GNU gprof

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.9 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Basic free C and C++ call-graph profiling
• Paid from
  Free
• Profiling modes
  Both
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Free and open source under the GNU Binutils project
  • Combines flat profiles, call graphs, and annotated source output
  • Supports C++ symbol demangling and merged profile data files

• Where it doesn't

  • Focused on C and C++ rather than broader language coverage
  • Does not provide verified memory or thread profiling
  • Offers limited platform and integration breadth

Our verdict on GNU gprof

GNU gprof is a command-line profiler in the GNU Binutils project for developers analyzing compiled C and C++ programs. It requires programs to be compiled and linked with profiling enabled, then run to generate profile data for analysis. The tool is suited to users who want function-level execution timing, caller and callee relationships, source annotations, and execution counts without adopting a broader profiling platform.

Its main strength is the breadth of analysis within a focused command-line workflow. GNU gprof provides flat profiling by function, call-graph analysis, annotated source listings, line-by-line profiling, and basic-block execution counts. It also supports static call-graph heuristics, C++ symbol demangling, and merging multiple profile data files. These capabilities make it useful for examining where execution time is spent and how calls move through a program. As free and open-source software, it is accessible for projects that need core CPU profiling without a paid tier.

The tradeoff is scope. GNU gprof is centered on compiled C and C++ programs and does not offer verified memory or thread profiling, while its platform and integration breadth is limited. Developers who need a narrow, text-oriented view of CPU behavior should find its feature set appropriate; teams seeking wider runtime coverage, broader ecosystem integration, or memory and thread analysis should choose a profiler designed for those needs instead. The GNU Binutils project also identifies gprofng as a newer profiler in the same project.

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GNU gprof pricing

GNU gprof fact sheet

Alternatives to GNU gprof

• Intel VTune ProfilerA free profiler covering CPU, memory, threading, GPU/NPU, I/O, MPI, and OpenMP.9.4
• AUAMD uProfA free AMD-focused profiler with broad CPU, system, threading, power, GPU, and tracing analysis.9.2
• PyroscopeA flexible profiler for teams that need continuous CPU and memory visibility at scale.9.1

See all GNU gprof alternatives →

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update