Conky
Conky: A flexible open-source monitor for deeply customized desktop system displays. Ranked #7 of 29 in Desktop Widget Software by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Supported platformsCross_platform
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Conky
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 RSS feeds, calendar events, mail, music players and custom script output. Linux and macOS are listed platforms, with BSD systems and Wayland support also described by the project. It is particularly suited to users who value control over layout and presentation rather than a fixed dashboard experience.
The standout capability is customization depth. Conky can render text, progress bars and graphs, with configurable fonts and colors, while Lua extensions and custom scripts can add further output. Mouse-event handling gives the display an interactive dimension, and documented variables cover RSS feeds and calendar events from iCalendar files. This combination makes Conky broader than a basic hardware monitor: it can bring selected feeds, schedules, media information and scripted data into one desktop display. The trade-off is that its flexibility is configuration-led, so it suits users comfortable shaping their own layouts and outputs.
Conky has no paid tiers to compare: its open-source model makes the software free across Linux and macOS. Its ecosystem includes MPD, XMMS2 and Audacious for music-player integrations, plus IMAP and POP3 support for mail. Those connections complement the monitoring core without changing its central focus on local desktop information. Choose Conky if you want a free monitor with broad display options, scripting and focused integrations. Choose another type of widget product if you prefer a preset, narrowly guided dashboard rather than a configurable system display.
Your product? Our editors can test Conky in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Conky pricing
Conky fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Cross_platform |
| Widget categories | text, progress bars, graph widgets, RSS feeds, calendar events |
| System monitoring | Yes |
| Custom layouts | Yes |
| Weather widgets | No |
| Calendar widgets | Yes |
| Feed widgets | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: MPD, XMMS2, Audacious, IMAP, POP3 |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | conky.cc |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Conky integrations
Conky lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- MPD
- XMMS2
- Audacious
- IMAP
- POP3
Alternatives to Conky
- Monitor FlowsA flexible Windows dashboard tool with broad integrations and multi-monitor support.9.4
- RainmeterA flexible Windows widget toolkit for system data, feeds, controls, and custom layouts.9.3
- GadgetPack (formerly 8GadgetPack)A free Windows gadget collection with monitoring, utilities, and desktop organization.9.0
Conky vs the competition
- Conky vs Monitor Flows
- Conky vs Rainmeter
- Conky vs GadgetPack (formerly 8GadgetPack)
- Conky vs Themia
- Conky vs Übersicht
- Conky vs GKrellM
Compare Conky with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Conky is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
Conky is listed in our Desktop Widget Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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