Best Process Monitoring Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Glances is ranked #1 of 26 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Process Lasso and PM2. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Process Lasso. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Process Lasso at $2.08/mo.
If you need oversight of running processes or services, compare how each tool handles alerts, controls, and remote or service monitoring. Activity logs and history retention indicate what records are available to review; supported platforms help you check fit with your environment. Free-plan availability and the paid starting point add cost context. The ranking opens with Glances, PM2, and Supervisor, with Process Lasso and AppControl also among the first entries. Consider whether your priority is spotting activity, responding to issues, reviewing past events, or monitoring across platforms, then use the listed criteria to compare those capabilities.
26 process monitoring software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Glances Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 2 Process Lasso No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$2.08/mo Supported platforms: Windows 7, 8, 10, 11; Windows Server 2012-2025
- 3 PM2 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$79/mo Supported platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, web dashboardRemote monitoring: Yes
- 4 AppControl No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Supported platforms: WindowsService monitoring: Yes
- 5 bottom (btm) No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Supported platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows
- 6 iotop No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Supported platforms: LinuxRemote monitoring: NoService monitoring: No
- 7 runit No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Supported platforms: GNU/Linux, *BSD, MacOSX, Solaris, other adaptable Unix systemsService monitoring: Yes
- 8 System Informer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Supported platforms: WindowsRemote monitoring: NoService monitoring: Yes
- 9 Owlette No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7$20/mo Supported platforms: WindowsRemote monitoring: Yes
- 10 Supervisor No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Supported platforms: Linux, macOS, self-hosted Unix-like systems, web interface, XML-RPC APIRemote monitoring: Yes
- 11 Ambih Monitor No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Supported platforms: WindowsRemote monitoring: NoService monitoring: No
- 12 NVTOP No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Supported platforms: linux, macos, windows
- 13 Autoruns No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2
- 14 ManageEngine Free Process Manager No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: WindowsRemote monitoring: Yes
- 15 nmon No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: Linux on POWER, x86, x86_64, mainframe, and ARM
- 16 Remote Process Explorer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, Windows 11, Windows Server 2025Remote monitoring: Yes
- 17 rproc No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: Linux (X11 or Wayland)Service monitoring: Yes
- 18 s6 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: POSIX-compliant systemsService monitoring: Yes
- 19 winproc-tui No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: Windows 11 x64Remote monitoring: No
- 20 atop No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported platforms: linux
- 21 btop No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported platforms: Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD
- 22 OpenProcMon No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported platforms: Windows
- 23 Process Monitor for Linux No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported platforms: linux
- 24 TaskExplorer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported platforms: Windows, LinuxService monitoring: Yes
- 25 htop No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which process monitoring software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Glances is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 7.7. Process Lasso is second and PM2 third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Process Lasso has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.