Glances

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Score7.1

Rank#8 of 58

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onAndroid, API, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows

Summary

Glances is a free, open-source tool for viewing real-time system statistics and running processes across platforms. Its monitoring covers CPU, memory, system load, processes, network, disk I/O, sensors, filesystems, containers, alerts, and uptime. In client/server mode, users can monitor remotely through a terminal, web interface, or API. The built-in web interface allows monitoring from a device with a browser. Statistics can be exported to CSV or JSON, databases such as InfluxDB and Prometheus, brokers such as RabbitMQ and Kafka, or a REST endpoint. The project documents support for Docker and Podman, and its README describes Docker and LXC container monitoring. Installation options include pip, pipx, Homebrew, Linux and FreeBSD packages, and Docker images. Glances 4 requires Python 3.10 or higher; its default installation omits web interface dependencies, with separate extras for features such as web, GPU, containers, exports, and MCP. Version 4.5.1 and higher can provide an MCP server for AI assistants. The project distributes Glances under the LGPL version 3 license.

Who it is for

Glances suits users who want system and process monitoring across Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and other listed platforms. It is useful for remote monitoring or exporting statistics, provided they account for its Python requirement and optional dependencies.

What is good

Monitors processes and a broad set of system metrics.
Remote monitoring via terminal, web interface, or API.
Exports statistics to files, databases, brokers, or REST.
Documents Docker and Podman monitoring.

What to know first

Glances 4 requires Python 3.10 or higher.
Web interface dependencies are not included by default.
Optional features require extra dependencies.

Verdict

Glances offers cross-platform monitoring, remote access, and several export options at no cost. Users should plan for the Python version requirement and add dependencies for optional features they need.

Glances plans and pricing

All plans

Glances Free Open source system monitoring tool; optional features require extra dependencies github.com · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on hardware monitoring software

Supported platforms: Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, Android, Web, API, self-hostednicolargo.github.io

Facts

What it does: Glances is an open-source, cross-platform system monitoring tool for real-time system statistics and running processes.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Monitoring: Its listed monitoring features include CPU, memory, load, processes, network, disk I/O, sensors, filesystems, containers, alerts and uptime.nicolargo.github.io · 29 Sept 2026
Remote access: Client/server mode supports remote monitoring through a terminal, Web interface or API.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Web interface: The built-in Web UI lets users monitor a system from a device with a browser.nicolargo.github.io · 29 Sept 2026
APIs: Glances provides XML-RPC and RESTful JSON APIs, and its Web server mode exposes a REST API.nicolargo.github.io · 29 Sept 2026
AI integration: Glances 4.5.1 and higher can provide an MCP server for AI assistants.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Exports: Statistics can be exported to CSV and JSON files, databases including InfluxDB and Prometheus, brokers including RabbitMQ and Kafka, or a REST endpoint.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Containers: The project documents monitoring support for Docker and Podman, and describes Docker and LXC container monitoring in its README.nicolargo.github.io · 29 Sept 2026
Platforms: The project documents GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, macOS and Windows support; it also gives installation instructions for rooted Android devices using Termux.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Deployment: Glances can be installed with pip, pipx, Homebrew or Linux and FreeBSD packages, and Docker images are available.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Requirements: Glances 4 requires Python 3.10 or higher; version 4 and higher do not support Python 2 or Python earlier than 3.10.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Optional dependencies: The README says Glances is installed without Web interface dependencies by default and lists separate extras for features such as Web, GPU, containers, exports and MCP.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
License: The project says Glances is distributed under the LGPL version 3 license.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Security updates: The security policy lists version 4.x as supported for security updates and versions below 4.0 as unsupported.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Support: The project directs users to its manual, official Reddit forum and GitHub Discussions for help.github.com · 29 Sept 2026