Side by side
JProfiler vs VisualVM
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 trial APILinuxMac+2
Choose JProfiler if you need detailed JVM profiling across CPU, memory, database, HTTP, or container workloads, with remote connections and IDE integrations. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan or cannot meet the JDK 25 requirement for the Linux installer and UI.
Visit JProfiler Free plan LinuxMacWindows
VisualVM brings monitoring, profiling, and several diagnostic tools together for Java troubleshooting at no cost. Check runtime compatibility and plugin support needs before relying on a particular setup.
Visit VisualVMThe facts
| JProfiler | VisualVM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | JProfiler: $549, paid once | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | ej-technologies.com | visualvm.github.io |
| On profiling software | #22 of 29 | #18 of 29 |
JProfiler: what it does well
- Profiles CPU, memory, heaps, threads, and garbage collection.
- Provides probes for JDBC, JPA, MongoDB, and Kafka operations.
- Connects to remote JVMs over SSH without remote installation or agent deployment.
- Supports profiling JVMs in Kubernetes and Docker.
- Perpetual single license is available for $549, paid once.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- The free evaluation license has restrictions such as timeouts or evaluation warnings.
- The Linux installer and UI require JDK 25.
- Floating licenses limit concurrent use by the number of licenses.
VisualVM: what it does well
- Free plan for desktop use.
- Monitors CPU, memory, garbage collection, classes, and threads.
- Includes sampling and instrumentation profilers.
- Supports thread, heap, and core dump analysis.
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What to know first
- Some third-party plugins may not work after VisualVM 2.0 changes.
- Remote listing requires jstatd on the remote host.
- The download page lists Java runtime compatibility requirements.
Alternatives to JProfiler Alternatives to VisualVM The whole list