Side by side
Autoruns vs Novabench
Both stand on pc stress testing tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Autoruns if you need a free Windows tool to inspect startup items across many system locations and manage their configurations. Its Autorunsc companion adds command-line output and offline scanning. Look elsewhere if you need a non-Windows platform or official Microsoft support.
Visit AutorunsChoose Novabench if you want a free desktop application that benchmarks CPU, GPU, memory, and disk and supports online comparisons. Its listed platform support is limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux, so it may not suit a workflow that needs a different operating system.
Visit NovabenchThe facts
| Autoruns | Novabench | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Plus: $36 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | learn.microsoft.com | novabench.com |
| On pc stress testing tools | #3 of 38 | #7 of 38 |
Autoruns: what it does well
- Reports startup entries across folders, Registry keys, services, tasks, and more.
- Can hide signed Microsoft entries to focus on third-party items.
- Supports disabling or deleting startup configuration entries.
- Autorunsc can export CSV or tab-delimited data and scan offline systems.
- Free to use on devices owned or supported, with no use limit.
What to know first
- Runs on Windows only.
- VirusTotal features require accepting VirusTotal's terms.
- Microsoft provides no official support for Sysinternals tools.
- Redistribution requires a license.
Novabench: what it does well
- Tests CPU, GPU, memory, and disk workloads.
- Online result comparison is included in the Free plan.
- Exports results as CSV, JSON, and PDF reports.
- Supports CLI or automation.
- Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What to know first
- The listed platforms are limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Alternatives to Autoruns Alternatives to Novabench The whole list

