The Fan Control Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Fan Control 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.
Fan Control
The Insider’s Guide
Free fan curve controller for Windows PCs
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Fan Control’s own pages.
Made by Rémi Mercier · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Fan Control’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Fan Control’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
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Fan Control, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is free, supported by donations, and the setup is on you.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Fan Control has no paid plan at all. Free to use; the maker accepts optional donations through PayPal and Stripe.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
Fan curves
Seven curve types and multiple saved configurations, with temperature tray icons and assisted setup for new users.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
Keep it
Fan Control is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Fan Control at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- Rémi Mercier
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to use, with the full program and optional donations by PayPal and Stripe. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full program is free with no cap or trial clock. |
| Features | B | Seven curve types, mixed curves, fine-grained parameters, plug-ins and wide hardware support. The listing names no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating is on record. Fan curves have to be set up per fan and tested, so there is some learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only, Windows 10 and 11 per the release page. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Windows builders who want to tune fan noise against temperature
- Controlling fans from several makers in one program
- Users who want a free tool with no paid tier
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Fan Control is free to use.
Free to use, with the full program and optional donations by PayPal and Stripe.
Free
$0
The full program; donations are optional and fund continued development.
The free plan
Free to use; the maker accepts optional donations through PayPal and Stripe.
Read from getfancontrol.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
Free fan curve controller for Windows PCs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: workflow automation, system monitor.
Seven curve types, mixed curves, fine-grained parameters, plug-ins and wide hardware support.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- LibreHardwareMonitor
Fan Control is made by Rémi Mercier.
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
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Fan Control is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
SpeedFan, HWiNFO, Core Temp, Macs Fan Control and TG Pro
The 5 tools Fan Control is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
SpeedFan
Free
Free Windows monitor for temperatures, fan speeds and voltages.
- 3.0GPA
HWiNFO
Free
Windows hardware information and real-time sensor monitoring.
- Fan Control also covers workflow automation.
- HWiNFO also covers reports.
- 2.8GPA
Core Temp
Free plan · from $25
Per-core CPU temperature monitor for Windows PCs.
- Fan Control also covers workflow automation.
- Core Temp also covers reports.
- 2.6GPA
Macs Fan Control
Free plan · from $14.95 one-time
Free Mac fan monitor with custom speeds and presets in Pro.
- Only Macs Fan Control lists a macOS app.
- Macs Fan Control can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Fan Control also covers workflow automation.
- 2.4GPA
TG Pro
Free trial · from $10 one-time
Mac temperature monitor with manual and automatic fan control.
- Fan Control has a free plan. TG Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Fan Control lists a Windows app.
- Only TG Pro lists a macOS app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Fan Control free?
Yes. Fan Control is free to use.
How much does Fan Control cost?
Fan Control lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Fan Control work on?
Fan Control is available on Windows.
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.
What does Fan Control integrate with?
Fan Control's listing names LibreHardwareMonitor. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Fan Control?
Fan Control is made by Rémi Mercier.
What are the alternatives to Fan Control?
The closest alternatives to Fan Control in our directory are SpeedFan, HWiNFO, Core Temp, Macs Fan Control and TG Pro.
How does Fan Control compare with other 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.
Is Fan Control good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Fan Control A for value for money. Fan Control has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Fan Control?
Fan Control is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Fan Control’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 Rémi Mercier'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 Rémi Mercier. Prices change, so check getfancontrol.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
- Fan Control, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fan-control
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
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, "Fan Control: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fan-control
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fan-control/guide
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Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Fan Control’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. Fan Control is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Rémi Mercier. Prices and plans change: check getfancontrol.com before you buy.