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Optick
What it is
Optick is a free C++ profiler for analyzing and optimizing game performance. Its tools include instrumentation, context-switch tracing, sampling, CPU profiling, frame-time analysis, and GPU counters. Developers can add the OPTICK_FRAME, OPTICK_EVENT, and OPTICK_THREAD macros to application code. Context tracing uses ETW on Windows, FTrace on Linux, and DTrace on macOS; GPU profiling supports D3D12 and Vulkan on Windows, and Vulkan on Linux and macOS. Build configurations are listed for Windows x64 with MSVC, Linux x64 with Clang or GCC, and macOS x64 with Clang or GCC. Optick includes Unreal Engine 4 and 5 plugins, and its v1.4.0 release added Unreal Engine 5.0 support. Android support in the core is listed in the v1.3.0 release notes. The optick.config.h file can toggle features by configuration or platform, including disabling Optick in final builds. Each release includes a precompiled OptickCore.dll. In executables with multiple DLLs, Optick must be placed in a common dynamic library built with OPTICK_EXPORT; static linking will not work. Its MIT license provides the software as-is without warranty.
For and against
For
- Free under the MIT License.
- Includes instrumentation, sampling, and GPU counters.
- Provides Unreal Engine 4 and 5 plugins.
- Configuration can disable Optick in final builds.
Against
- Static linking does not work with multiple DLLs.
- MIT license provides no warranty.
- GPU profiling support varies by operating system.
The verdict
Optick brings several profiling methods into a free tool for game development. Teams using multiple DLLs need to account for its shared-library requirement.
Who it suits
Optick suits game developers who need CPU, frame-time, instrumentation, or GPU performance analysis across supported platforms. It also fits teams using Unreal Engine plugins or configuring profiling features per build.
Plans and prices
MIT License
free of charge · use, copy, modify, publish and distribute permitted
Read 30 Sep 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
On the record
- Android
- The v1.3.0 release notes list Android support in the core.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Build configuration
- optick.config.h can enable or disable features for specific configurations or platforms, including disabling Optick in final builds.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Context switching
- Switch-context tracing uses ETW on Windows, FTrace on Linux and DTrace on macOS.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Core tools
- It provides instrumentation, switch-contexts, sampling and GPU counters for performance analysis and optimization.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Desktop builds
- Build configurations are listed for Windows x64 with MSVC, Linux x64 with Clang or GCC, and macOS x64 with Clang or GCC.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Dynamic linking limit
- When using multiple DLLs in one executable, the repository says Optick must be added to a common dynamic library compiled with OPTICK_EXPORT because static linking will not work.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Former name
- The project says Brofiler was renamed to Optick starting with v1.2.0.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- GPU profiling
- GPU profiling supports D3D12 and Vulkan on Windows and Vulkan on Linux and macOS.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Instrumentation
- Instrumentation works on Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox and UE4 in the repository feature table.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Integration
- Basic integration uses OPTICK_FRAME, OPTICK_EVENT and OPTICK_THREAD macros in application code.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Latest release feature
- Optick v1.4.0 added support for Unreal Engine 5.0.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- License limitation
- The MIT license states that the software is provided as-is without warranty.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Prebuilt binary
- Each release packages a precompiled OptickCore.dll.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Product
- Optick is a super-lightweight C++ profiler for games.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Unreal Engine
- Optick provides plugins for Unreal Engine 4 and Unreal Engine 5.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
