CPU-X Review, Pricing & Features

CPU-X is a free open-source CPU-Z alternative for Linux and FreeBSD. See features, interfaces, supported languages, pros, cons, and FAQs.

Category
DevOps
Pricing
Free and open source (GPL-3.0 license), no paid tiers, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2015
Headquarters
None; maintained as an open-source project on GitHub

What Is CPU-X

CPU-X is a free, open-source hardware information tool for GNU/Linux and FreeBSD that consolidates data about the CPU, motherboard, memory, and graphics hardware into a single application, functioning as a Linux equivalent to CPU-Z on Windows.

It is released under the GPL-3.0 license and maintained by volunteer contributors on GitHub rather than by a commercial company, which means there is no pricing, subscription, or paid tier associated with the software.

Interface Modes: GTK, NCurses, and Dump

CPU-X offers three ways to view system information: a graphical GTK interface for desktop use, a text-based NCurses interface for terminal environments, and a non-interactive dump mode that prints system data directly to standard output for scripting or logging purposes.

A daemon mode allows CPU-X to gather hardware data that requires elevated privileges through a small root-level helper process, while the main interface continues running under a normal user account.

Installation and Supported Platforms

CPU-X supports x86 systems in both 32-bit and 64-bit variants, and since version 5.1.0 has added support for ARM architectures in 32-bit and 64-bit forms, broadening its use to single-board computers and ARM-based Linux devices.

It can be installed as a Flatpak from Flathub, downloaded as a self-contained AppImage that requires no package manager, or installed through native packages available in many Linux distribution repositories.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source under GPL-3.0
  • Supports both GTK graphical and NCurses text-based interfaces for different environments
  • Works on both x86 and ARM hardware
  • Multiple installation options including Flatpak and AppImage reduce dependency issues
  • Actively maintained with an established release history and community translations into dozens of languages

Cons

  • Windows and macOS are not supported; it is Linux and FreeBSD only
  • Some hardware detection features require root/daemon access, which may raise permission concerns for some users
  • As a volunteer-maintained project, long-term development pace and roadmap can be less predictable than commercial software
  • Less polished visual design compared to some commercial system information tools
  • Detection accuracy can vary across less common or very new hardware compared to vendor-specific tools

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CPU-X used for

CPU-X is used to view detailed information about a Linux or FreeBSD system's CPU, motherboard, memory, and GPU, similar to what CPU-Z provides on Windows.

Is CPU-X free

Yes, CPU-X is free and open-source software released under the GPL-3.0 license, with no paid tiers or subscriptions.

Does CPU-X work on Windows

No, CPU-X is designed for GNU/Linux and FreeBSD; it does not run natively on Windows.

What interfaces does CPU-X offer

CPU-X offers a GTK graphical interface, an NCurses text-based interface for terminals, and a command-line dump mode for scripting.

Does CPU-X support ARM processors

Yes, since version 5.1.0, CPU-X supports ARM architectures in both 32-bit and 64-bit forms, in addition to x86.

How do I install CPU-X

CPU-X can be installed as a Flatpak from Flathub, downloaded as a self-contained AppImage, or installed through native packages available in many Linux distribution repositories.

Why does CPU-X need root access for some features

CPU-X uses an optional daemon mode where a small helper component runs with elevated privileges to collect hardware data that is not accessible to a normal user account, then passes it to the main interface.

Who maintains CPU-X

CPU-X is maintained by volunteer open-source contributors on GitHub under the maintainer TheTumultuousUnicornOfDarkness, rather than by a commercial company.

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