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Utilities · head to head

Everything vs HWiNFO

Everything logo

Everything

Utilities

Instant filename search for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HWiNFO logo

HWiNFO

Utilities

Windows hardware information and sensor monitoring tool, free for personal use only

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed; HWiNFO the free build is licensed for personal use only, so an IT department running it on employee machines is out of compliance and needs the paid edition.
  • They diverge on capability: Everything covers Instant results, HWiNFO covers Sensor coverage.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Everything and HWiNFO actually diverge.

Attributes where Everything and HWiNFO differ
AttributeEverythingHWiNFO
Pricing modelFree; donations acceptedquote

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Everything

  • Instant results
  • MFT-based indexing
  • Tiny footprint
  • Regex and filters

Only in HWiNFO

  • Sensor coverage
  • Hardware inventory
  • Logging
  • Shared memory interface
  • Alerts
  • Portable build

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Everything

  • Finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on Windows Searchnot HWiNFO
  • Locating duplicates and stray files across large drivesnot HWiNFO
  • Navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of filesnot HWiNFO

HWiNFO

  • Diagnosing thermal throttling or power limits on a laptop or workstation under real workloadsnot Everything
  • Validating that a new cooler, thermal paste or fan curve changed anything measurablenot Everything
  • Logging sensor data across a long stress test to identify what preceded a crashnot Everything
  • Confirming exactly which hardware revision is inside a machine before ordering more of themnot Everything

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Everything

  • Searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
  • Windows and NTFS only: no macOS or Linux build, and non-NTFS volumes fall back to slower indexing
  • Requires administrator rights to read the Master File Table

HWiNFO

  • The free build is licensed for personal use only, so an IT department running it on employee machines is out of compliance and needs the paid edition.
  • It is Windows only, so mixed estates need a separate tool for macOS and Linux hardware diagnostics.
  • It reports single machines rather than fleets, with no central console, so it answers a diagnostic question instead of monitoring an estate.
  • The volume of sensors displayed is overwhelming without hardware knowledge, and readings with similar names measure genuinely different things, which leads to wrong conclusions.
  • Sensor access requires a kernel-level driver and administrator rights, which anti-cheat systems and some hardened endpoint configurations block outright.

Pricing, plan by plan

Everything

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

HWiNFO

Free
  • HWiNFO PersonalFree
    • Full sensor and hardware detail
    • Logging and alerts
    • Personal, non-commercial use only
  • HWiNFO Pro$undefined/year
    • Licence required for any business or commercial use
    • Per-seat licensing
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Everything if

  • You need instant results.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want mft-based indexing.
Everything review

Choose HWiNFO if

  • You need sensor coverage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want hardware inventory.
HWiNFO review

Questions people ask

Is Everything or HWiNFO better?
Neither clearly leads. Everything starts at Free and HWiNFO at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Everything or HWiNFO?
Everything starts at Free and HWiNFO at Free.
Does Everything or HWiNFO run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Everything for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Everything best used for?
Everything is most often used for finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search, locating duplicates and stray files across large drives, navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of files. Of those, finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search and locating duplicates and stray files across large drives are not what HWiNFO is typically brought in for.
What can Everything do that HWiNFO cannot?
Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters. HWiNFO covers Sensor coverage, Hardware inventory, Logging, Shared memory interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Everything: Is Everything free?

Yes, free to use with donations accepted.

HWiNFO: Can I use the free version at work?

No. Free use is personal only. Any business use, including internal IT diagnostics, requires the paid licence.

Everything: Why is it so much faster than Windows Search?

It reads the NTFS Master File Table directly instead of crawling the filesystem, so indexing a whole volume takes seconds.

HWiNFO: Does it run on macOS or Linux?

No. It is Windows only; the older DOS builds are discontinued.

Everything: Can it search inside files?

Only in a limited way. It is built for filename search, and full content search is not what it is for.

HWiNFO: Why do temperatures differ from the motherboard utility?

Because vendor tools usually show one averaged figure while HWiNFO reports each sensor separately. The difference is labelling and selection, not accuracy.

HWiNFO: Is it safe to run alongside other monitoring tools?

Usually, but several tools polling the same sensors through their own drivers can cause conflicts and bad readings. Run one at a time when the numbers look wrong.

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