htop vs Windows Task Manager : Which is Better?
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
Windows Task Manager
Task Manager, previously known as Windows Task Manager, is a task manager, system monitor, and startup manager included with Microsoft Windows systems. It provides limited information about computer performance and running applications, processes and CPU usage, commit charge and memory information, network activity and statistics, logged-in users, and system services. Developed by Microsoft
License: Free
htop VS Windows Task Manager
htop is a terminal-based process viewer that excels in customization and detailed process management, making it ideal for advanced users on Unix-like systems. In contrast, Windows Task Manager provides a user-friendly graphical interface with integrated system performance tracking, making it more accessible for average users on Windows.
htop
Pros:
- Lightweight and fast
- Highly customizable
- Support for terminal usage
- Detailed process management
- Displays resource usage in real-time
- Supports process tree visualization
- Easy to filter and search processes
- Includes network monitoring capabilities
- Open-source software
- Cross-platform compatibility
Cons:
- Lacks a graphical interface for novice users
- No built-in historical tracking of resource usage
- Limited to Unix-like systems
- Requires terminal knowledge
- No file management capabilities
- No user session management features
- Less intuitive for average users
- No support for plugins
- Limited to processes running in the terminal
- Requires installation on some systems
Windows Task Manager
Pros:
- Integrated with Windows
- User-friendly graphical interface
- Historical resource usage tracking
- System performance graphs
- User session management
- File management options
- Supports prioritizing processes
- Real-time monitoring of apps and services
- Provides detailed statistics of CPU and memory usage
- Easily accessible from taskbar
Cons:
- Limited to Windows operating systems
- Can be resource-heavy
- Less customizable compared to htop
- Not as detailed in process management as htop
- May not display all processes by default
- Can be slower on older systems
- Not as lightweight as htop
- Limited command-line support
- Requires user interface navigation
- Less suitable for advanced users seeking detailed information
Compare htop
