grade
Where they differ
At a glance
| iStat Menus | Macs Fan Control | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes | $14.95 one-time, per Mac |
| Free plan | None | Free download that monitors fan speeds and temperatures, sets custom RPM values or sensor-based fan control, and shows readings in the menu bar. Custom fan presets are Pro. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Bjango Pty Ltd | CrystalIDEA |
| Price read from | bjango.com | crystalidea.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Macs Fan Control
- The Windows version works only on Windows installed through Boot Camp, and the Windows download is a 14-day trial, not a free app.
- Pro is priced per computer, so each additional Mac needs its own license.
- The vendor says the program is for advanced users and disclaims liability for damage caused by misuse.
- The buy page loads its prices through Paddle; the figures here are Paddle's US prices for the two listed licenses.
Key features
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.
Macs Fan Control
- Fan speed and temperature monitoring
- Lists every fan and temperature sensor in two tables, including third-party HDDs and SSDs read through S.M.A.R.T.
- Custom RPM or sensor-based control
- Set a fixed RPM value, or tie a fan to a chosen sensor such as a drive or the CPU.
- Fan presets
- Save named fan configurations and switch between them by activity. Custom presets are a Pro feature.
- Menu bar display
- Choose which fan speeds and sensor temperatures appear in the menu bar, or in the tray on Windows.
- Windows via Boot Camp
- A separate Windows build controls fans on Macs running Windows through Boot Camp, including T2 models.
- Automatic restore on quit
- When the app quits it puts every fan back under the system's automatic control.
Plans
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.
Macs Fan Control
Free$0
Fan and sensor monitoring with manual or sensor-based fan control on macOS.
Pro License for macOS$14.95
one-time, per Mac
Adds custom fan presets and priority support. Priced per computer, with volume discounts for 2 or more.
Pro License for macOS & Windows$24.95
one-time, per Mac
Pro for macOS plus fan control on Windows installed through Boot Camp on Intel Macs.
Ways to pay less
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.
Macs Fan Control
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, iStat Menus or Macs Fan Control?
As of Nov 12, 2026, iStat Menus starts at $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes, and Macs Fan Control starts at $14.95 one-time, per Mac.
Which has a free plan, iStat Menus or Macs Fan Control?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Macs Fan Control has a free plan. iStat Menus does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do iStat Menus and Macs Fan Control run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Macs Fan Control lists a Windows app. Both list 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.