atop
What it is
atop is a free, GPL-licensed, full-screen performance monitor for Linux. At regular intervals it reports CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity for the system, along with CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics for processes and threads. It also records resource consumption from processes that finish during the monitoring interval. For longer-term analysis, atop stores compressed raw counters, while daily logs remain available for 28 days by default. The atopsar command creates system activity reports from those logs. Atop reports CPU, memory, and disk I/O utilization and pressure at cgroup v2 level. An optional netatop kernel module adds TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics for each process and thread. Displays can use character-based bar graphs or detailed text, and columns adjust as terminal width changes. Downloads include a source archive and an x86_64 RPM for version 2.13.0, with limited distribution-specific packages. The software is offered as-is under the GPL, with limited guarantees and liability, and is described as experimental.
For and against
For
- Free GPL-licensed Linux monitor
- Tracks system and process resources
- Retains finished-process consumption
- Keeps daily logs for 28 days
- Optional per-process network statistics
Against
- Linux-only platform
- Distribution packages are limited
- Software is described as experimental
- Offered with limited guarantees
The verdict
atop provides detailed Linux resource visibility in a character interface, with logs and reporting for later review. Its experimental status and Linux-only support should be considered first.
Who it suits
It suits Linux users who need terminal-based system and process monitoring, historical logs, cgroup reporting, or command-line activity reports.
Plans and prices
atop
GPL-licensed · Linux performance monitor
Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
On the record
- Cgroups
- Atop reports CPU, memory, and disk I/O utilization and pressure values at cgroup v2 level.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Display options
- Atop can display utilization as character-based bar graphs or detailed text, and dynamically adds or removes columns as the terminal width changes.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Download formats
- The download page lists a source archive and an x86_64 RPM package for version 2.13.0, and says only a limited number of distro-specific packages are available there.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Finished processes
- Atop reports resource consumption by processes that finished during the monitoring interval.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maintainer lectures a four-day Linux Performance Analysis and Tuning training course that covers atop and related tools.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- License and warranty
- The download page identifies the license as GPL and says the software is offered as is, with limited guarantees and liability; it also disclaims warranty for data loss or damage and calls the software experimental.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Long-term logs
- Atop can store compressed raw counters for long-term analysis, and daily log files are preserved for 28 days by default.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Optional network module
- The optional netatop kernel module adds TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics per process and thread.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Atop is an ASCII full-screen performance monitor for Linux that reports system and process activity.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Reports
- The atopsar command generates system activity reports from atop log files.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Resource monitoring
- At regular intervals it reports CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity at system level, along with CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics for processes and threads.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site provides a contact form for the maintainer, Gerlof Langeveld.atoptool.nl · read 8 Oct 2026
