PM2

Overview

PM2 is a daemon process manager for keeping applications online, with process controls for developers and operators. It suits teams running Node.js services that need reloads and production monitoring; its free Runtime plan handles process management, while deeper visibility comes at a monthly cost.

PM2 combines application controls with remote monitoring and documents integrations spanning containers, cloud providers, and deployment workflows. Readers comparing monitoring tools can browse Process Monitoring Software.

Key features

Process management

Cluster mode, zero-downtime reloads, watch-and-restart, startup scripts, log management, and memory-based reloads give Runtime practical tools for keeping services available and managing their behavior. That makes it a stronger fit for application operations than a tool focused only on displaying system activity.

For Node.js containers, pm2-runtime provides process fallback, flow control, monitoring, and source-map support. PM2's documentation also covers Docker, cloud providers, Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Nginx, and deployment workflows, which helps connect process management to common deployment setups.

Monitoring and alerts

Plus adds a web interface, application overview, issue tracking, custom metrics, server health checks, and Node.js V8 monitoring. Email and Slack notifications provide a way to surface issues beyond the dashboard. These features are aimed at production Node.js applications; they offer less reason to pay for Plus if process control alone is the goal.

Enterprise adds advanced rule-based alerting, Go and Python integration, profiling, transaction tracing, cloud-shared or on-premise installation, and up to one year of data retention. The PM2 AI Assistant connects Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible assistants to monitoring data through OAuth with a PM2.io account.

Pricing

Runtime: free. It includes an open-source process manager and real-time web interface, making it the sensible starting point for users who need process controls without paid monitoring.

Plus: $79 a month for essential monitoring features for Node.js production applications. It is the paid step for teams that need application and server visibility, issue tracking, custom metrics, and notifications; Runtime gives up that Plus monitoring tier.

Enterprise: custom pricing for advanced optimization and profiling features. Its additional deployment options, language integrations, tracing, and longer retention suit organizations with more demanding monitoring requirements, but the price needs to be weighed against that broader scope.

A trial is possible by contacting the sales team through the form. When a plan's process limit is exceeded, the system automatically ignores randomly chosen excess processes, a consequential limitation for workloads that may exceed their cap.

Platforms

PM2 supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, along with an API and self-hosted use. Its web dashboard supports remote monitoring, while process controls and activity logs round out its operational focus.

Who it's for

PM2 is best suited to developers and operations teams managing application processes, particularly Node.js production services that benefit from reload controls and remote monitoring. Runtime can suit users who need process management at no cost. Teams seeking a general-purpose system monitor, or unwilling to pay Plus's monthly price for production visibility, should consider alternatives.

Pros and cons

• Useful process controls: Cluster mode, zero-downtime reloads, automatic restarts, startup scripts, and memory-based reloads address day-to-day service availability needs.
• Free process management: Runtime includes an open-source manager and real-time web interface, so basic process operations do not require a paid plan.
• Production monitoring costs extra: Plus is $79 a month, which may not suit users who only need a subset of its Node.js monitoring capabilities.
• Excess processes can be ignored: Randomly selecting which processes to ignore after a plan limit is exceeded can undermine reliability for workloads that outgrow their cap.

Alternatives

Glances is a free option for readers who want an open-source system monitoring tool across Android, desktop, and web platforms; optional features require extra dependencies.

Process Lasso is a Windows-only freemium alternative with monthly and annual plans for a single PC, better suited to readers seeking a Windows process tool rather than PM2's cross-platform application management.

bottom (btm) is a free Linux, macOS, and Windows alternative for readers seeking a no-cost option.

Monit is free open-source software for Linux, macOS, and self-hosted use, making it a fit for readers who want an AGPL-licensed option.

OpenProcMon is a free, MIT-licensed Windows option; live capture requires Administrator privileges and it supports 64-bit Windows only.

runit is a free alternative for Linux, macOS, and self-hosted use without stated commercial limits.

Ambih Monitor offers Windows monitoring with a free tier limited to five-session history per project and a Pro plan at $10 a month billed annually; consider it if that session-history model better fits your monitoring needs.

AppControl is a free Windows option that requires no email or registration to download and use.

Verdict

Choose PM2 Runtime if you need free process management with practical reload and recovery controls. Plus is the better fit for Node.js production teams that will use its monitoring and alerts, while Enterprise targets organizations needing profiling and advanced alerting. Look elsewhere if Plus's monthly cost or Enterprise's custom pricing does not fit your needs.