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Head-to-head · Desktop Widget Software

Monitor Flows vs Conky

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Monitor Flows #1 in Desktop Widget Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Monitor Flows
Conky #7 in Desktop Widget Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Conky

Monitor Flows leads on 1 check, Conky on 0, and 5 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 scoreMonitor Flows · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Monitor Flows

Monitor Flows scores higher on our rubric for desktop widget software: 9.4 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

On supported platforms, Conky gives you Cross_platform where Monitor Flows offers Windows. Monitor Flows offers weather widgets; Conky doesn't.

Monitor Flows is the better fit for windows users needing integrations and multi-monitor layouts. Conky is the better fit for free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring.

  • Monitor Flows fits best

    Windows users needing integrations and multi-monitor layouts

  • Conky fits best

    Free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring

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Side by side

Feature Monitor Flows 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Conky 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.5
Ranking #1 in Desktop Widget Software #7 in Desktop Widget Software
Best for Windows users needing integrations and multi-monitor layouts Free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $3/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Linux, macOS
Support Community Community, Docs
Integrations 13 integrations 5 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Monitor Flows 4/5 · Conky 4/5
System monitoring ✓ ✓
Custom layouts ✓ ✓
Weather widgets ✓ (best) —
Calendar widgets ✓ ✓
Feed widgets Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms Windows Cross_platform
Widget categories system monitoring; media controls; calendar; weather; smart home text, progress bars, graph widgets, RSS feeds, calendar events
Our review
Pros
  • 50+ customizable widgets across system, media, weather and calendar needs
  • Independent layouts for multiple monitors with persistent widget pages
  • Integrations include Spotify, Discord, GitHub, Slack, Gmail and OpenWeather
  • 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
Cons
  • Available only for Windows 10 and 11
  • Free plan limits users to 15 core widgets and 3 pages
  • Custom widgets, API access and custom CSS require the Max plan
  • 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
Our verdict

Monitor Flows is a Windows desktop widget application for people who want persistent, customizable dashboards on the desktop. Its widget coverage spans system monitoring, media controls, calendars, weather, smart-home controls and other…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. Monitor FlowsDesktop Widget Software 9.4Free plan · 14-day trial
  2. ConkyDesktop Widget Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Monitor Flows — where it wins

    • 50+ customizable widgets across system, media, weather and calendar needs
    • Independent layouts for multiple monitors with persistent widget pages
    • Integrations include Spotify, Discord, GitHub, Slack, Gmail and OpenWeather

    Where it doesn't

    • Available only for Windows 10 and 11
    • Free plan limits users to 15 core widgets and 3 pages
    • Custom widgets, API access and custom CSS require the Max plan

  • 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

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