Macs Fan Control vs Stats (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Stats grades higher than Macs Fan Control: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Macs Fan Control grades higher on platforms. Stats grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. 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.
Macs Fan Control
Free Mac fan monitor with custom speeds and presets in Pro
Free plan · from $14.95 one-time
Which one is for you
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
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
| 2.6GPAMacs Fan ControlGood | 2.8GPAStatsGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APro is $14.95 once per Mac, under 60% of a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. | 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 | 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. | 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 | CMonitors fans and sensors and controls them. It is a narrow job done fully, and presets and priority support are Pro. | 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 | CNo rating on record. The vendor calls it a tool for advanced users, and setting fan speeds wrongly can cause trouble. | 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 | CMac, plus Windows through Boot Camp on Intel Macs, where the Windows build is a 14-day trial. Computers only. | 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 | watching and setting fan speeds on a Mac | 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: Macs Fan Control and Stats. How we grade
Where they differ
- Macs Fan Control can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Stats is open source, according to its own site.
In commonFree planmacOSMenu bar appSystem monitor
At a glance
| Macs Fan Control | Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $14.95 one-time, per Mac | Free |
| Free plan | 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. | 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 | CrystalIDEA | exelban |
| Price read from | crystalidea.com | mac-stats.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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, Macs Fan Control or Stats?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Macs Fan Control starts at $14.95 one-time, per Mac, and Stats is free.
Which has a free plan, Macs Fan Control or Stats?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Macs Fan Control and Stats have a free plan.
Which platforms do Macs Fan Control and Stats 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.