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Head-to-head · Process Monitoring Software

Glances vs atop

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Glances #1 in Process Monitoring Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Glances
atop #7 in Process Monitoring Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Atoptool.nl

Glances leads on 0 checks, atop on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGlances · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresatop · 1 of 5

Glances scores higher on our rubric for process monitoring software: 9.4 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

Glances is the better fit for cross-platform and remote infrastructure monitoring. atop is the better fit for linux administrators needing historical process data.

  • Glances fits best

    Cross-platform and remote infrastructure monitoring

  • atop fits best

    Linux administrators needing historical process data

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Glances 9.4/10 Visit ↗ atop 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.7
Ranking #1 in Process Monitoring Software #7 in Process Monitoring Software
Best for Cross-platform and remote infrastructure monitoring Linux administrators needing historical process data
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Browser extension Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Linux
Support Community, Docs Email
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Glances 0/5 · atop 1/5
Remote monitoring Not checked yet Not checked yet
Service monitoring Not checked yet Not checked yet
Process alerting Not checked yet Not checked yet
Process controls Not checked yet Not checked yet
Activity logs Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet linux
History retention Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Monitors systems, processes, Docker, Podman, and containers
  • Combines terminal, web, remote, API, export, and discovery features
  • Runs across GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, OS X, and Windows
  • Per-process and per-thread resource views
  • Compressed activity logs support long-term analysis
  • Finished-process accounting and atopsar reports
Cons
  • Self-hosted deployment places setup and maintenance with the user
  • Terminal-first monitoring may not suit teams seeking a visual-only workflow
  • Broad coverage may be more than needed for simple process checks
  • Linux-only platform support
  • Alerting and automated actions are not included
  • Network and GPU statistics require optional components
Our verdict

Glances is an open-source, cross-platform system monitoring tool for users who need visibility into operating-system and server resources. It monitors CPU, memory, load, disk, network, filesystem, sensors, uptime, and running processes…

Read the review →

atop is an open-source, terminal-based performance monitor for Linux systems. It combines live views of CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network utilization with per-process and per-thread resource consumption. Linux administrators,…

Read the review →
  1. GlancesProcess Monitoring Software 9.4Free plan
  2. atopProcess Monitoring Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Glances — where it wins

    • Monitors systems, processes, Docker, Podman, and containers
    • Combines terminal, web, remote, API, export, and discovery features
    • Runs across GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, OS X, and Windows

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment places setup and maintenance with the user
    • Terminal-first monitoring may not suit teams seeking a visual-only workflow
    • Broad coverage may be more than needed for simple process checks

  • atop — where it wins

    • Per-process and per-thread resource views
    • Compressed activity logs support long-term analysis
    • Finished-process accounting and atopsar reports

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux-only platform support
    • Alerting and automated actions are not included
    • Network and GPU statistics require optional components

More comparisons

All process monitoring software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update