Fan Control review (2026): is it any good?
Free fan curve controller for Windows PCs
Fan Control report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for setting fan curves on a Windows PC
Fan Control sets fan curves for CPU, GPU and case fans from one place on Windows, with seven curve types and mixed curves. It is free, supported by donations, and the setup is on you. Versions 237 and earlier shipped a driver that Windows Defender flagged.
Who Fan Control is for
- 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
Who Fan Control is not for
- 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
Why Fan Control gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree to use, with the full program and optional donations by PayPal and Stripe.
- AFree plan and trialThe full program is free with no cap or trial clock.
- BFeaturesSeven curve types, mixed curves, fine-grained parameters, plug-ins and wide hardware support. The listing names no gap in the core job.
- CEase of useNo store rating is on record. Fan curves have to be set up per fan and tested, so there is some learning curve.
- DPlatforms and integrationsWindows only, Windows 10 and 11 per the release page. No Mac, Linux or phone version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Rémi Mercier's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Fan Control? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/fan-control#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/fan-control.svg" alt="Fan Control: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Fan Control stands among desktop utilities
Fan Control'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).
Fan Control has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Fan Control’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186, level with 72
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186, level with 72
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186, level with 110
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Fan Control, or make your own?
Keep it
Fan Control is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Readings from inside the operating system.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Fan Control’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.
What is Fan Control?
Fan Control is a Windows program for setting fan curves across CPU, GPU and case fans from one place. It offers seven curve types, mixed curves that combine several temperature sensors, and a plug-in system. It is free to use and supported by donations.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Fan Control pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Fan Control is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free to use; the maker accepts optional donations through PayPal and Stripe.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full program; donations are optional and fund continued development. |
Read from getfancontrol.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Fan Control before you buy.
Works with
- LibreHardwareMonitor
Fan Control alternatives
- Fan Control vs Core Temp
Free plan · from $25
- Fan Control vs Macs Fan Control
Free plan · from $14.95 one-time
- Fan Control vs TG Pro
Free trial · from $10 one-time
Common questions
Does Fan Control have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fan Control is listed for Windows.
Does Fan Control have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fan Control is listed for Windows.
Is Fan Control open source?
Fan Control is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.