AlwaysUp vs BootRacer

AlwaysUp runs applications as Windows Services so they can start at boot and keep running without a user logged in. It supports executables, batch files, Java applications, Python scripts and other application types. Monitoring can trigger restarts if an application crashes, hangs or uses too much memory; email alerts and Windows Event Log reporting provide activity details. Scheduling options include application restarts and computer reboots, alongside custom sanity checks and automation for dialogs and forms. The maker lists compatibility guides for more than 160 applications, including Dropbox, Google Drive for desktop and Plex Media Server. The current release supports Windows 11 and 10, and Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016; earlier releases are available for some older versions. The maker says core functionality needs no internet access, configuration stays local, and installations do not transmit personal data or telemetry. A free Web Service add-on provides browser or HTTP API control, with HTTPS support. An unrestricted 30-day trial is available. An individual single-PC license costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase; additional volume and site license options are listed.

BootRacer is Windows software for measuring and managing startup activity on Windows 10 and 11. It provides startup delay, service control, startup inspection, and restore-point tools. A startup manager is included, while junk cleanup, driver updates, and scheduled maintenance are not. BootRacer runs on Windows and lists a one-device limit for its standard single-PC plans. A free plan costs nothing and is for non-commercial use. The Premium 1 PC plan is listed at $39.95 a month with lifetime billing, while Premium 2 PC costs $59.95 a month with lifetime billing. A Premium Family License costs $99.95 a month with lifetime household use, and a Roaming License costs $99.95 a year for one computer at a time. Business and enterprise options are also listed, with enterprise prices not provided. The maker is based in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA, and was founded in 1998.