Best Dashboard Alternatives in 2026
The top Dashboard alternatives are Monitor Flows, Rainmeter and GadgetPack (formerly 8GadgetPack): 15 desktop widget software our editors would look at instead of Dashboard, in our ranking order.
Dashboard: A broad, open-source Linux dashboard for productivity, monitoring, weather, and logs. Where it falls short: limited to linux desktop environments.
Switching from Dashboard? For most desktop widget software buyers the best Dashboard alternative is Monitor Flows, built for windows users needing integrations and multi-monitor layouts.
Why People Look for a Dashboard Alternative
- Limited to Linux desktop environments
- AI chat uses the OpenAI API
- No feed widget category is included
- No feed widgets — 6 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallMonitor Flows9.4
Windows users needing integrations and multi-monitor layouts
Visit Monitor Flows - Lowest priceMonitor Flows9.4
Paid plans from $3/mo
Visit Monitor Flows - Best free optionMonitor Flows9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Monitor Flows - Best for feed widgetsRainmeter9.3
Feed widgets (Dashboard: no)
Visit Rainmeter
All 15 Dashboard Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forWindows users needing integrations and multi-monitor layouts
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.5
A flexible Windows dashboard tool with broad integrations and multi-monitor support.
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Monitor Flows -
Best forWindows users wanting a free skin ecosystem
- Better than Dashboard:
- Feed widgets
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.5
A flexible Windows widget toolkit for system data, feeds, controls, and custom layouts.
- Feed widgets
- Weather widgets
- System monitoring
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Rainmeter -
Best forWindows users wanting a ready-made free gadget collection
- Better than Dashboard:
- Feed widgets
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.5
A free Windows gadget collection with monitoring, utilities, and desktop organization.
- Feed widgets
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit GadgetPack -
Best forWindows users integrating work and personal services
- Better than Dashboard:
- Feed widgets
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.5
A flexible Windows dashboard for combining work, personal services, and system information.
- Feed widgets
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Themia -
Best forMac developers creating data-driven widgets
- Better than Dashboard:
- Feed widgets
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.5
A flexible Mac widget framework for developers comfortable with code and shell commands.
- Feed widgets
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Übersicht -
Best forCross-platform hardware and system monitoring
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.5
A free, open-source monitor for users who want broad system visibility in one window.
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit GKrellM -
Best forFree, highly customizable Linux/macOS monitoring
- Better than Dashboard:
- Feed widgets
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.5
A flexible open-source monitor for deeply customized desktop system displays.
- Feed widgets
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Conky -
Best forOrganizations building and distributing widget apps
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.5
A cross-platform widget runtime with developer publishing tools and perpetual licenses.
- System monitoring
8.4/10★★★★☆Try Desktop Widgets -
Best forMac users wanting lifestyle and productivity widgets
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.5
A broad macOS widget collection for personal information and productivity.
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Widgetify -
Best forFeature-rich macOS desktop customization
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.5
A broad macOS widget library with wallpapers, stickers, backups, and visual controls.
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit WidgetWall -
Best forMac users wanting monitoring and media widgets
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.5
A broad Mac widget set for monitoring, media, weather, planning, and desktop styling.
- Weather widgets
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Widgetter -
Best forMac users wanting broad everyday desktop widgets
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.5
A broad macOS widget set for notes, planning, monitoring, and desktop organization.
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
- Custom layouts
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit DeskWidgets -
Best forUsers turning websites into desktop dashboards
- Better than Dashboard:
- Feed widgets
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.5
A flexible web-to-desktop widget tool with useful free access and a focused scope.
- Feed widgets
- Weather widgets
- Custom layouts
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Duckboard -
Best forLinux power users who code their widgets
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.5
A flexible open-source widget system for Linux users who want to code their desktop.
- Calendar widgets
- System monitoring
- Custom layouts
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Eww -
Best forWindows users building custom widgets
- Better than Dashboard:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 7.5
A free, open-source Windows widget builder with broad customization options.
- Weather widgets
- System monitoring
- Custom layouts
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Delta Widgets
Dashboard Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Dashboard?
Monitor Flows: #1 in our Desktop Widget Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A flexible Windows dashboard tool with broad integrations and multi-monitor support.
Is there a free alternative to Dashboard?
Yes. Monitor Flows, Rainmeter, GadgetPack (formerly 8GadgetPack), Themia and Übersicht have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Dashboard alternatives?
Limited to Linux desktop environments; AI chat uses the OpenAI API; No feed widget category is included.
How do I switch from Dashboard?
Export your data from Dashboard (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Dashboard.
How to Switch from Dashboard
- Export your data from Dashboard (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Dashboard.
Dashboard vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Widget categories | System monitoring | Custom layouts | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Dashboard | Free | Linux | Clock, Calendar, Todo, Notes, Pomodoro, Countdown, Links, Weather, System Status, Htop, AI Chat, Log Tail | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 1 | Monitor Flows | Yes | $3/mo | Windows | system monitoring; media controls; calendar; weather; smart home | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Rainmeter | Yes | Free | Windows | memory, battery, RSS feeds, weather forecasts, notes, to-do lists, application launchers, media-player controls | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | GadgetPack (formerly 8GadgetPack) | Yes | Free | Windows | sidebar, agenda, CPU and GPU monitoring, battery, calendar, clipboard, clocks, currency, drives, network monitoring, weather, reminders, slideshow, sticky notes, calculator, volume control, unit converter, radio | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | Themia | Yes | $19 one-time | Windows | Office, Online, System, Themia, Layout, Others | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 5 | Übersicht | Yes | Free | Macos | system monitoring; clocks; calendars; weather; RSS feeds; networking; media; launchers; finance; reminders | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | GKrellM | Yes | Free | Cross_platform | CPU, process, disk, network, internet, memory, swap, filesystem, mailbox, clock, calendar, hostname, battery, temperature, fan, voltage, uptime, plugins | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Conky | Yes | Free | Cross_platform | text, progress bars, graph widgets, RSS feeds, calendar events | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 8 | Desktop Widgets | No | Cross_platform | Yes | 8.4 | |||
| 9 | Widgetify | Yes | Macos | Photo; music playback and lyrics; translator; world clock; date and time clocks; app shortcuts; folders and files; day master; to-do; sticky notes; reminders; weather; time-zone tracker; statistics; flip clock; browser; focus timer; water reminder; calendar | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 10 | WidgetWall | Yes | Macos | clock, calculator, photos, stopwatch, timer, app shortcuts, video, games, lava lamp, affirmations, iPod, stocks and crypto, white noise, Pomodoro, alarm, countdown, countup, emoji browser, TikTok, weather, stats, music, calendar, reminders, notes, browser, battery, mirror, Pinterest, bookmarks, canvas, Finder, stickers | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 11 | Widgetter | Yes | Macos | Date & Time, Calendar, Weather, Battery, Music player, Photo, Internet speed, Currency and cryptocurrency quotes, Tasks and Reminders, CPU, RPM, RAM, HDD/SSD | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 12 | DeskWidgets | Yes | Macos | Interactive Widgets; Information Widgets | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 13 | Duckboard | Yes | $29 one-time | Cross_platform | YouTube, X, weather, productivity tools, feeds, custom HTML and embeds | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 14 | Eww | Yes | Free | Linux | 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 | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 15 | Delta Widgets | Yes | Free | Windows | date and time, media, audio visualizer, weather, disks, RAM, CPU, battery, system stats, custom HTML, URL/web content | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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