Best GNU gprof Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from profiling software ranked against GNU gprof on the same published basis.
- 1GNU gprof vs Grafana Cloud Application Observability
- 2GNU gprof vs YourKit Java Profiler
- 3GNU gprof vs Javadoc
- 4GNU gprof vs Redgate SQL Provision
- 5GNU gprof vs Scalene
- 6GNU gprof vs JProfiler
- 7GNU gprof vs Pyroscope
- 8GNU gprof vs VisualVM
- 9GNU gprof vs async-profiler
- 10GNU gprof vs Intel VTune Profiler
- 11GNU gprof vs AMD Auto-Detect and Install Tool
- 12GNU gprof vs Google Cloud Profiler
- 13GNU gprof vs Grafana k6
- 14GNU gprof vs Blackfire.io
- 15GNU gprof vs Go pprof
- 16GNU gprof vs JetBrains dotMemory
- 17GNU gprof vs JetBrains dotTrace
- 18GNU gprof vs Node.js --prof
- 19GNU gprof vs py-spy
- 20GNU gprof vs Valgrind
GNU gprof alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grafana Cloud Application Observability | 7.5 | Free plan | $0.03/mo | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | YourKit Java Profiler | 7.4 | No | $37454.08/mo | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 3 | Javadoc | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 4 | Redgate SQL Provision | 7.2 | No | — | Linux, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 5 | Scalene | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Browser, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 6 | JProfiler | 7.1 | No | — | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 7 | Pyroscope | 7.1 | Free plan | $19/mo | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 8 | VisualVM | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | async-profiler | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac |
| 10 | Intel VTune Profiler | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, self-hosted, Windows |
| 11 | AMD Auto-Detect and Install Tool | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 12 | Google Cloud Profiler | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, self-hosted, Web |
| 13 | Grafana k6 | 6.9 | Free plan | $19/mo | Linux |
| 14 | Blackfire.io | 6.8 | No | €33.25/mo | API, Browser, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 15 | Go pprof | 6.4 | No | — | API |
| 16 | JetBrains dotMemory | 6.2 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 17 | JetBrains dotTrace | 6.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 18 | Node.js --prof | 6.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 19 | py-spy | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 20 | Valgrind | 6.1 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Android |
Make your tool an alternative to GNU gprof
See the priceThe sponsored alternative slot on this page is labelled Sponsored.
Questions about GNU gprof alternatives
What is the best alternative to GNU gprof?
Grafana Cloud Application Observability, number 1 in profiling software with a score of 7.5 out of 10. The others here: YourKit Java Profiler, Javadoc, Redgate SQL Provision and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to GNU gprof?
Grafana Cloud Application Observability is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 11 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.























