PULSE
PULSE is a Windows utility that monitors hardware and adjusts system settings for gaming.
What PULSE is
PULSE is a Windows utility that monitors hardware and adjusts system settings for gaming. Its free tier provides real-time CPU, GPU, and RAM monitoring, system information, session history, and FPS and frametime readings through a separately installed RTSS. Pro adds GPU overclocking, CPU tuning, more than 90 persistent tweaks, Live Tune, network tools, per-game profiles, a crosshair overlay, and display controls. The network tools include per-app firewall rules, QoS for game traffic, DNS benchmarking, and game-server ping. The maker reports 15–45% more FPS in many CPU-bound games, while results vary by game and hardware and may be smaller for GPU-bound titles. PULSE supports NVIDIA GTX 900 series and newer and AMD RX 400 series and newer, including RDNA 4; Intel Arc is monitored only. It requires 64-bit Windows 10 version 1809 or later, or Windows 11, and administrator rights for system tweaks. Pro pricing is $3.99/month for the early supporter monthly plan or $19.99/year for the annual plan; the standard annual rate is $29.99/year.
Good
- Free tier includes CPU, GPU, and RAM monitoring.
- Pro includes per-game profiles and network tools.
- Settings are saved before changes and can be restored.
- No account is required for the free tier.
- Pro offers a 7-day free trial.
Watch out
- Windows only; Intel Arc is monitoring-only.
- FPS and frametime readings require separate RTSS installation.
- System tweaks require administrator rights.
- Installer is unsigned while the maker obtains a certificate.
Who it suits
PULSE may suit Windows players who want hardware monitoring and adjustable system settings, particularly those with supported NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards. Its free tier covers monitoring, while Pro is for users seeking its optimization tools.
Verdict
PULSE combines hardware monitoring with system-tuning tools, but its optimization features are part of Pro. Check GPU support and the Windows requirements, and note that reported performance gains vary by game and hardware.
Plans and prices
From PULSE's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Real-time CPU, GPU and RAM monitoring · FPS and frametime via RTSS · System information · Session history · No account required · Forever |
| Pro Early Supporter (monthly) | $3.99 a month | Full optimization suite · 1 device included · Extra device slots available at subscription rate · 7-day free trial · 14-day refund on first paid charge · $3.99/ month; early rate locked in forever while subscription stays active |
| Pro Early Supporter (annual) | $19.99 a year | Full optimization suite · 1 device included · Extra device slots available at subscription rate · 7-day free trial · 14-day refund on first paid charge · $19.99/ year; locked in permanently while subscription stays active |
| Pro standard rate | $29.99 a year | Full optimization suite · 1 device included · Extra device slots available at subscription rate · 7-day free trial · 14-day refund on first paid charge · $29.99/year after the early-supporter window closes |
The facts
Each one read from PULSE's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Anti-cheat and drivers
- PULSE says it uses no kernel driver and does not inject into or read game process memory; it lists EAC, BattlEye, Vanguard and VAC compatibility, while noting it makes no formal guarantee for any particular system.checked 2 Oct 2026
- GPU support
- PULSE tunes NVIDIA GTX 900 series and newer and AMD RX 400 series and newer including RDNA 4; Intel Arc is detected for monitoring only.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Installer signing
- The installer is unsigned while the maker obtains an EV code-signing certificate, and PULSE publishes a SHA-256 hash for download verification.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- FPS and frametime readings require separately installed RTSS; MSI Afterburner or HWiNFO are optional sources for CPU temperature and package power readings.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Network features
- The network suite includes per-app firewall rules, QoS for game traffic, a DNS benchmark and game-server ping.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Optimization features
- Pro includes GPU overclocking, CPU tuning, 90+ persistent tweaks, Live Tune, network tools, per-game profiles, a crosshair overlay and display controls.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Performance claim
- The maker reports 15–45% more FPS on many CPU-bound games and says gains vary by game and hardware, with less improvement for GPU-bound titles.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says optimization snapshots, logs and backups stay on the PC; anonymous analytics are on by default and can be disabled, while crash reporting is opt-in.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Product
- PULSE is a game performance optimizer for Windows that monitors hardware and tunes system settings to improve game performance.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Requirements and footprint
- PULSE requires 64-bit Windows 10 version 1809 or later or Windows 11, administrator rights for system tweaks, and uses under 50 MB RAM at idle.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Reversibility
- PULSE records affected settings in JSON snapshots before changing them, and says one click restores their original values.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support is offered by email and Discord, and the help page says most replies arrive within a day or two.checked 2 Oct 2026
Money
- Billing and payments
- Paddle handles checkout and billing as Merchant of Record, and the pricing page states a 14-day money-back guarantee on the first paid charge.checked 2 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The About page identifies the maker as I I V.checked 2 Oct 2026
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