Comparison

Hardware Master Free vs CPU Runner

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hardware Master Free

Access detailed hardware information and engage in discussions about computer components. Find answers to frequently asked questions about memory, storage, and other hardware aspects.

Highlights
  • Hardware discussion
  • Hardware information
  • Memory & storage info
  • Hardware FAQ
Features
Read full description

The real Hardware Master is here! Features include: - Hardware discussion - Hardware Information - Memory & Storage Info - Hardware FAQ Notes: - Hardware FAQ is powered by Ask Different (Stack Exchange) - This app does *NOT* provide any diagnostic analysis. All information are for reference only.

About

CPU Runner

This app provides comprehensive system monitoring for your device. It offers detailed hardware data, CPU and GPU information, memory usage, network traffic, disk space, battery status, and even a decibel meter. A Today Widget allows for real-time monitoring of key metrics.

Highlights
  • Detailed hardware data
  • In-depth CPU and GPU information
  • Memory and network traffic monitoring
  • Disk space analysis
  • Battery health and status
  • Real-time decibel meter
  • Today Widget for quick monitoring
Features
Read full description

CPU Runner is a real-time diagnostics tool for iPhone and iPad. Built for developers debugging app performance, IT support diagnosing devices, and curious users who want to know what's actually happening on their hardware. No tracking. No fake numbers. Only public iOS APIs. FIVE LIVE MODULES CPU - Per-core load via host_processor_info - Overall load with thermal-state badge (Nominal / Fair / Serious / Critical) - Single-core and multi-core benchmarks with progress tracking - 24-hour history Device - Chip identifier, iOS version, kernel build - Memory breakdown: active / inactive / free / wired / compressed - Memory pressure indicator - Storage, resolution, ProMotion refresh rate, color gamut, boot time - Shareable summary card GPU - Metal device family and capabilities - Raytracing, function pointers, dynamic libraries support - Argument buffer tier, R/W texture tier, max threadgroup memory - FMA throughput benchmark in GFLOPS Network - Live download and upload throughput (app-attributed, honestly labeled) - Cellular radio: 5G, LTE - NWPath flags: expensive, constrained, IPv4/IPv6 - Local IPv4 address - Latency to a configurable host - 24-hour history with CSV export Battery - Charge level, state, Low Power Mode - 24-hour battery curve - Deep link to Settings for battery health 11 HARDWARE TESTS For technicians and curious users: - Display: solid colors, gradients, grids, SMPTE color bars - Multi-Touch: up to 11 simultaneous touches with force readout - Touch Coverage: paint the screen to find dead zones - Haptics: all 8 feedback types - Speaker Tone: sine waves with L/R channel routing - Microphone: live input meter - Motion Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, attitude - Barometer: altitude and atmospheric pressure - Proximity Sensor - Camera: front/back preview with torch - GPS / Compass: coordinates, altitude, heading, accuracy HOME SCREEN WIDGETS - CPU Load (small and medium) with per-core bars - Memory Pressure with category breakdown - Device Info: chip, RAM, free storage, uptime HONEST DESIGN CPU Runner does NOT: - Pretend to "clean RAM" or "boost CPU" - iOS does not expose those APIs, and apps that claim to are misleading users - Read battery health or cycle count - these are gated behind private APIs - Measure system-wide network throughput - only app-attributed traffic is available - Track you. Nothing leaves your device. All measurements come from documented public Mach, Metal, Network, and UIKit APIs. OPTIMIZED FOR IPAD Multi-column NavigationSplitView, sidebar navigation, gorgeous in landscape. REQUIREMENTS iOS 17 or later. Some metrics (per-core CPU, hardware sensors) require a real device - simulators return synthetic values.

Screenshots

Hardware Master Free4 screens
CPU Runner4 screens

Verdict

The call

Hardware Master Free and CPU Runner both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of CPU Runner's written reviews are positive against 0% of Hardware Master Free's. CPU Runner also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 25 months) and ratings volume (83 vs 2). Hardware Master Free's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hardware Master Free sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and CPU Runner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Hardware Master Free against 4.5 for CPU Runner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CPU Runner has 83 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of Hardware Master Free's written reviews are positive against 88% of CPU Runner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hardware Master Free ships an update every 25 months, CPU Runner every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Hardware Master Free versus CPU Runner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHardware Master FreeCPU Runner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings)4.5 (83 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews88.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings283 — better
Update frequencyEvery 25 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer越 刘传胜 贾

Customer experience

Hardware Master Free

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

CPU Runner

All ratings83 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive88.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Hardware Master Free

One-time1
  • HWMaster Unlock$0.99
1 purchases

CPU Runner

One-time1
  • Remove Ads.$0.99

Questions

Is Hardware Master Free free?
Hardware Master Free is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CPU Runner free?
CPU Runner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hardware Master Free or CPU Runner?
Hardware Master Free and CPU Runner are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 83 ratings respectively.
Do Hardware Master Free or CPU Runner have ads?
Neither Hardware Master Free nor CPU Runner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hardware Master Free or CPU Runner?
Hardware Master Free ships an update every 25 months, and CPU Runner every 2 months. Most recently, Hardware Master Free was updated on October 14, 2026 and CPU Runner on October 19, 2026.

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