The Best Game FPS Counters in 2026
Pick Intel PresentMon: it leads for Windows users who need deep FPS and frame analysis, combining CPU, GPU, and display frame-duration tracing with latency analysis, real-time overlay graphs, and per-frame CSV capture. It is also the best free option: Intel releases it as open source, so the full toolset costs nothing. NVIDIA FrameView is the best fit for NVIDIA users benchmarking games, measuring average FPS, 1% lows, PC latency, and GPU/CPU telemetry such as temperatures, frequency, utilization, and power. MangoHud targets Linux gamers who need rich open-source overlays, tracking FPS, frametime, loads, temperatures, clocks, power, and throttling while logging performance and visualizing benchmarks. Fraps suits users who want an FPS counter plus game capture, with a registered version at $37 one-time and recording up to 7680x4800 at rates up to 100 fps. SmoothWizard offers a free tier with one-click optimization, Cockpit cleanup tools, and a live hardware monitor; its PRO plan starts at $8.04 per month.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Intel PresentMon#1 of 259.4/10A free, open-source choice for detailed Windows frame-time and latency analysis.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
NVIDIA FrameView#2 of 259.2/10A free Windows benchmark overlay with FPS, latency, telemetry, power, and CSV reports.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
RivaTuner Statistics Server#3 of 259.0/10A free Windows utility for detailed FPS overlays, frame limiting, profiles, and capture.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 25 tools, best first
-
Best forWindows users needing deep FPS and frame analysis
A free, open-source choice for detailed Windows frame-time and latency analysis.
9.4/10★★★★★View PresentMon -
Best forNVIDIA users benchmarking games
A free Windows benchmark overlay with FPS, latency, telemetry, power, and CSV reports.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit FrameView -
Best forWindows users wanting customizable OSD monitoring
A free Windows utility for detailed FPS overlays, frame limiting, profiles, and capture.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Guru3D -
Best forUsers wanting FPS counters plus game capture
A focused Windows FPS counter and capture tool with a $37 one-time registered version.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Fraps -
Best forLinux gamers needing rich open-source overlays
A detailed, configurable Linux overlay for FPS, frametime, and hardware telemetry.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit MangoHud -
Best forWindows enthusiasts needing detailed per-game telemetry
A detailed, open-source Windows overlay for frame-time and system telemetry.
- Logging or export
- CLI or API access
- Frame-time display
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Kestrel -
Best forDevelopers building frame-analysis tooling
A frame-by-frame Windows toolkit for developers who need deep graphics telemetry.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit PresentMon -
Best forFree Windows FPS and network monitoring
A free, open-source Windows overlay for detailed FPS, network and hardware stats.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit GameOverlay -
Best forPortable Windows hardware and FPS overlays
A portable Windows overlay with detailed FPS, frame-time, sensor, and styling controls.
- Frame-time display
- GPU metrics
- In-game overlay
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit StizzyBee -
Best forLinux Vulkan performance diagnostics
A Linux-focused Vulkan overlay for detailed FPS, timing, GPU, and pipeline diagnostics.
- Logging or export
- CLI or API access
- Frame-time display
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Mesa Project -
Best forCross-platform users wanting a polished dashboard
A paid Windows/macOS overlay combining FPS, frametime, hardware metrics, and desktop widgets.
- CLI or API access
- Frame-time display
- GPU metrics
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Readout -
Best forWindows users focused on GPU telemetry
A free Windows overlay for FPS, GPU, VRAM, clock and temperature telemetry.
- GPU metrics
- In-game overlay
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit GPU Overlay -
Best forSimple Windows FPS counting without overhead
A focused, free Windows overlay for monitoring FPS without injection or telemetry.
- In-game overlay
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit FPS Counter -
Best forMinimal open-source Windows FPS overlay
A focused, open-source Windows overlay for accurate in-game FPS readings.
- In-game overlay
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit FPS Overlay -
Best forLinux/macOS OpenGL overlay users
A free, open-source overlay for detailed OpenGL FPS and hardware metrics.
- CLI or API access
- Frame-time display
- GPU metrics
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit SimpleOverlay -
Best forWindows users wanting optimization plus FPS data
A Windows-focused optimizer that combines FPS tracking, hardware metrics, and tuning tools.
- Logging or export
- GPU metrics
- In-game overlay
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit SmoothWizard -
Best forAdvanced Windows graphics tuning
Free Windows tuning utility with FPS controls, latency analysis, HDR tools, and game fixes.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Special K -
Best forPaid users needing broad hardware monitoring
A Windows FPS counter with unusually broad hardware sensors and alerting.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit FPS Monitor -
Best forNVIDIA users prioritizing recording with overlay access
A free NVIDIA capture suite with Instant Replay, Highlights, and overlay controls.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit NVIDIA -
Best forWindows users wanting a general gaming overlay
A broad, free Windows overlay with FPS presets and useful session tools.
- Logging or export
- GPU metrics
- In-game overlay
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Control -
Best forLinux/Windows Vulkan translation setups
Open-source Direct3D-to-Vulkan layer with HUD metrics, built mainly for Wine on Linux.
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit DXVK -
Best forTeams building games with performance needs
A free, open-source engine with broad game-development tools, not a dedicated FPS counter.
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Godot Engine -
Best forStudios developing multiplayer games
A capable multiplayer game engine, but not a purpose-built FPS-counter product.
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Unreal Engine -
Best forUsers managing and purchasing PC games
A broad PC game storefront and library, but not a verified FPS-counter tool.
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Steam -
Best forPC gamers seeking game-store price deals
A free Windows deal tracker for PC gamers, not an FPS counter or performance tool.
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit Razer Cortex
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intel PresentMon | Yes | Free | 9.4 |
| 2 | NVIDIA FrameView | Yes | Free | 9.2 |
| 3 | RivaTuner Statistics Server | Yes | Free | 9.0 |
| 4 | Fraps | No | $37 one-time | 8.5 |
| 5 | MangoHud | Yes | Free | 8.3 |
| 6 | Kestrel | Yes | Free | 7.9 |
| 7 | PresentMon | Yes | Free | 7.8 |
| 8 | GameOverlay | Yes | Free | 7.7 |
| 9 | StizzyBee Performance Overlay | Free | 7.6 | |
| 10 | Mesa Vulkan Overlay Layer | Yes | Free | 7.5 |
| 11 | Readout | 7.4 | ||
| 12 | GPU Overlay | Free | 7.3 | |
| 13 | FPS Counter | Yes | Free | 7.2 |
| 14 | FPS Overlay | Yes | Free | 7.1 |
| 15 | SimpleOverlay | Yes | Free | 7.0 |
| 16 | SmoothWizard | Yes | $8.04/mo | 6.8 |
| 17 | Special K | Yes | Free | 6.6 |
| 18 | FPS Monitor | No | 6.5 | |
| 19 | NVIDIA ShadowPlay | Yes | Free | 6.3 |
| 20 | Control | Yes | Free | 6.2 |
| 21 | DXVK | Yes | Free | 5.8 |
| 22 | Godot Engine | Yes | Free | 5.4 |
| 23 | Unreal Engine | Yes | 5.3 | |
| 24 | Steam | Yes | Free | 5.1 |
| 25 | Razer Cortex: Deals | Yes | Free | 4.9 |
Head-to-head All 22 comparisons →
- Intel PresentMon vs Fraps
- Intel PresentMon vs Kestrel
- Intel PresentMon vs PresentMon
- Intel PresentMon vs GameOverlay
- NVIDIA FrameView vs Fraps
- NVIDIA FrameView vs Kestrel
- NVIDIA FrameView vs PresentMon
- NVIDIA FrameView vs GameOverlay
- RivaTuner Statistics Server vs Fraps
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How we rank game FPS counters
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update