htop review
A free, open-source terminal monitor for inspecting and managing live processes.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
htop is a free, open-source, text-mode process viewer for terminal and console environments. It is aimed at Linux and macOS users who need an interactive way to inspect running processes, understand process relationships, and take direct process-management actions. The interface presents process lists, command lines, CPU and memory consumption, load average, and swap information, with both mouse and keyboard interaction. Its 2004 founding year also gives it a long-established place among terminal monitoring tools.
The main strength is the depth of its interactive process view. Users can scroll vertically and horizontally, sort and filter processes, search for a process, switch to a tree view, and configure which meters and information appear. CPU, memory, load-average, and swap meters support quick resource inspection, while process actions such as killing and renicing extend the tool beyond passive viewing. This makes htop a practical fit for operators and developers who prefer direct terminal workflows and need visibility into process behavior without a separate graphical interface.
htop keeps its focus narrow: live process inspection and management rather than a broader monitoring system. Its published positioning supports Linux, macOS, several BSD systems, and Solaris, while the category details identify Linux and command-line use as core characteristics. It is a strong choice for individuals and teams that want a free, open-source terminal utility with configurable views and immediate process controls. Organizations seeking historical monitoring, alerting workflows, or a graphical console should choose a product designed around those needs instead.
htop pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Interactive sorting, filtering, search, scrolling, and tree views
- Configurable meters for CPU, memory, load average, and swap
- Process actions include killing and renicing from the terminal
- Where it doesn't
- Primarily focused on live process views rather than historical analysis
- No verified alerting workflow for process or resource conditions
- Terminal interface may not suit teams seeking a graphical console
htop fact sheet, pricing and score →
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