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FPS Overlay review

Free#14 of 25 in Game FPS Counters

A focused, open-source Windows overlay for accurate in-game FPS readings.

7.1/10Editor score
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FPS Overlay7.1 Visit FPS Overlay

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

FPS Overlay is a lightweight Windows desktop utility for gamers who want a small, unobtrusive frames-per-second counter. It detects the focused game window automatically and displays a transparent overlay while the game runs. Frame rates are calculated from real PresentMon frame timings rather than estimated from application data, making the tool focused on a direct FPS readout. Its solo and small-team fit reflects a narrow desktop use case rather than a broader monitoring suite.

Distributed as free, open-source software, FPS Overlay has no paid tiers to compare. The published feature set covers draggable positioning, configurable font, text color, and font size, plus an optional start-with-Windows task. A system-tray menu provides visibility and settings controls, while settings persist in config.json. Self-update support and optional update checks reduce maintenance steps for users who want the utility to stay current; the project can also be run from Python source.

The trade-off is scope. FPS Overlay does not display frametime or GPU metrics, and it does not provide logging, export, or CLI/API access. That makes it a good pick for someone who needs a simple FPS number over a game without extra telemetry. Users comparing frame pacing, diagnosing graphics hardware behavior, exporting performance history, or integrating readings into another workflow should choose a counter that includes those capabilities instead. Windows-only deployment also rules it out for non-Windows gaming setups.

FPS Overlay pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Uses real PresentMon frame timings instead of application estimates
    • Automatically detects the focused game window
    • Draggable, configurable overlay with Windows startup option
  • Where it doesn't
    • Windows desktop support only
    • No frametime or GPU metrics display
    • No logging, export, or CLI/API access

FPS Overlay fact sheet, pricing and score →

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