Mining cryptocurrencies, especially Ethereum, has become extremely popular recently due to the sudden surge in Bitcoin's value. More often than not, when Bitcoin is doing well, the rest of the crypto market does really well too.
Most people take advantage of this situation and try to make some quick cash by mining Ethereum. Using your computer's graphics card is one of the easiest ways to mine this cryptocurrency. However, you'll need mining software to get started, even if you have all the necessary hardware.
Here, we'll look at the best Ethereum mining software for both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs.
1. NBMiner
NBMiner is the hottest Ethereum miner at the moment and the preferred choice if you own an NVIDIA LHR graphics card. These graphics cards have halved hash rates to shy miners away from stocking them up.
However, NBMiner recently pushed out an update (v41.0) that unlocks 100% mining performance on LHR GPUs except for the RTX 3080 12GB and the RTX 3050. Fortunately, the developers rolled out a patch (v41.5) shortly after that unlocks 90% of the mining performance on the RTX 3080 12GB and the RTX 3050.
You'll need to run NBMiner as an administrator to get these improved hash rates. For example, a 3060 Ti LHR GPU gets you roughly around 30MH/s on NBMiner, but with the new LHR mode, you can get a hash rate of over 60MH/s depending on your overclock settings. Now, that's a 100% boost over the stock values and matches the performance of the 3060 Ti non-LHR graphics card.
You can install NBMiner on both Windows and Linux systems, so compatibility isn't really a problem. It works with both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards out of the box. Besides Ethereum, you can also use NBMiner to mine other cryptocurrencies like RVN, GRIN, BEAM, CFX, ZIL, ERGO, AE, and SERO. So, even when Ethereum switches to Proof-of-stake, you still have other cryptocurrencies to mine and make money.
Download: NBMiner for Windows and Linux (Free)
2. T-Rex Miner
Next on the list, we have one of the best Ethereum miners for NVIDIA GPUs. If you have some of the best graphics cards and value every single bit of hash rate, T-Rex Miner will allow you to get that last drop of mining power from your GPU. It also has a very low rejection rate, lower than 1% in most cases.
You'll need an NVIDIA Maxwell GPU or newer to use T-Rex Miner and mine Ethereum from your computer. T-Rex also supports various algorithms like Octopus, Kawpow, MTP, Autolykos 2, and more, which allows you to mine many more cryptocurrencies than just Ethereum. Don't forget that the hash rates you get will also greatly depend on the mining pool you use.
Developers frequently push out updates to this mining software, so you don't have to worry much about the security. A recent T-Rex Miner update added memory junction temperature to the console, allowing users to get an accurate representation of how hot their RTX 30 series GPUs with GDDR6X memory actually are.
Lastly, just like NBMiner, you can unlock 100% of the hash rate with LHR v2 GPUs and 90% with LHR v3 GPUs like the RTX 3080 12GB and the RTX 3050. So, you're not sacrificing mining performance if you pick one over the other.
Download: T-Rex for Windows and Linux (Free)
3. PhoenixMiner
PhoenixMiner is also one of the fastest Ethereum mining software options, but we had to put it below T-Rex since it has a slightly higher share rejection rate. In some instances, depending on the card, you can get about 1-2 MH/s higher hash rate compared to T-Rex, but a rejection rate of roughly 2% or more might be a letdown for many users.
The good news is that it supports both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs. So, if you're looking for the fastest Ethereum mining software for your AMD graphics card, PhoenixMiner is your best bet. It also works fine in mixed mining rigs with AMD and NVIDIA cards.
The best part about PhoenixMiner is its 0.65% dev fee which is the lowest among any other mining software, with NiceHash QuickMiner being the sole exception. In comparison, both NBMiner and T-Rex Miner have the dev fees set to 1% for the Ethash algorithm used to mine Ethereum.
Download: PhoenixMiner for Windows and Linux (Free)
4. TeamRedMiner
This ETH mining software works exclusively with AMD graphics cards. In fact, this is the best Ethereum miner for AMD users and has lived up to that reputation for quite a while. Dev fee for the Ethash algorithm depends on which GPU you have. It's set to 0.75% for Polaris GPUs, whereas the value is 1% for the rest of the cards.
TeamRedMiner may not be as fast as PhoenixMiner, but on the upside, you don't get rejected shares nearly as much. You can install TeamRedMiner on Windows and Linux machines without a problem. Of course, you can mix and match AMD graphics cards from different generations in your mining rig.
TeamRedMiner supports other algorithms, including KawPow, Verthash, Autolykos2, Nimiq, and more. For example, you can use the KawPow algorithm to mine a cryptocurrency called Ravencoin. Hence, this miner will still be relevant when Ethereum goes proof-of-stake.
Download: TeamRedMiner for Windows and Linux (Free)
5. GMiner
If there's one Ethereum miner in this list that can match PhoenixMiner when it comes to fees, it's GMiner. You can mine ETH with a mere 0.65% dev fee, which is currently one of the lowest for any popular mining software that charges fees. It works with both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, perfect for mining rigs with mixed graphics cards.
While T-Rex and PhoenixMiner are superior in terms of speeds, GMiner excels when it comes to stability. Besides the popular Ethash algorithm we need to mine Ethereum, GMiner also supports ProgPoW, KawPow, Equihash, CuckooCycle, and ZHash. Hence, you don't have to look for a new miner again when Ethereum goes Proof-of-stake and kills mining.
Download: GMiner for Windows and Linux (Free)
6. NiceHash QuickMiner
NiceHash QuickMiner makes it easy for anyone with zero technical knowledge to start crypto mining. It's designed to be fool-proof; all you need to do is head over to NiceHash's website, make an account, and follow the on-screen instructions to download the company's in-house Excavator miner to your computer.
The best part about NiceHash's QuickMiner is that you don't have to pay any developer fees, unlike any other Ethereum miner on this list. Plus, you don't have to rely on a different mining pool like Ethermine or 2Miners, as NiceHash has its own pool.
And lastly, you're not fiddling with the miner's config files or your GPU overclock settings because NiceHash QuickMiner does everything for you. But unfortunately, it only works with Windows PCs, so Linux users will have to settle for one of the other ETH mining software.
Download: NiceHash QuickMiner for Windows (Free)
7. LolMiner
Last on the list, we have LolMiner, a program made with AMD GPUs in mind. However, the good news is that most NVIDIA graphics cards are compatible as well, but the mining speed and stability will vary depending on the exact GPU model you have. Also, LolMiner charges a 0.7% dev fee, sitting right between PhoenixMiner and TeamRedMiner.
The developers behind LolMiner do a good job at pushing out software updates. Recently, they added a 100% hash rate unlocker for the NVIDIA RTX 3060, which allows it to mine at full potential like its non-LHR variant. It's certainly not the best if speed is what you're looking for, but it's still a great option for someone who uses both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs in their mining rigs.
Download: LolMiner for Windows and Linux (Free)
The Best ETH Mining Software Is Constantly Changing
Developers update their mining programs regularly, and hence, the best miners may vary with time. Sure, T-Rex and PhoenixMiner may be the fastest options at the moment, but a new program could take the crown within weeks. Regardless, all the Ethereum miners listed here have earned quite a reputation for their performance and stability in the last year or two.