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Head-to-head · Game FPS Counters

Kestrel vs PresentMon

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Kestrel #6 in Game FPS Counters 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Kestrel
PresentMon #7 in Game FPS Counters 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit PresentMon

Kestrel leads on 0 checks, PresentMon on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreKestrel · 7.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresKestrel · 5 of 5

Kestrel scores higher on our rubric for game fps counters: 7.9 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Kestrel is the better fit for windows enthusiasts needing detailed per-game telemetry. PresentMon is the better fit for developers building frame-analysis tooling.

  • Kestrel fits best

    Windows enthusiasts needing detailed per-game telemetry

  • PresentMon fits best

    Developers building frame-analysis tooling

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Side by side

Feature Kestrel 7.9/10 Visit ↗ PresentMon 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.9 7.8
Ranking #6 in Game FPS Counters #7 in Game FPS Counters
Best for Windows enthusiasts needing detailed per-game telemetry Developers building frame-analysis tooling
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Support Community Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Kestrel 5/5 · PresentMon 0/5
In-game overlay ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Frame-time display ✓ (best) Not checked yet
GPU metrics ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Logging or export ✓ (best) Not checked yet
CLI or API access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Primary platform Windows Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Per-frame timing with 1% and 0.1% lows plus CPU/GPU-bound detection
  • CSV run recording, rolling graphs, profiles, and JSON settings transfer
  • Portable executable monitors GPU, CPU, memory, power, temperatures, and battery
  • Frame-level CPU, GPU, display, latency, and presentation metrics
  • Real-time overlays, ETW analysis, and per-frame CSV export
  • API/SDK supports DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan applications
Cons
  • Frame-timing metrics require administrator rights
  • Cannot overlay exclusive-fullscreen games
  • Windows-only desktop app with community support
  • Windows desktop and UWP focus limits cross-platform deployment
  • API and ETW workflows require graphics-engineering expertise
  • Community and documentation support may not meet managed-support needs
Our verdict

Kestrel is a portable Windows desktop overlay for monitoring game frame timing and system performance. It is aimed at Windows enthusiasts who want detailed per-game telemetry without installing a kernel driver. The single executable…

Read the review →

PresentMon is an open-source set of Windows tools for capturing and analyzing graphics-application performance. It is aimed at game developers, performance engineers, and graphics analysts who need frame-level visibility rather than a…

Read the review →
  1. KestrelGame FPS Counters 7.9Free plan
  2. PresentMonGame FPS Counters 7.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Kestrel — where it wins

    • Per-frame timing with 1% and 0.1% lows plus CPU/GPU-bound detection
    • CSV run recording, rolling graphs, profiles, and JSON settings transfer
    • Portable executable monitors GPU, CPU, memory, power, temperatures, and battery

    Where it doesn't

    • Frame-timing metrics require administrator rights
    • Cannot overlay exclusive-fullscreen games
    • Windows-only desktop app with community support

  • PresentMon — where it wins

    • Frame-level CPU, GPU, display, latency, and presentation metrics
    • Real-time overlays, ETW analysis, and per-frame CSV export
    • API/SDK supports DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan applications

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows desktop and UWP focus limits cross-platform deployment
    • API and ETW workflows require graphics-engineering expertise
    • Community and documentation support may not meet managed-support needs

More comparisons

All game FPS counters comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update