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htop

htop is a free, interactive process viewer for managing and inspecting processes in text-mode terminals.

Place
#14 of 34
Score
6.1
htop's website

What htop is

htop is a free, interactive process viewer for managing and inspecting processes in text-mode terminals. It runs in console or X terminals and requires ncurses. Current releases support Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, DragonFly BSD, macOS, and Solaris. The project distributes source code on GitHub and precompiled binaries through distributions; installation examples cover Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, and Arch Linux, and htop is included in Homebrew for macOS. Its display can show Unicode Braille-character graphs and a Unicode tree view, with visual support for large processor counts. Process controls include configuring I/O scheduling priority and CPU affinity. Users can choose color themes for dark or light terminals and customize header meters. The memory meter’s percentage represents memory used by processes; on Linux, the kernel also uses available memory for buffers and disk cache. htop does not provide a per-process SWAP column because it cannot reliably determine exact swap use, including for shared pages. The project dates to 2004, and users can subscribe to mailing-list release updates.

Good

  • Free source code and distribution binaries.
  • Supports Linux, BSD variants, macOS, and Solaris.
  • Includes Unicode graphs and a tree view.
  • Can configure I/O priority and CPU affinity.
  • Header meters are customizable.

Watch out

  • Requires ncurses and a text-mode terminal.
  • Does not show per-process SWAP usage.
  • Memory percentage reflects process use, not all kernel use.

Who it suits

htop suits people who want to inspect and manage processes from a text-based terminal on a supported system. Its customizable meters and process controls may be useful for users working with large processor counts.

Verdict

htop provides terminal-based process viewing and controls across several operating systems. Its missing per-process SWAP column is a notable limitation for users seeking that specific measurement.

Plans and prices

From htop's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
FreeFreeFreely available; source code and distribution binaries

The facts

Each one read from htop's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Customization
The screenshots page says color themes are available for dark and light terminals and header meters are fully customizable.checked 8 Oct 2026
Distribution
htop is available freely as source code on GitHub and as pre-compiled binaries provided by distributions.checked 8 Oct 2026
Installation
The download page gives package installation examples for Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, and Arch Linux, and says htop is included in Homebrew for macOS.checked 8 Oct 2026
Large systems
The screenshots page says htop has visual support for large processor counts and shows a 64-core machine.checked 8 Oct 2026
Memory reporting
The FAQ explains that the memory meter’s percentage represents memory used by processes, while additional available memory is used by the Linux kernel for buffers and disk cache.checked 8 Oct 2026
Process controls
The screenshots page identifies configuring I/O scheduling priority and CPU affinity as available features.checked 8 Oct 2026
Purpose
htop is a cross-platform interactive process viewer that runs in text mode in console or X terminals and requires ncurses.checked 8 Oct 2026
Release updates
Users can subscribe to the htop mailing list to receive new-release information.checked 8 Oct 2026
Support and contributions
The home page links to the project bug tracker and says Hack Club, a US IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has hosted htop as its fiscal sponsor since March 2024.checked 8 Oct 2026
Supported systems
The site lists Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, DragonFly BSD, macOS, and Solaris as supported by current releases.checked 8 Oct 2026
Swap limitation
The FAQ says htop does not provide a per-process SWAP column because it does not know a reliable way to determine exact swap use, including for shared pages.checked 8 Oct 2026
Terminal display
The screenshots page describes Unicode Braille-character graphs and a Unicode tree view.checked 8 Oct 2026

The company

Founded
2004checked 28 Sep 2026

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