Glances review
A flexible host monitor with useful Docker and LXC visibility, but limited container depth.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Glances is an open-source monitoring tool for viewing host, hardware, process, network, storage, and container metrics. It suits administrators and technical teams that want lightweight, self-hosted visibility across Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, Android, Web, API, and other supported environments. The product can run through curses-based terminal and web interfaces, while client/server operation supports remote monitoring through terminal, Web, XML-RPC, and RESTful APIs. Docker and LXC monitoring extends the host view into container activity without making containers the product’s sole focus.
Its strongest fit is breadth in monitoring and data access. Glances covers CPU, memory, disk, network, processes, temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, battery capacity, and other system statistics. Sensor monitoring can use psutil, hddtemp, and batinfo, with configurable thresholds, aliases, logging, and command actions. Export options include CSV, JSON, databases, message brokers, and RESTful endpoints, with integrations for InfluxDB, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL/Timescale, Prometheus, RabbitMQ/ActiveMQ, NATS, and Kafka. This makes it practical for teams that want to connect a compact monitoring layer to existing collection or observability workflows.
The trade-off is focus: container support provides Docker and LXC visibility, while the broader feature set is centered on host and hardware monitoring. Alert channels are script or command actions, so teams seeking a container-first system with deeper lifecycle controls or specialized container alerting should consider a more narrowly focused alternative. Glances is a good choice for self-hosted environments that value open-source access, cross-platform coverage, remote interfaces, and configurable exports. It is less suitable when container operations, container-specific workflows, or dedicated alert delivery are the primary requirements.
Glances pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free open-source monitoring across major platforms
- Docker and LXC visibility with remote interfaces
- Exports to databases, brokers, files, and REST endpoints
- Where it doesn't
- Container monitoring is secondary to broader system coverage
- Alerting uses script or command actions
- Sensor-plugin availability is listed as Linux
Glances fact sheet, pricing and score →
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