8 tools · 17 questions · checked 2026-10-10
Game optimizer comparison: eight tools, side by side
This game optimizer comparison puts LeanFPS next to Radiant Optimizer, Hone, Razer Cortex, Tier1Suite, Process Lasso, Chris Titus WinUtil and the Game Mode built into Windows. Each cell says what the maker itself states, with sources at the bottom of the page.
Download size and three-year cost
The full game optimizer comparison table
Filter by topic, or switch on “Only where LeanFPS is ahead” to see the rows where we think LeanFPS is the better choice. The LeanFPS column is highlighted; scroll sideways for every product.
| Compared 8 ways to optimize Windows for games |  LeanFPSGame optimizer | Radiant OptimizerGame optimizer | HoneFPS booster (Overwolf) | Razer CortexGame booster | Tier1SuiteTweak suite | Process LassoProcess manager | WinUtilOpen-source script | Windows Game ModeBuilt into Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ||||||||
| Free version | Yes. Detection, FPS measurement, core tweaks; no time limit | Yes. 8 starter tweaks; profiles only as a preview | Partly. 10 optimizations (15 with referrals), with ads | Yes. No paid tier shown | Yes. 20 of 43 catalog entries | Yes. Free edition | Yes. Free, MIT license | Yes. Built in |
| Full version priceOne PC, US prices | Yes. $19 once | Partly. $57.77 once | No. $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year | Yes. Free | Partly. $29.99 once (3 PCs) | Partly. $39.95 lifetime, or $24.95 a year | Yes. Free | Yes. Free |
| Refunds | Yes. 14 days, no questions asked | No. “Completed purchases are final” | Partly. Xsolla policy; renewals only within 48 hours | Not stated. Not applicable | Yes. 14 days | Yes. 30 days, no questions asked | Not stated. Not applicable | Not stated. Not applicable |
| Size and footprint | ||||||||
| Download size | Yes. About 6.5 MB, one exe | No. 194 MB installer (v7.0.4) | Partly. 3 MB Overwolf stub, downloads more | Partly. 15 MB web installer, downloads more | No. 75 MB installer | Yes. 3 MB installer | Yes. 0.9 MB PowerShell script | Yes. Nothing to install |
| No account needed | Yes. No account to start; Pro is linked to your account | Partly. Free: no. Premium: account and motherboard-locked licence | No. “Do I need to sign in? Yes.” | Not stated. Not stated | Yes. No account | Yes. Pro needs an activation code | Yes. No account; run as administrator | Yes. No account |
| No extra platformOverwolf, launchers, stores | Yes. Standalone | Yes. Standalone | No. Delivered through Overwolf | No. Part of the Razer Cortex launcher, deals and rewards app | Yes. Standalone | Yes. Standalone | Yes. Script | Yes. Part of Windows |
| In the background | Partly. Optional: checks the foreground window every 2 s, about 10 MB | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Manages processes while you play | Partly. Kicks in when a game launches | Partly. Optional tray automation (Pro) | No. Always-on background service | Yes. Only runs when you start it | Partly. Built into Windows |
| Proof it works | ||||||||
| Measures your real FPS | Yes. Every session, from Windows event tracing; no overlay | Partly. Premium “Live FPS overlay”, method not stated; home page demo is simulated | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. FPS counter; Booster Prime gives a predicted FPS | Partly. Latency benchmark; per-game frame time “not measured” | No. No FPS measurement stated | No. None | Not stated. Not stated |
| 1% lows saved per sessionTo see whether a tweak really helped | Yes. Average, 1% and 0.1% lows, compared with your usual | Not stated. Not stated | Not stated. Not stated | Not stated. Not stated | No. Not measured | No. | No. | Not stated. Not stated |
| Per-game or per-genre profiles | Yes. 8 genres, detected automatically | Partly. Premium only | Partly. Presets “where available” | Partly. Booster Prime: 7 games | Partly. 1 free, unlimited in Pro | Yes. Per-process rules | No. | No. |
| Safety | ||||||||
| Never weakens securityDefender, Memory Integrity, Windows Update, firewall, mitigations | Yes. None of these are in the tweak list | Not stated. Not stated | Not stated. Not stated | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Offers turning off VBS / Memory Integrity (opt-in, Pro) | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Optional “Disable Updates” stops security updates | Yes. Only holds back driver installs and restart prompts |
| Undo one change at a time | Yes. Real previous value saved before each change | Partly. “Supported settings” have backup or undo | Partly. Supported registry tweaks | Partly. Restores after gaming; Booster Prime has Revert | Yes. Per-tweak revert and revert all | Yes. No changes left after uninstall | Yes. “Undo Selected Tweaks” | Yes. One switch |
| Recovers after a crash | Yes. Journal on disk; next start reverses an open session | Partly. Restore point before every change | Not stated. Not stated | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Restore point before changes | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Optional restore point | Not stated. Not stated |
| Anti-cheat | Yes. No injection, no overlay; uses Windows launch priority when blocked | Partly. Says compatible, “not responsible for any bans” | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Booster Prime “is not a cheat” | Yes. No injection, no kernel driver | Yes. “Will not cause bans” | Not stated. Not stated | Yes. Part of Windows |
| Privacy and support | ||||||||
| Sends nothing from your PC | Yes. No network requests at all | No. Registered users “cannot opt out” of usage data | No. May collect hardware, BIOS settings, installed games | Not stated. Not stated | Partly. Update check; usage data only if you opt in | Yes. Only activation and update checks | Not stated. Not stated | Not stated. Not stated |
| Open source | No. | No. | No. | No. | No. | No. | Yes. MIT | No. |
| Support | Yes. Email: contact@leanfps.com | Partly. Discord only | Yes. Contact page, Discord | Yes. Razer support | Yes. Contact form | Yes. Forum, contact form | Yes. GitHub issues, Discord | Yes. Microsoft support |
17 rows shown. Scroll sideways to see every product.
How to read this game optimizer comparison
Most game optimizer apps promise more FPS. Very few show you whether you got it. So the rows that matter most are in the Proof it works and Safety groups: does the tool measure your FPS and 1% lows on your own PC, can you undo each change, and does it ever touch the security features that protect Windows?
A green check means the maker says yes. Amber means yes with limits, for example only in the paid version or only for some settings. Red means no. A grey question mark means the maker does not say, which is not the same as no.
Where each tool fits
Windows Game Mode
Free, on by default, and nothing to install. Microsoft says it stops Windows Update from installing drivers and sending restart notifications while you play. If you have never checked, make sure it is on before you try anything else. LeanFPS checks this for you.
Radiant Optimizer and Hone
Both are dedicated FPS boosters with a free tier. Radiant Optimizer costs $57.77 once and its refund policy says purchases are final. Hone is a subscription delivered through Overwolf and needs you to sign in. Neither says how it measures FPS or whether it records 1% lows. See LeanFPS vs Radiant Optimizer for a closer look, or our Radiant Optimizer alternative page.
Razer Cortex
Free, and part of a larger app with a launcher, deals and rewards. Its Booster Prime feature gives a predicted FPS rather than a measured one.
Tier1Suite
A careful tweak suite with per-tweak revert, a restore point and a latency benchmark. Its Pro catalog includes turning off VBS and Memory Integrity as an opt-in, which LeanFPS deliberately does not offer.
Process Lasso and WinUtil
Process Lasso is a long-running process manager for people who want to write their own rules; it runs an always-on background service. WinUtil is a free, open-source PowerShell script with a large list of tweaks and an undo button, but no FPS measurement and no per-game profiles.
LeanFPS
About 6.5 MB, no account to start, and no network requests. It detects the game you launch, applies Windows gaming tweaks chosen for that genre, measures FPS and 1% lows every session, and puts every setting back when you stop playing. It never changes security settings. Read our safety rules, or go back to the LeanFPS game optimizer overview.
Sources
All pages below were read on 2026-10-10. Download sizes are the size of each official download link; Hone and Razer Cortex use small web installers that download more during setup. Prices are US list prices for one PC; Hone prices vary by region and Process Lasso was running a temporary discount.
- Radiant Optimizer: radiantoptimizer.com/plans.html, radiantoptimizer.com/refund-policy.html, radiantoptimizer.com/terms.html, radiantoptimizer.com/privacy.html
- Hone: hone.gg/, hone.gg/premium, hone.gg/download, hone.gg/privacy, hone.gg/refund-policy
- Razer Cortex: razer.com/cortex, razer.com/cortex/booster, razer.com/cortex/booster-prime
- Tier1Suite: tier1settings.com/tier1suite/, tier1settings.com/privacy/
- Process Lasso: bitsum.com/, bitsum.com/get-lasso-pro/, bitsum.com/process-lasso-faq/, bitsum.com/privacy-policy/
- WinUtil: github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil
- Windows Game Mode: support.xbox.com/en-US/help/games-apps/game-setup-and-play/use-game-mode-gaming-on-pc
All product names are trademarks of their respective owners. LeanFPS is not affiliated with any of them. If anything here is out of date, email contact@leanfps.com and we will correct it.
Game optimizer comparison FAQ
What is the best game optimizer for Windows 11?
It depends on what is slowing your PC down. Start with what is free and built in: Windows Game Mode is on by default. If you want per-game tweaks you can undo and proof that they helped, use a game optimizer that measures your FPS and 1% lows, such as LeanFPS, and keep only the tweaks that improve your own numbers.
Are game optimizers safe?
The safe ones change documented Windows settings, save the old value and let you undo each change. Be careful with any tool that offers to turn off Microsoft Defender, Memory Integrity, Windows Update or CPU security mitigations. Those trade your safety for little or no gaming benefit, and LeanFPS does not include them.
Do FPS boosters work?
Sometimes, by a few percent, and mostly in the 1% lows rather than the average. They help when Windows power saving, background apps or memory pressure get in the way of the game. They cannot replace lower graphics settings, upscaling or a faster GPU. The only way to know on your PC is to measure before and after.
Why does this game optimizer comparison mark some cells “Not stated”?
We only write down what each maker says on its own website, download page or source code. If a maker does not say whether its app measures FPS or changes security settings, we mark it Not stated instead of guessing. If you know of an official statement we missed, email contact@leanfps.com.
Is LeanFPS affiliated with these products?
No. Radiant Optimizer, Hone, Razer Cortex, Tier1Suite, Process Lasso, WinUtil and Windows are products of their respective owners. This page is our own comparison, with sources, and we correct it when something changes.
Try the game optimizer that measures itself
Free to use with no account. The first three games you play get every Pro tweak, so you can compare your own FPS before you decide.