Today there are 86 different fan control software. We spent 120 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to control PC fan speed.
What is the Best Fan Control Software?
- Argus Monitor — best for Windows
- HWMonitor Pro — best for Android Gamers
- Macs Fan Control — best for Mac
- SpeedFan — best simple program
- Zotac Firestorm — best for gaming
- EasyTune 5 — best for CPU speed control
- ASUS AI Suite 3 — best for overclocking
Our Verdict — Best for Windows
Price: Starts at $13.95/year
Argus Monitor is the best fan control software for Windows users. We think it’s the best because of its monitoring features, preventative hardware failure alerts, and custom dashboard fan curve.
The Best Part:
It looks out for your PC. Bypass risks of overheating and system failure by setting up a combination of alerts in your settings.
The Worst Part:
It has no overclocking features. PC components like CPU and GPU cannot be overclocked, so you’ll need 3rd party applications for that.
Get it if you want an all-encompassing fan control program for your Windows.
I recommend you get the free trial to test out the program, then purchase the 3-year license, ($29.95/3 years), for the most value for your money.
(free 30-day trial)
Best For
Argus Monitor is best for Windows users who want an all-in-one fan control software with maximum flexibility.
Top Features
- Stay always on top. Avoid unexpected overheating-related accidents by setting up customized warnings and alerts for every fan.
- Unique control options. You can set your fan speeds to a fixed value or a characteristic curve in the Mainboard for balanced fan control.
- Custom fan curve. You can control fan curve options by adding or removing indicators from your custom chart on the Mainboard.
- Constant updates. If you are a gamer, you will appreciate the continuous updates for newer AMD and NVIDIA GPUs.
- Fast and efficient customer support. Users report receiving satisfying support responses within the same or the next day.
Pricing
Argus Monitor offers two pricing plans:
- 1 year license: $13.95/year for individuals looking for a one-year license to work with the software beyond the trial period.
- 3 year license: $29.95/three years for individuals familiar with the software and willing to use it for another three years.
The three-year plan provides a 46% discount.
Try Argus Monitor today with a 30-day free trial.
Our Verdict — Best For Android Gamers
Price: Starts at $21.90/year
HWMonitor Pro is a lightweight fan control program. We think it’s the best for avid Android gamers because of its multi-platform availability, straightforward system fan control, and epic monitoring features.
The Best Part:
Data exporting and tracking features for desktop. You can save your interface data in a TXT file and track minimum/maximum recorded fan speeds.
The Worst Part:
It has a clunky user interface. You might find the numbers and columns pretty dense at first, even on the Pro or mobile versions.
Get it if you want comprehensive fan control and monitoring for gaming on your Windows or Android device.
I recommend you download the Classic version to experiment with the program and its UI, then upgrade to the most fitting payment plan.
(free plan available)
Best For
HWMonitor Pro is best for gamers who want reliable fan speed control software.
Top Features
- Straightforward fan control features. Manually set speeds for internal and external fan controllers.
- Power usage monitoring. Track your overall power consumption, motherboard, and CPU voltage in watts.
- Detailed temperature data. Track RAM, HDD, Disk, and GPU temperatures with current, minimum, and maximum values.
- Phone and PC availability. Monitor and control fans through Windows or your Android device (available for free on Google Play Store).
- Regular updates. Receive new updates every couple of months to eliminate bugs and improve monitoring.
Pricing
HWMonitor Pro offers four pricing plans:
- Android: Free forever, for mobile gamers looking for a reliable fan control app.
- Classic: Free forever, for casual users looking for basic software to control fan speed.
- Standard: $21.90 one-time payment for users who want the improved interface on the Pro version for up to 10 remote connections over a one-year period.
- Extended: $38.10 one-time payment for users willing to use up to 20 remote connections on the Pro version for over two years.
The extended plan provides a 42.5% discount over the standard plan.
Try HWMonitor Pro today with a free 30-day trial.
Our Verdict — Best For Mac
Price: Starts at $14.95
Macs Fan Control Pro is the best fan control software for Mac. We think it’s the best for casual Mac gamers because of its simplified interface, fast adjustments, and fan speed control settings.
The Best Part:
Simple interface. Become familiar in no time with the software settings and fan control and monitoring options.
The Worst Part:
Lack of user education. You'll need to set up fan speed controls with little to no in-app guidance or recommendations.
Get it if you want the best fan control software available for MacOS users.
I recommend you get the Pro license at $14.95 for your Mac for the custom fan control saving feature.
(free plan available)
Best For
Macs Fan Control Pro is best for gamers who want to control their Mac fan speed when running intensive video games.
Top Features
- Customizable fan speed profiles. Create and save custom fan settings to match a variety of use cases.
- Real-time fan curve monitoring. Monitor your GPU and CPU temperatures, as well as any other fan choices in one dashboard.
- Multiple fan control. Control multiple fans for optimal cooling.
- User-friendly interface. Navigate the program and have complete control of your temperature sources.
- Full blast mode. Run all of your fans at maximum RPM (revolutions per minute).
Pricing
Macs Fan Control Pro offers three pricing plans:
- Free: Free forever, for people only looking for basic fan speed control without customization options.
- Pro license for MacOS: $14.95 for MacOS users who want unlimited Pro version access.
- Pro license for MacOS & Windows: $24.95 for Windows and MacOS users who want to have the same fan control software on both operating systems.
Try Macs Fan Control Pro today with the free plan.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
- Argus Monitor — best for Windows
- HWMonitor Pro — best for Android Gamers
- Macs Fan Control Pro — best for Mac
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
Argus Monitor | 30-day free trial | Starts at $13.95/year |
HWMonitor Pro | Free plan | Starts at $21.90/year |
Macs Fan Control Pro | Free plan | Starts at $14.95 |
SpeedFan | None | Free forever |
Zotac Firestorm | None | Free forever |
EasyTune 5 | None | Free forever |
ASUS AI Suite 3 | None | Free forever |
Here are the top 50 fan control tools we considered in this review:
- Argus Monitor
- HWMonitor Pro
- Macs Fan Control Pro
- SpeedFan
- Zotac Firestorm
- EasyTune 5
- ASUS AI Suite 3
- Corsair Link
- Corsair iCUE
- FanControl
- HWiNFO
- MSI Dragon Center
- Notebook FanControl
- MSI Afterburner
- Open Hardware Monitor
- ThinkPad Fan Controller
- AIDA64
- NZXT CAM
- Rem0o’s Fan Control
- SmcFan Control
- AIDA64 Extreme
- AMD Linux OC
- Aquacomputer Aquasuite
- Cooler Master MasterPlus+
- Core Temp
- Core Temp Gadget
- CPU Thermometer
- CrystalDiskInfo
- EVGA Precision X1
- Fan Xpert 4
- FanCentro
- Lubbo's MacBook Pro Fan Control
- SMC Fan Control for Windows
- Motherboard Monitor
- PC Wizard
- Pitikapp
- Portable System Information Viewer
- Process Lasso
- Rainmeter
- Real Temp
- Speccy
- SpeedSwitchXP
- SSD Fan Control
- TG Pro
- thinkfan
- Wise System Monitor
- GPU Temp
- SystemGlow
- PA Server Monitor
- SysGauge Server
What is the best software to manage fan speed?
The best fan speed management software depends on your specific use case. For Android users looking for mobile fan control options, HWMonitor Pro has an edition available for download on Google Play store.
As for desktop, if you are looking for one software license for both MacOS and Windows, your best bet is Macs Fan Control Pro. In the case of owning only Windows devices, HWMonitor Pro or Argus Monitor are great options, with the latter being the most comprehensive tool available based on our research.
If you are looking to remotely monitor or control larger numbers of devices within a corporate or business set-up, PA Server Monitor or SysGauge Server can provide you with plans that support up to 1,000 monitors.
What are the best fan control settings for PCs?
The best fan control settings for a PC depend on several factors, including manual control options, CPU coolers, desired noise ratio, and external or built-in fan types. All in all, your ideal choices would be the following:
- Download a fan speed control software made available by your motherboard manufacturer or 3rd-party developers online.
- Set the fan speeds on your CPU fan control software to match ideal CPU temperature levels. It is advised to run higher speeds for components that run hot, and minimal speeds for those that run cooler.
- Normally, you should be aiming for a CPU temperature of 40–65°C (or 104–149°F) for normal use, and 70–80°C (158–176°F) for running heavier software or games. As for GPUs, the optimal temperature range would be 70–85°C (158–185°F) for NVIDIA, and 60–70°C (140–158°F) for AMD.
- You can monitor your fan speeds closely through manual fan control rather than automatic built-in options in your system, which may not always be ideal for your usage.
What is the best fan software for GPU?
To manage GPU fan speeds effectively, you have a variety of decent software options. The best would depend on your preferred system configuration and usage, here are a few examples:
MSI Afterburner: An excellent program popular among gamers for overclocking and having maximum control for AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards.
EVGA Precision X1: If you own an EVGA graphics card, this software is designed specifically for you to maintain a healthy average GPU temperature and have direct control over your fan hardware.
AMD Radeon Software: This is a dedicated fan controller software that comes pre-installed with AMD GPUs and provides a variety of basic fan management options.
What software controls fans and RGB?
There are several all-in-one RGB lighting and fan control software options, here are a few examples you may consider:
Corsair iCUE: If you are looking to control an RGB Corsair fan such as the Corsair Hydro Series, this software is for you. You can also use it to adjust the lighting in RGB lighting strips, keyboards, and mice produced by Corsair.
GIGABYTE RGB Fusion 2.0: Suitable for GIGABYTE motherboard and GPU owners who want a comprehensive program for fan and RGB light control.
You can also find similar programs from other RGB product manufacturers such as ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, and Razer Chroma.
Should PC fans be at full speed?
No; ideally, PC fans should not run at full speed, especially not on a constant basis.
Running PC fans at full blast may come with good usability from a software standpoint, yet it more often than not causes wear and tear as well as excessive noise from the fans.
The ideal fan speed would depend on the particular set-up you are working with as well as the noise level you are able to tolerate.
You can leverage customization options on fan control programs, as they provide accurate readings and help you narrow down the best fan control options.
It is also worth noting that running the fans too slowly may also be detrimental to your PC, so a balance in the middle is a must.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best fan control software to try this year:
- Argus Monitor — best for Windows
- HWMonitor Pro — best for Android Gamers
- Macs Fan Control Pro — best for Mac
- SpeedFan — best simple program
- Zotac Firestorm — best for gaming
- EasyTune 5 — best for CPU speed control
- ASUS AI Suite 3 — best for overclocking
