Side by side
Intel VTune Profiler vs py-spy
Both stand on profiling software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
VTune Profiler brings code hotspots, hardware analysis, and memory investigation into a free profiling tool. Its broad language and processor coverage is useful, but some analyses need elevated privileges and the AI Assistant has stated limitations.
Visit Intel VTune Profiler Free plan LinuxMacWindows
py-spy provides several ways to inspect running Python programs, with multiple output formats and child-process support. Check platform permissions and container requirements before attaching it to a process.
Visit py-spyThe facts
| Intel VTune Profiler | py-spy | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | intel.com | github.com |
| On profiling software | #8 of 29 | #12 of 29 |
Intel VTune Profiler: what it does well
- Analyzes CPU, GPU, and NPU performance.
- Flame Graphs visualize hot code paths.
- Supports a broad set of programming languages.
- Available free as a standalone tool or in oneAPI.
- Integrates with Visual Studio and Eclipse.
What to know first
- Some analyses require administrator or root privileges.
- The AI Assistant is Linux-only and may give inaccurate suggestions.
- Platform Profiler receives no further feature or security fixes.
py-spy: what it does well
- Profiles a process without restarting it or changing its code.
- Offers live activity, saved profiles, and thread call stacks.
- Exports flame graphs, speedscope profiles, raw data, and Chrome traces.
- Can include child Python processes.
- Supports native extensions on some platforms.
What to know first
- Attaching may require elevated permissions.
- macOS attachment always requires root.
- Docker and Kubernetes need the SYS_PTRACE capability.
- Nonblocking mode may produce sampling errors or partial stack frames.
Alternatives to Intel VTune Profiler Alternatives to py-spy The whole list