The Fraps Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Fraps 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.
Fraps
The Insider’s Guide
Windows game recorder, frame-rate counter and screenshot tool
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Fraps’s own pages.
Made by Beepa Pty Ltd · 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 Fraps’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Fraps’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
2.4
GPA, above 66 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Fraps is a Windows program for games that use DirectX or OpenGL. It shows a frame-rate counter, runs benchmarks, takes screenshots on a keypress and records game video with audio. The latest release listed on the site is version 3.5.99 from February 2013.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Fraps, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and press a hotkey to record, with nothing to connect.
- 1
Best for showing frame rates and capturing games on Windows
Fraps is a Windows tool that shows a frame-rate counter, runs benchmarks and records game video, for a one-time $37.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $37, one-time.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free download of the unregistered version. The site says registering removes the recording-length limit and the watermark on movies.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Frame-rate counter
Shows frames per second in a corner of the screen while a game runs.
- 6
Custom benchmarks
Measures the frame rate between any two points and can save the statistics to disk.
- 7
Screenshots on a keypress
One key takes a screenshot that is named and timestamped automatically.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 66 of 133
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing Fraps does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Fraps at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $37, one-time
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- Beepa Pty Ltd
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for showing frame rates and capturing games on Windows
Fraps is a Windows tool that shows a frame-rate counter, runs benchmarks and records game video, for a one-time $37. The latest release on the site is from February 2013, the free version limits recording length and adds a watermark, and it only supports DirectX and OpenGL games.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $37 once, under three months of a typical $14 video subscription, and level with the $37 one-time middle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free download of the unregistered version, but the Buy page says recording length is limited and movies carry a watermark. |
| Features | C | Frame-rate counter, benchmarks, screenshots on a keypress and game capture up to 7680x4800. It does that job fully, but a narrow one, and only for DirectX and OpenGL games. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install it and press a hotkey to record, with nothing to connect. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only, and the download page lists up to Windows 7. No Mac, Linux, phone or web version, and no integrations. |
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 Fraps is for
- Fits if you want a frame counter and benchmark for DirectX or OpenGL games
- Works for people who want a one-time purchase for game recording
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, since it is Windows only
- Not for you if you play newer games that need other capture methods: it covers DirectX and OpenGL
- Tight if you stay free: the limited version adds a watermark and a recording cap
- Watch out: the latest release is 3.5.99 from February 26, 2013, and later Windows versions aren't named
Good to know
Good for
- Gamers who want a simple FPS counter and capture tool on Windows
- Reviewers who benchmark frame rates between two points in a game
Worth knowing
- Windows only; the download page lists Windows XP, 2003, Vista and Windows 7 and does not name later Windows versions.
- The latest release on the site is 3.5.99, dated February 26, 2013.
- It works with games that use DirectX or OpenGL.
- The free version is limited; the Buy page says registration is needed for unlimited recording and movies without a watermark.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$37 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Fraps has a free plan. Paid plans start at $37, one-time.
A free download of the unregistered version, but the Buy page says recording length is limited and movies carry a watermark.
Free version
$0
Unregistered download; the Buy page says registration is needed to record as long as you like and to get movies without a watermark.
Registered
$37
one-time, paid through PayPal
Unlocked version with unlimited recording length, no watermark, screenshots saved as JPG, PNG or TGA, and free updates from the Members Area.
The free plan
Free download of the unregistered version. The site says registering removes the recording-length limit and the watermark on movies.
Read from fraps.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
Windows game recorder, frame-rate counter and screenshot tool. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, screen recording, screenshots.
It does that job fully, but a narrow one, and only for DirectX and OpenGL games.
- Frame-rate counter
- Shows frames per second in a corner of the screen while a game runs.
- Custom benchmarks
- Measures the frame rate between any two points and can save the statistics to disk.
- Screenshots on a keypress
- One key takes a screenshot that is named and timestamped automatically.
- Game video capture
- Records audio and video at sizes up to 7680x4800 and custom frame rates from 1 to 120 frames per second.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Fraps is made by Beepa Pty Ltd.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
66/133
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Fraps's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 66 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 22.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 102 of 133) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 134 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Fraps’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 102 of 133
- CFree plan and trialAbove 24 of 133
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 133
- BEase of useAbove 87 of 133
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 133
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
Nothing Fraps does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
It costs $37, paid once.
What you could not
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- Capture tools hooked into the operating system.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Fraps’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
OBS Studio, Bandicam, Movavi Screen Recorder and ScreenRec
The 4 tools Fraps is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
OBS Studio
Free
Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming.
- Only OBS Studio lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Fraps can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- OBS Studio is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Bandicam
Free plan · from $33.26/yr
Screen, game and webcam recorder for Windows, with a Mac edition.
- Only Bandicam lists a macOS app.
- Bandicam also covers transcription and video editing.
- 2.4GPA
Movavi Screen Recorder
Free trial · from $19.99/mo
Desktop screen recorder with webcam overlay and scheduling.
- Fraps has a free plan. Movavi Screen Recorder does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Movavi Screen Recorder lists a macOS app.
- Movavi Screen Recorder also covers noise cancellation.
- 2.4GPA
ScreenRec
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Desktop screen recorder and screenshot tool with instant share links.
- Only ScreenRec lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Fraps can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ScreenRec also covers transcription and dictation.
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 Fraps free?
Fraps has a free plan. Free download of the unregistered version.
How much does Fraps cost?
Fraps lists 2 plans. Free version: $0.
What platforms does Fraps work on?
Fraps is available on Windows.
Does Fraps have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fraps is listed for Windows.
Does Fraps have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fraps is listed for Windows.
Is Fraps open source?
Fraps is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Fraps?
Fraps is made by Beepa Pty Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Fraps?
The closest alternatives to Fraps in our directory are OBS Studio, Bandicam, Movavi Screen Recorder and ScreenRec.
How does Fraps compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Fraps's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 66 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 22.
Could I make my own version of Fraps?
Nothing Fraps does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Fraps’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 Fraps'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 Beepa Pty Ltd. Prices change, so check fraps.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
- Fraps, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fraps
- 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, "Fraps: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fraps
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fraps/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Fraps’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. Fraps is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Beepa Pty Ltd. Prices and plans change: check fraps.com before you buy.