htop vs GNOME System Monitor : Which is Better?

htop icon

htop

htop is an interactive system-monitor process-viewer. It is designed as an alternative to the Unix program top. It shows a frequently updated list of the processes running on a computer, normally ordered by the amount of CPU usage. Developed by Hisham Muhammad

License: Open Source

Categories: OS & Utilities

Apps available for Mac OS X Linux BSD

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GNOME System Monitor icon

GNOME System Monitor

GNOME System Monitor shows you what programs are running and how much processor time, memory, and disk space are being used. Developed by The GNOME Project

License: Open Source

Apps available for Linux BSD

htop VS GNOME System Monitor

GNOME System Monitor offers a user-friendly graphical interface with detailed visual representations of system resources, making it ideal for users who prefer GUI-based tools. In contrast, htop is a terminal-based application focused on speed and efficiency, making it better suited for users comfortable with command-line interfaces and those managing systems remotely.

htop

Pros:

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Terminal-based for quick access
  • Highly customizable process display
  • Supports command-line interaction
  • Suitable for remote monitoring via SSH
  • Less resource-intensive than GUI applications
  • Filters and sorts processes efficiently
  • Good for users comfortable with CLI
  • Can be run on minimal systems
  • Ideal for server management

Cons:

  • No graphical interface
  • Learning curve for new users unfamiliar with CLI
  • Limited visual representation of resource usage
  • May require additional configuration
  • Not as user-friendly for beginners

GNOME System Monitor

Pros:

  • User-friendly graphical interface
  • Provides detailed resource usage graphs
  • Allows for easy process management
  • Supports multi-language
  • Includes built-in search functionality
  • Displays network and disk usage statistics
  • Customizable appearance with themes
  • Easily sortable process list
  • User session management features
  • Good for users who prefer GUI-based tools

Cons:

  • Requires a graphical environment to run
  • Can be resource-intensive on low-end machines
  • Less efficient for advanced users
  • Limited command-line features
  • May not be suitable for remote access

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