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Head-to-head · Desktop Widget Software

Rainmeter vs Conky

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Rainmeter #2 in Desktop Widget Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Rainmeter
Conky #7 in Desktop Widget Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Conky

Rainmeter 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 scoreRainmeter · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth

Rainmeter scores higher on our rubric for desktop widget software: 9.3 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

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

Rainmeter is the better fit for windows users wanting a free skin ecosystem. Conky is the better fit for free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring.

  • Rainmeter fits best

    Windows users wanting a free skin ecosystem

  • Conky fits best

    Free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring

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 Rainmeter 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Conky 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.5
Ranking #2 in Desktop Widget Software #7 in Desktop Widget Software
Best for Windows users wanting a free skin ecosystem Free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Linux, macOS
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Rainmeter 4/5 · Conky 4/5
System monitoring ✓ ✓
Custom layouts ✓ ✓
Weather widgets ✓ (best) —
Calendar widgets Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Feed widgets ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms Windows Cross_platform
Widget categories memory, battery, RSS feeds, weather forecasts, notes, to-do lists, application launchers, media-player controls text, progress bars, graph widgets, RSS feeds, calendar events
Our review
Pros
  • Free and fully open source under the GNU GPL v2 license
  • Covers system data, weather, RSS, notes, launchers, and media controls
  • Includes tools for creating and editing custom desktop skins
  • 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
  • Supports Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms
  • Customization may require more configuration than a simple widget app
  • Its feature set is delivered through configurable skins rather than one fixed interface
  • 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

Rainmeter is a free, open-source desktop customization tool for Windows users who want configurable information and controls on their desktop. Its skins can display memory and battery data, weather forecasts, and RSS feeds, while also…

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. RainmeterDesktop Widget Software 9.3Free plan
  2. ConkyDesktop Widget Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Rainmeter — where it wins

    • Free and fully open source under the GNU GPL v2 license
    • Covers system data, weather, RSS, notes, launchers, and media controls
    • Includes tools for creating and editing custom desktop skins

    Where it doesn't

    • Supports Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms
    • Customization may require more configuration than a simple widget app
    • Its feature set is delivered through configurable skins rather than one fixed interface

  • 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