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Head-to-head · Desktop Widget Software

Conky vs Eww

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Conky #7 in Desktop Widget Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Conky
Eww #14 in Desktop Widget Software 7.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Eww

Conky leads on 0 checks, Eww on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreConky · 8.5/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresConky · 4 of 5

Conky scores higher on our rubric for desktop widget software: 8.5 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #14.

On supported platforms, Conky gives you Cross_platform where Eww offers Linux.

Conky is the better fit for free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring. Eww is the better fit for linux power users who code their widgets.

  • Conky fits best

    Free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring

  • Eww fits best

    Linux power users who code their widgets

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Side by side

Feature Conky 8.5/10 Visit ↗ Eww 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 7.7
Ranking #7 in Desktop Widget Software #14 in Desktop Widget Software
Best for Free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring Linux power users who code their widgets
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Linux, macOS Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Conky 4/5 · Eww 3/5
System monitoring ✓ ✓
Custom layouts ✓ ✓
Weather widgets — Not checked yet
Calendar widgets ✓ ✓
Feed widgets ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Cross_platform Linux
Widget categories text, progress bars, graph widgets, RSS feeds, calendar events combo-box-text, expander, revealer, checkbox, color-button, color-chooser, scale, progress, input, button, image, box, overlay, tooltip, centerbox, scroll, eventbox, label, literal, calendar, stack, transform, circular-progress, graph
Our review
Pros
  • Monitors CPU, memory, disk, processes and network activity
  • Supports graphs, progress bars, RSS feeds and calendar events
  • Adds Lua extensions, scripts, mouse events and media integrations
  • Open-source and free to use
  • Supports both X11 and Wayland builds
  • Offers broad widget and system-monitoring primitives
Cons
  • Customization is configuration-led rather than based on preset layouts
  • Its documented integrations focus on specific media and mail protocols
  • Its widget focus centers on monitoring, feeds and calendar events
  • Linux-only platform support
  • Requires Yuck plus CSS or SCSS configuration
  • Developer-oriented workflow may not suit casual customization
Our verdict

Conky is a free, open-source desktop system monitor for people who want live system information displayed in a desktop window or directly on the desktop. It covers CPU, memory, disk, process and network statistics, while also supporting…

Read the review →

Eww, short for ElKowar's Wacky Widgets, is an open-source desktop widget system for Linux. It lets users create widgets independently of their window manager, using the Yuck configuration language and CSS or SCSS for styling. The project…

Read the review →
  1. ConkyDesktop Widget Software 8.5Free plan
  2. EwwDesktop Widget Software 7.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Conky — where it wins

    • Monitors CPU, memory, disk, processes and network activity
    • Supports graphs, progress bars, RSS feeds and calendar events
    • Adds Lua extensions, scripts, mouse events and media integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Customization is configuration-led rather than based on preset layouts
    • Its documented integrations focus on specific media and mail protocols
    • Its widget focus centers on monitoring, feeds and calendar events

  • Eww — where it wins

    • Open-source and free to use
    • Supports both X11 and Wayland builds
    • Offers broad widget and system-monitoring primitives

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux-only platform support
    • Requires Yuck plus CSS or SCSS configuration
    • Developer-oriented workflow may not suit casual customization
  • Conky8.5/10 · Free plan

    A flexible open-source monitor for deeply customized desktop system displays.

    Visit ConkyFull verdict →
  • Eww7.7/10 · Free plan

    A flexible open-source widget system for Linux users who want to code their desktop.

    Visit EwwFull verdict →

More comparisons

All desktop widget software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update