Fraps

Name: Fraps
Brand: Fraps

Real-time video capture, screen capture, and benchmarking software for PC games.

softwareGame RecordingScreen RecorderFPS CounterBenchmark

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Our Verdict

Best for

PC gamers needing classic FPS monitoring and DirectX game capture.

Skip if

Creators requiring modern hardware-accelerated encoding and regular updates.

What is Fraps?

Fraps is a universal Windows application that can be used with games utilizing DirectX or OpenGL graphic technologies. It functions as a performance measurement tool to display frame rates on screen, helping users analyze their hardware performance during gameplay. Beyond benchmarking, Fraps enables users to record video footage of their gameplay sessions and capture high-resolution screenshots with a single keystroke. It has historically been a foundational tool for PC gamers, content creators, and reviewers documenting in-game performance and cinematic moments.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source❌ No

api available❌ No

support optionsEmail

Key Features of Fraps

Displays real-time frame rate (FPS) performance in the corner of the screen during gameplay sessions to evaluate system performance.

Records high-definition video footage directly from DirectX and OpenGL games at customizable resolutions and framerates.

Captures instant screenshots of gameplay with a single designated hotkey, automatically saving them to a specified folder with timestamps.

Performs custom benchmarking tasks to calculate average frame rates between two specific points in a game.

Saves performance data to external text files for detailed benchmarking analysis and hardware comparisons.

Supports audio recording alongside video capture to record microphone input and in-game sound simultaneously.

Use Cases for Fraps

Game Performance Testing

Gamers and hardware reviewers use the FPS counter and benchmarking tools to measure system performance under heavy graphic loads.

Let's Play Video Creation

Content creators record high-quality in-game video footage for YouTube tutorials, walkthroughs, and gaming montages.

In-Game Screenshot Capture

Users capture memorable moments, scenic views, and high-action sequences within PC games as image files.

Hardware Bottleneck Analysis

PC builders and enthusiasts track minimum and maximum frame rates to identify hardware bottlenecks and test overclocking results.

Pros & Cons of Fraps

Pros

Extremely lightweight and simple user interface
Reliable real-time FPS overlay in games
Supports both DirectX and OpenGL applications
Quick hotkey setup for recording and screenshots

Cons

Unregistered free version limits video recording duration and adds watermarks
Lacks modern features like hardware-accelerated NVENC or AMD encoding
Has not received major functional updates in many years

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the free version of Fraps limit?

The free version limits video captures to 30 seconds, adds a watermark to recorded videos, and restricts screen captures to BMP format.

Does Fraps support modern DirectX 12 games?

Fraps primarily supports DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and OpenGL games, with limited or no functionality for newer DirectX 12 titles.

How do I display the FPS counter on screen?

Once Fraps is running, you can configure a hotkey in the FPS tab to toggle the overlay on and off during gameplay.

Where are my captured videos and screenshots saved?

You can define custom save directories within the Fraps application settings for both screenshots and recorded movies.

Pricing Overview

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Paid (One-time)

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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