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Head-to-head · Profiling Software

Google Cloud Profiler vs async-profiler

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Google Cloud Profiler #4 in Profiling Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Google Cloud
async-profiler #10 in Profiling Software 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit async-profiler

Google Cloud Profiler leads on 0 checks, async-profiler on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGoogle Cloud Profiler · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth

Google Cloud Profiler scores higher on our rubric for profiling software: 9.0 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #10.

On profiling modes, async-profiler gives you Both where Google Cloud Profiler offers Sampling. On deployment model, Google Cloud Profiler gives you Cloud where async-profiler offers Self-hosted.

Google Cloud Profiler is the better fit for free continuous cloud profiling. async-profiler is the better fit for free, deep Java and native profiling.

  • Google Cloud Profiler fits best

    Free continuous cloud profiling

  • async-profiler fits best

    Free, deep Java and native profiling

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.

Side by side

Feature Google Cloud Profiler 9.0/10 Visit ↗ async-profiler 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.3
Ranking #4 in Profiling Software #10 in Profiling Software
Best for Free continuous cloud profiling Free, deep Java and native profiling
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web, Linux Linux, macOS
Support Docs Community, Docs
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Google Cloud Profiler 3/3 · async-profiler 3/3
CPU profiling ✓ ✓
Memory profiling ✓ ✓
Thread profiling ✓ ✓
Specs
Profiling modes Sampling Both
Supported languages Go, Java, Node.js, Python Java, C, C++
Deployment model Cloud Self-hosted
Our review
Pros
  • Free continuous profiling across CPU, memory, thread, and wall time
  • Flame graphs and historical views support profile comparison
  • Supports Go, Java, Node.js, and Python applications
  • Profiles CPU, heap, native memory, locks, wall time and counters
  • Outputs Flame Graphs and JFR, with Java and C APIs
  • Open-source, self-hosted tooling for Java, C and C++
Cons
  • Sampling profiles may not capture every execution detail
  • Language support is limited to Go, Java, Node.js, and Python
  • Analysis centers on the Google Cloud console
  • Primarily targets Java applications on HotSpot-based JVMs
  • Officially maintained builds focus on Linux and macOS
  • Requires local binaries, libraries or agent integration
Our verdict

Google Cloud Profiler is a cloud-based statistical profiler for production applications. It uses language-specific agents to collect continuous, low-overhead sampling data across CPU time, memory, heap, allocated heap, threads, contention,…

Read the review →

async-profiler is an open-source, self-hosted profiling tool primarily for Java applications running on HotSpot-based JVMs. It also supports native application profiling and integration with C and C++ through a native API. The project is…

Read the review →
  1. Google Cloud ProfilerProfiling Software 9.0Free plan
  2. async-profilerProfiling Software 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Google Cloud Profiler — where it wins

    • Free continuous profiling across CPU, memory, thread, and wall time
    • Flame graphs and historical views support profile comparison
    • Supports Go, Java, Node.js, and Python applications

    Where it doesn't

    • Sampling profiles may not capture every execution detail
    • Language support is limited to Go, Java, Node.js, and Python
    • Analysis centers on the Google Cloud console

  • async-profiler — where it wins

    • Profiles CPU, heap, native memory, locks, wall time and counters
    • Outputs Flame Graphs and JFR, with Java and C APIs
    • Open-source, self-hosted tooling for Java, C and C++

    Where it doesn't

    • Primarily targets Java applications on HotSpot-based JVMs
    • Officially maintained builds focus on Linux and macOS
    • Requires local binaries, libraries or agent integration

More comparisons

All profiling software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update