PM2
PM2: A capable Node.js process manager with deeper monitoring in paid tiers. Ranked #2 of 26 in Process Monitoring Software by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for node.js application process operations.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forNode.js application process operations
- Free planYes
- Remote monitoringYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Automatic restarts for crashes, exits, thresholds, file changes, and schedules
- Zero-downtime reloads and cluster-mode load balancing for Node.js
- Logs, reboot persistence, terminal monitoring, and web monitoring options
Where it doesn't
- Advanced remote monitoring depends on PM2 Plus
- Enterprise capabilities are reserved for the highest tier
- The product is centered on process operations rather than broad observability
Our verdict on PM2
PM2 is an open-source daemon process manager for keeping Node.js and other applications online. It supports process actions such as starting, stopping, restarting, reloading, and deleting managed processes, while also providing automatic restarts, startup persistence, resource monitoring, and application logs. It is best suited to teams managing Node.js application processes across Linux, macOS, Windows, or the web dashboard environment.
PM2 uses a freemium model with three published tiers. Runtime provides the open-source process manager, a real-time web interface, zero-downtime reloads, and terminal-based monitoring. Plus adds a web-based monitoring interface, issue and exception tracking, custom metrics, email and Slack notifications, and server health monitoring. Enterprise extends the platform with advanced profiling, transaction tracing, rule-based alerting, custom dashboards, cloud-shared or on-premise installation, and up to one year of data retention. The paid tiers therefore move PM2 from local process control toward centralized monitoring and operational analysis.
Its strongest area is Node.js process lifecycle management. Applications can be restarted after crashes, exits, memory thresholds, file changes, or cron schedules, while cluster mode supports load balancing and zero-downtime reloads. Log streaming includes filtering, timestamps, JSON output, and rotation, and notifications can cover downtime, deployments, issues, and restarts through email, Slack, or webhooks. PM2 also connects with NPM, Yarn, Docker, Heroku, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk. Choose it when process control and Node.js operations are the priority; teams seeking advanced profiling, transaction tracing, or long-term centralized monitoring should consider the higher tiers.
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PM2 pricing
PM2 fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows, web dashboard |
| Remote monitoring | Yes |
| Service monitoring | Not verified |
| Process alerting | Yes |
| History retention | Not verified |
| Process controls | Yes |
| Activity logs | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: NPM, Yarn, Docker, Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | pm2.keymetrics.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
PM2 integrations
PM2 lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- NPM
- Yarn
- Docker
- Heroku
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Alternatives to PM2
- GlancesA broad, free monitoring toolkit for cross-platform and self-hosted infrastructure.9.4
- MonitA focused self-hosted monitor for service health, system checks, and automatic recovery.9.1
- SupervisorA focused open-source supervisor for restarting, grouping, logging, and controlling processes.9.0
PM2 vs the competition
Compare PM2 with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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