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The Core Temp Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Core Temp in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPANovember 2026

Core Temp

The Insider’s Guide

Per-core CPU temperature monitor for Windows PCs

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Core Temp’s own pages.

Made by Alcpu · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.8GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Core Temp’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Core Temp’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.8

GPA, above 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade

Core Temp is a small Windows program that reads the digital thermal sensor on each core of Intel, AMD and VIA x86 processors and shows temperature, load and other processor details. It supports plug-ins, and businesses buy a per-machine commercial license.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Core Temp, taken from its own pages and our grades.

No store rating is on record, but it is a small program you install and start using with nothing to set up.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for per-core CPU temperatures on Windows

    Core Temp reads the temperature sensor on each core of Intel, AMD and VIA x86 processors and shows temperature and load.

  2. 2

    What it costs

    Paid plans start at $25 per machine (commercial license).

  3. 3

    There is a free plan

    The program is offered for download without a price; the vendor sells a separate commercial license for businesses.

  4. 4

    It runs on Windows

    Windows.

  5. 5

    Per-core temperatures

    Shows the temperature of each individual core of every processor, read from the CPU's digital thermal sensor instead of a motherboard sensor.

  6. 6

    Real-time readings

    Displays temperature changes live as the workload varies, with processor load and other vital information alongside.

  7. 7

    Broad CPU support

    Supports Intel, AMD and VIA x86 processors; the vendor publishes a list of supported processors.

  8. 8

    A 2.8 GPA, above 116 of 186

    That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  9. 9

    Your call

    It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.

Core Temp at a glance

Pricing
Free plan, from $25 per machine (commercial license)
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Windows
Made by
Alcpu
Category
Desktop Utilities
Our grade
2.8 GPA, good

The report card

Best for per-core CPU temperatures on Windows

Core Temp reads the temperature sensor on each core of Intel, AMD and VIA x86 processors and shows temperature and load. It does only that, on Windows only, and businesses must buy a $25 per-machine license.

ToolGPA report cardCore TempGraded Nov 13, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyAThe download has no price. Businesses buy a commercial license at $25 per machine, falling to $6 each at 500 to 999 machines.
Free plan and trialAThe program is offered for download with no price and no trial clock. Only businesses are asked to buy.
FeaturesCPer-core temperatures, live readings, plug-ins and a standalone zip. It does that one job fully, but it is a smaller job: it reports processor data only and does not control fans.
Ease of useBNo store rating is on record, but it is a small program you install and start using with nothing to set up.
Platforms and integrationsDWindows only, on x86 Intel, AMD or VIA processors. No Mac, Linux or phone version.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.8

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Core Temp is for

  • Fits if you want a small readout of CPU temperature on a Windows PC
  • Works for people who add plug-ins to show readings elsewhere

Who it is not for

  • Not for you if you want to set fan speeds, since it only reports
  • Skip it if your PC is Arm based or runs Mac or Linux, as it covers x86 Windows only
  • Too light for whole-system monitoring, which covers drives and graphics too
  • Pricey if you run a company: one commercial license per physical machine, ordered by email

Good to know

Good for

  • Checking CPU core temperatures on a Windows PC
  • Lightweight monitoring that runs in the notification area
  • Businesses that need a licensed per-machine option

Worth knowing

  • Windows only, on x86 Intel, AMD or VIA processors.
  • It reports processor data only; it does not control fans.
  • Companies need a commercial license, one per physical machine, ordered by email.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$25

To start. There is a free plan too

Core Temp has a free plan. Paid plans start at $25 per machine (commercial license).

The program is offered for download with no price and no trial clock.
From our grade for free plan and trial

  • Standard download

    $0

    Download and install or use the standalone zip; the vendor states no price for it.

  • Commercial license

    $25

    per physical machine, one license each

    For businesses; falls to $20 each for 2 to 9, $12 for 50 to 99, $6 for 500 to 999; ordered by email.

The free plan

The program is offered for download without a price; the vendor sells a separate commercial license for businesses.

Read from alcpu.com on Nov 13, 2026.

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: Windows

Per-core CPU temperature monitor for Windows PCs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, system monitor.

Per-core temperatures, live readings, plug-ins and a standalone zip.
From our grade for features
Per-core temperatures
Shows the temperature of each individual core of every processor, read from the CPU's digital thermal sensor instead of a motherboard sensor.
Real-time readings
Displays temperature changes live as the workload varies, with processor load and other vital information alongside.
Broad CPU support
Supports Intel, AMD and VIA x86 processors; the vendor publishes a list of supported processors.
Plug-in platform
Developers can add features through plug-ins, and the vendor hosts add-ons such as a gadget for Windows 7 and Vista.
Installer or standalone
Ships as an installer and as standalone 32-bit and 64-bit zip files, with language packs for over 30 languages.

Where it runs

  • Windows

What it works with

Its own pages name no integrations.

Core Temp is made by Alcpu.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

116/186

Other desktop utilities it is graded above

Core Temp's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 37.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Core Temp’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
  • CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
  • BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
  • DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Your call

It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.

You could make the core of Core Temp for yourself: reports. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call.

What you could make

  • Reports: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

  • Readings from inside the operating system.
  • A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.

What this rests on. Core Temp’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

HWiNFO, CPU-Z, SpeedFan, Fan Control and iStat Menus

The 5 tools Core Temp is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

10

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Core Temp free?

Core Temp has a free plan. The program is offered for download without a price; the vendor sells a separate commercial license for businesses.

How much does Core Temp cost?

Core Temp lists 2 plans. Standard download: $0.

What platforms does Core Temp work on?

Core Temp is available on Windows.

Does Core Temp have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Core Temp is listed for Windows.

Does Core Temp have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Core Temp is listed for Windows.

Is Core Temp open source?

Core Temp is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.

Who makes Core Temp?

Core Temp is made by Alcpu.

What are the alternatives to Core Temp?

The closest alternatives to Core Temp in our directory are HWiNFO, CPU-Z, SpeedFan, Fan Control and iStat Menus.

How does Core Temp compare with other desktop utilities?

Core Temp's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 37.

Could I make my own version of Core Temp?

It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Core Temp’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Alcpu's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Alcpu. Prices change, so check alcpu.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

7,721

Tools graded, in 95 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 7,721

    tools graded

  • 95

    categories

  • 739

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Core Temp: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/core-temp

Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/core-temp/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded desktop utilities after Core Temp, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Core Temp’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Core Temp is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Alcpu. Prices and plans change: check alcpu.com before you buy.