10 Best programs for displaying FPS in games

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Computer performance directly affects the quality of gameplay. Frame rate (FPS) is one of the key indicators determining how smooth a game feels. In this article, we’ve collected the best programs for FPS monitoring.

Why Monitor FPS

Monitoring FPS is essential for several key reasons. Knowing the exact frame rate helps find the right balance between image quality and system performance. It also helps identify system bottlenecks or hardware issues such as overheating.

A stable frame rate of at least 60 FPS ensures smooth gameplay in most genres. For competitive shooters, 120 FPS or higher is recommended. Drops below 30 FPS make gameplay uncomfortable.

1. MSI Afterburner

MSI Afterburner also supports undervolting and GPU overclocking.

This monitoring program displays a wealth of useful information about your system on-screen. It’s considered the gold standard in game performance monitoring. It works alongside RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), which lets you cap FPS and customize the overlay appearance.

Main features include:

  • FPS display

  • CPU and GPU temperature

  • Component usage

  • Memory frequency

  • Other vital metrics

To enable FPS display:

  1. Install MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server

  2. Open settings and go to the “Monitoring” tab

  3. Select “Framerate” and check “Show in On-Screen Display”

  4. Enable other stats as desired and save

  5. In RTSS, make sure “Show On-Screen Display” is turned on

Once set, the overlay with FPS and other stats will appear in games.

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2. GeForce Experience

NVIDIA GPU users can utilize GeForce Experience, originally designed to optimize game settings, but now it also includes monitoring features.

To enable FPS counter:

  1. Press Alt + Z to open the overlay

  2. Go to settings (gear icon) → “HUD Layout”

  3. Choose where to place the counter

  4. Press Alt + R (can be customized) to toggle the counter on/off

GeForce Experience also lets you:

  • Optimize game graphics settings

  • Take screenshots

  • Record or stream gameplay

More details: “How to Configure NVIDIA Graphics for Gaming”

3. FPS Monitor

FPS Monitor offers a wide range of overlay styles.

A Russian-made program with highly flexible customization options. You can design your own overlay layouts or use various presets.

Supports display of:

  • Per-core CPU load

  • Component temperatures

  • VRAM usage

  • Frame rate with time breakdown

  • Statistical recording for analysis

To enable FPS overlay:

  1. Download and install FPS Monitor

  2. Click “Scenes” → “Recent Scenes”

  3. Choose a layout (e.g., just FPS)

  4. Go to “Settings” → “Hotkeys”

  5. Set a shortcut to toggle the overlay

  6. Minimize the app to the taskbar

License: 350 rubles. You can pay with Russian cards. The full version removes watermarks and unlocks more features.

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4. Xbox Game Bar

Widgets in Xbox Game Bar can be freely placed on the screen.

Built into Windows 10 and 11, the Xbox Game Bar activates with Win + G and doesn’t require installation.

It includes a Performance Widget that displays:

  • FPS

  • CPU usage

  • GPU usage

  • RAM usage

To use:

  1. Press Win + G

  2. Click the performance icon on the top bar

  3. Pin the window using the pushpin icon

  4. Close the overlay with Win + G; the widget stays visible

Note: Game Bar might be disabled on your system. Check out “How to Set Up Windows 10 for Gaming” for instructions.

5. Fraps

Fraps has minimal settings.

Though no longer updated, Fraps is still usable. It has minimal impact on performance and good compatibility. Its main function is to show the FPS counter in a screen corner.

Additional features:

  • Screenshot capture

  • High-quality video recording

Downsides:

  • No system info (no component usage or temperatures)

  • Paid software (free version limits video to 30 seconds and adds a watermark)

  • FPS monitoring works without a license

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Which One to Choose

It depends on your needs and experience:

  • Beginners: Use Xbox Game Bar or Fraps (simple and built-in)

  • Advanced Users: Go with MSI Afterburner + RTSS or FPS Monitor

  • NVIDIA Users: GeForce Experience is a great choice

Setup Tips

Keep these points in mind:

  • Overlay placement: Should be easy to read and not block gameplay. Try screen corners with fewer UI elements.

  • Update frequency: Affects readability. Too fast can cause flickering; too slow may lose accuracy. In MSI Afterburner, try setting polling to 1000 ms and adjust as needed.

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