PM2

PM2 is a daemon process manager designed to manage applications and help keep them online. PM2 Runtime is described as an open-source process manager, while PM2 Plus adds monitoring for Node.js production applications. Runtime features include cluster mode, zero-downtime reloads, watch and restart, startup scripts, log management and memory-based reloads. For containers, pm2-runtime can run Node.js applications with process fallback, flow control, monitoring and source-map support. PM2 Plus lists a web monitoring interface, application overview, issue tracking, custom metrics, server health checks and Node.js V8 monitoring, plus email and Slack notifications. Enterprise adds rule-based alerts and lists profiling, transaction tracing, Go and Python integration, and up to one year of data retention. The PM2 AI Assistant connects compatible assistants to monitoring data using OAuth with a PM2.io account. Runtime is free; Plus costs $79 a month.

PM2 pairs free process management with paid monitoring and enterprise options. Check the plan process limits, since the pricing FAQ says excess processes may be ignored.

PM2 suits developers and operators managing application processes, particularly Node.js production applications. Teams using containers or needing monitoring, alerts or enterprise deployment options may also find relevant capabilities.

PM2 is a daemon process manager for developers and operators who need applications to stay online with controlled restarts and reloads. It is particularly suited to Node.js production work that benefits from a path from free process control to hosted monitoring. Runtime is a capable starting point, but larger or more demanding deployments need careful attention to process limits and paid tiers.

Overview

PM2 combines runtime supervision with optional production observability. Runtime is an open-source process manager with a real-time web interface, while PM2 Plus adds remote monitoring for Node.js production applications. Enterprise is aimed at teams that need deeper optimization, profiling, and deployment choices. That range makes PM2 more than a basic task viewer, although teams seeking only lightweight system statistics may find its application focus excessive. For a wider comparison, see Process Monitoring Software.

Key features

Process management

Cluster mode, zero-downtime reloads, watch-and-restart behavior, startup scripts, log management, and memory-based reloads give operators practical controls for keeping services available. Together, they suit applications that must recover automatically or be updated without a planned outage. They are less relevant when all you need is a one-time process list.

For containerized Node.js deployments, pm2-runtime provides process fallback, flow control, monitoring, and source-map support. Documentation also covers Docker, cloud providers, Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Nginx, and deployment workflows, giving teams several documented routes into existing infrastructure.

Monitoring, alerts, and AI

PM2 Plus adds a web monitoring interface, application overview, issue tracking, custom metrics, server health checks, and Node.js V8 monitoring. Email and Slack notifications make it suitable for teams that need operational signals outside the dashboard. Enterprise adds advanced rule-based alerting, which is the more appropriate tier when simple channel notifications are not enough.

The PM2 AI Assistant connects Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible assistants to monitoring data through OAuth with a PM2.io account. OAuth secures that access, while the feature is most useful to teams already working with those assistants rather than readers who want conventional monitoring alone.

Pricing

Runtime costs free and includes the open-source process manager and a real-time web interface. It is the sensible choice for individuals and teams that primarily need process controls and can operate within the plan's process allowance.

Plus costs $79 a month and adds essential monitoring for Node.js production applications. The fee is easier to justify when application overview, issue tracking, custom metrics, health checks, V8 monitoring, and email or Slack alerts are central to operations. It is unnecessary spending for a deployment that only needs automatic restarts and logs.

Enterprise uses custom pricing and adds advanced optimization and profiling features. Its listed capabilities include cloud-shared or on-premise installation, Go and Python integration, profiling, transaction tracing, and up to one year of data retention. That makes it the tier for organizations with compliance, analysis, or multi-language platform requirements rather than small personal projects.

A trial is available by contacting the sales team through the form. The pricing FAQ warns that exceeding a plan's process limit causes randomly chosen excess processes to be ignored automatically. That behavior is a material operational risk: confirm your process count and allowance before relying on a plan for a larger fleet.

Platforms

PM2 supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, with a web dashboard and API access. Self-hosted deployment is supported, and remote monitoring is available. This combination fits mixed development environments and teams that want to keep runtime infrastructure under their control while viewing production data remotely.

Who it's for

PM2 is best for Node.js developers, production operators, and teams that want process supervision, deployment-oriented controls, and monitoring in one ecosystem. Runtime suits cost-sensitive projects and self-hosted setups. Plus fits production services that need shared visibility and alerting. Enterprise is appropriate when profiling, transaction tracing, extended retention, or cloud-shared and on-premise installation are requirements. Readers wanting only desktop process inspection should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Broad runtime controls cover clustering, graceful reloads, recovery, logs, startup behavior, and memory-triggered reloads.
• Pro: The free Runtime tier offers an open-source foundation and a real-time web interface.
• Pro: Plus and Enterprise provide a clear path from application monitoring to profiling and longer data retention.
• Con: Randomly ignored excess processes can make an over-limit deployment unreliable.
• Con: Plus at $79 a month is a substantial step up from Runtime for teams needing only basic supervision.
• Con: Advanced rule-based alerting and profiling are reserved for Enterprise custom pricing.

Alternatives

Glances is a free, open-source system monitor for readers who want broad system visibility across Android, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, Windows, and API environments; optional features require extra dependencies.

Process Lasso suits Windows users who prefer a desktop-focused freemium tool, with plans from $4.95 a month for one PC or $24.95 a year.

OpenProcMon is a free MIT-licensed option for 64-bit Windows, with live capture requiring Administrator privileges.

Ambih Monitor fits Windows users seeking freemium monitoring, including a free plan with five-session history and a Pro plan at $10 a month billed annually.

AppControl is a free Windows download with no email or registration required.

Autoruns is a free Windows utility with no stated limit on installs or supported-device use.

bottom (btm) is a free Linux, macOS, and Windows monitor with no stated price or usage limits.

iotop is a free Linux alternative under GPL-2.0+ that requires root access.

Verdict

Choose PM2 if you run Node.js services and want dependable process controls with an upgrade path to remote monitoring, alerting, and enterprise profiling. Choose Runtime for focused, self-hosted supervision; choose Plus when production visibility justifies $79 a month. Look elsewhere if your workload may exceed the process allowance, or if you need a general desktop or system monitor rather than application-oriented management.