CrystalDiskMark: when to install it, and when not to
CrystalDiskMark is a free Windows benchmark that measures sequential and random read/write speeds of a drive. When you want to confirm an SSD is as fast…
The short version
CrystalDiskMark: Measures real read and write speed on a drive so you can tell whether that new SSD is actually performing as advertised. Run it once after any upgrade, then forget about it.
| Licence / price | Free · Open source |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Category | System & Hardware — 8 programs |
| Official download | https://crystalmark.info/en/download/ ↗ |
What it is for
CrystalDiskMark is a free Windows benchmark that measures sequential and random read/write speeds of a drive. When you want to confirm an SSD is as fast as advertised, or compare a USB stick before trusting it with large files, it gives a clear number.
When to pick something else
Windows-only, and a benchmark is a snapshot under specific settings; real-world speed varies with queue depth and file mix. It measures, it does not improve anything, and running it repeatedly on an SSD adds wear for no benefit.
How it compares in System & Hardware
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rufus Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows | Writes a Windows or Linux ISO to a USB stick in a couple of minutes, faster than most vendor tools, and can bypass the Windows 11 TPM and account requirements if you ask it to. No install needed. |
| Ventoy Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, Linux | Format a USB stick once, then just copy ISO files onto it and pick one from a boot menu. Replaces the whole reformat-burn-reformat cycle. Worth the twenty minutes of learning if you install systems regularly. |
| WizTree Publisher's site ↗ | Free for personal use | Windows | Reads the master file table directly and shows you what is eating your disk in seconds, not minutes, with a treemap view. The fastest way to find the 40 GB you did not know you had. |
| HWiNFO Publisher's site ↗ | Free for personal use | Windows | Reads every temperature, fan speed, voltage and power draw your hardware exposes, and logs it over time. The reference tool for diagnosing a laptop that throttles or a fan that will not stop. |
| CPU-Z Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Closed source | Windows, Android | Tells you exactly which CPU, motherboard and memory you actually have, including real memory timings rather than the marketing numbers. Useful when buying a used machine or checking a second-hand part. |
| CrystalDiskInfo Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows | Shows the SMART health of every drive in plain language, so you get a warning before a disk dies instead of after. Check any second-hand laptop with this before you hand over money. |
| Revo Uninstaller Free Publisher's site ↗ | Free + paid tiers | Windows | Removes an application and then hunts down the leftover files and registry keys Windows leaves behind. Use the free version for the occasional stubborn uninstall, not as a weekly cleaning ritual. |
Practical notes
- Run it once after installing a new drive, not daily.
- Compare like for like: same test size and pattern.
- Use it to confirm a fake-capacity stick before trusting it.
Questions people ask
Is CrystalDiskMark free?
Yes, free for personal and business use.
Does it wear my SSD?
A run or two is fine; do not loop it unnecessarily.
What number matters most?
Random small-file speeds often matter more than the big sequential figure for everyday use.
Where it appears in our guides
See the full System & Hardware explainer for the other 7 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.