Best PC optimizer for gaming in 2026: the options compared, with sources
Each optimizer solves one part of the problem. Here is what each one does, whether it can go back, whether it measures the result on your PC and how buying works, with the official link for every fact.
Rise TeamThis comparison was written by the Rise team, which has a stake in it. Data about the other products comes from their official pages, with the link and the date we checked it. Prices and features change: check the source before you decide.
Short answer
There is no single best optimizer for everyone: it depends on what is holding your game back. To tune the whole PC, see every change before it is applied, undo it in one click and measure before and after on your own PC, Rise. To start without paying, Hone (free plan with 10 optimizations) or Razer Cortex. If the problem is only graphics and your card is NVIDIA or AMD, the card maker’s own app already helps. If the problem is ping, ExitLag.
What each one does
| Tool | Type | Undoes its changes | Measures before and after in the app | In-game settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise | Whole-PC optimizer: Windows, graphics card, network, peripherals and games | Yes: Each optimization in one click, or all of them with Revert all | Yes: Rise Benchmark, with average FPS, 1% low and stutters | Yes: Video presets with a backup (Premium) |
| Hone | Windows and game optimizer[3] | Yes: Says its optimizations are reversible[1] | Partly: Not stated; publishes its own tests[13] | Yes: Per-game optimizations and guides[3] |
| Razer Cortex | Game booster and graphics tuning[4] | Yes: Revert button in Booster Prime[5] | Partly: FPS prediction before applying[5] | Yes: Booster Prime in some games[5] |
| ExitLag | Network routing, plus PC Boost[6] | Not stated[6] | Not stated[6] | Not stated[6] |
| NVIDIA App | Driver app for GeForce cards[8] | Partly: Rolls back to the previous driver[8] | Partly: Overlay with FPS and 1% low[15] | Yes: Over a thousand games[8] |
| AMD HYPR-RX | Driver profile, Radeon RX 7000 or newer[9] | Not stated[9] | Not stated[9] | Partly: Partly: in-game FSR in HYPR-Tune games[9] |
| Process Lasso | Automates process priority and CPU affinity[10] | Not stated[10] | Not stated[10] | Not stated[10] |
| WinUtil | Open-source PowerShell script[11] | Partly: Creates a restore point[11] | Not stated[11] | Not stated[11] |
| Tweak pack (.bat / .reg) | Script sold on its own | Partly: Depends on the seller; back up the registry first[12] | No: No: a script does not measure | Varies |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Price and purchase
| Tool | Free option | Payment | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rise | No: No free plan and no trial | By card, in US dollars or euros outside Brazil; renews automatically, cancel anytime | 7 calendar days from the first purchase, full amount |
| Hone | Yes: Free plan with 10 optimizations and ads[1] | Monthly or yearly, regional price; processed by Xsolla or Tebex[2] | Partly: Follows the processor’s policy, with conditions[2] |
| Razer Cortex | Yes: Free, per Razer’s software page[14] | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| ExitLag | Partly: 3-day trial, no card needed[6] | Local currency by country; renews automatically[7] | Up to 7 days[7] |
| NVIDIA App | No price shown on the official pages[8] | Not stated[8] | Not stated[8] |
| AMD HYPR-RX | Part of AMD Software; no price shown[9] | Not stated[9] | Not stated[9] |
| Process Lasso | Partly: Free to use indefinitely; Pro features in a short trial[16] | Lifetime license or monthly or yearly subscription[10] | Up to 30 days after any payment[10] |
| WinUtil | Yes: Free and open source (MIT license)[11] | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Tweak pack (.bat / .reg) | Varies | Varies; usually a digital-product store | Depends on the seller and the store |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Five questions to ask any optimizer
- Does it show what will change before applying it, or apply everything at once?
- Can you undo each change without reinstalling Windows?
- Does it measure the result on your PC, with the same test before and after, or does it only promise a number?
- Does it turn off Defender, the firewall or CPU protections without telling you?
- How long is the refund window, and who decides?
High ping or low FPS?
High ping, packet loss and rubber banding are network problems: that is what a routing optimizer like ExitLag is for. Low FPS, drops in busy areas, stutters and delayed mouse input with normal ping are PC problems: that is what a PC optimizer like Rise is for.
How we compare
- Only data from each product’s official pages goes in, with the link and the date we checked it (list of sources at the end).
- "Not stated" means the information was not on the official page on that date. It does not mean the feature does not exist.
- We did not run FPS tests on the other products. FPS gains depend on the PC, the game and how Windows was set up, and only count when measured on your own computer.
- For Rise, only what is in the official FAQ and in the app goes in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best PC optimizer for gaming?
It depends on what is holding your game back. To tune the whole PC with one-click undo and before-and-after measurement, Rise. To start without paying, Hone or Razer Cortex. For graphics on an NVIDIA or AMD card, the driver app. For ping, a routing optimizer like ExitLag.
Do FPS boosters and PC optimizers actually work?
They work when there is something to fix: a power-saving plan, a heavy program in the background, a poor Windows, graphics card or game setting. On a PC that is already well set up, the gain is small. That is why it is worth measuring the same scenario before and after, on your own computer.
Is there a free PC optimizer for gaming?
Yes. Razer Cortex and WinUtil are free, Hone has a free plan with 10 optimizations and Process Lasso can be used for free indefinitely, with Pro features in a short trial. The NVIDIA App and AMD Software show no price on their official pages (all checked on November 7, 2026). Rise is paid, with 7 days to back out on your first purchase.
Does Rise have a free plan or a trial?
No. Rise has two paid plans, Rise Basic and Rise Premium, with prices on the plans page. On your first purchase, you have 7 calendar days to back out with a full refund, no reason needed.
What should I check before installing any optimizer?
Download it only from the official website. Then see whether it shows each change before applying it, whether it can undo each one, whether it turns off any Windows protection and whether it measures the result on your PC. Be wary of anything that promises a fixed FPS number.
Sources
- Hone: Premium (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Hone: refund policy (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Hone: games (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Razer Cortex: Game Booster (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Razer Cortex: Booster Prime (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- ExitLag: home page (Spanish version) (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- ExitLag: plans and pricing (Spanish version) (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- NVIDIA App: FAQ (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- AMD: HYPR-RX (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Process Lasso: licenses (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- WinUtil (GitHub) (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Microsoft: back up the registry before editing it (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Hone: VALORANT (Hone’s own test) (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Razer: software (Cortex) (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- NVIDIA App: official page (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
- Process Lasso: Free vs Pro (checked on Nov 7, 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Let us know on the Rise Discord and we will fix it. Report on Discord
Want your whole PC tuned, with measurement?
See what each plan unlocks and how to pay. On your first purchase, you have 7 days to cancel for a full refund.