VisualVM
VisualVM is a free, standalone tool for troubleshooting Java applications in development and production.
What VisualVM is
VisualVM is a free, standalone tool for troubleshooting Java applications in development and production. It brings monitoring, profiling, and diagnostic tools together for application developers, system administrators, quality engineers, and end users. It tracks CPU use, garbage collection, heap and metaspace memory, loaded classes, and running threads. Sampling and instrumentation profiling can help examine performance and memory use; diagnostic tools capture thread dumps, browse heap dumps, analyze core dumps, and save data for offline review. VisualVM can connect to remote applications using JMX or list them when jstatd runs on the remote host. Plugins add capabilities, including a security plugin with a graphical interface for SSL/TLS settings. The project documents integrations or launchers for Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code, plus a third-party NetBeans profiler. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS and is distributed as a standalone tool. The download page lists Oracle JDK and OpenJDK 8–26 and GraalVM 19–JDK 26; VisualVM should run using Oracle JDK 8 or newer.
Good
- Free standalone tool for Java troubleshooting.
- Monitors CPU, memory, classes, and threads.
- Captures thread dumps and analyzes core dumps.
- Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Offers sampling and instrumentation profiling.
Watch out
- Requires Oracle JDK 8 or newer to run.
- Some third-party plugins may not work after VisualVM 2.0 changes.
- Remote application listing requires jstatd on the remote host.
Who it suits
VisualVM suits Java developers, system administrators, quality engineers, and end users who need application monitoring or diagnostics. It is also relevant for people investigating performance or memory use.
Verdict
VisualVM combines Java application monitoring, profiling, and diagnostics in a free desktop tool. Check the JDK compatibility notes and plugin caveat if your workflow depends on those components.
Plans and prices
From VisualVM's own pricing page, checked 29 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| VisualVM | Free | Standalone Java troubleshooting tool · Windows, Linux, macOS · Java 8–26 |
The facts
Each one read from VisualVM's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- The site says VisualVM is designed for application developers, system administrators, quality engineers, and end users.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Compatibility limit
- The download page lists Oracle JDK 8–26, OpenJDK 8–26, and GraalVM 19–JDK 26, and notes that VisualVM should run using Oracle JDK 8 or newer.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Diagnostics
- It can capture thread dumps, browse heap dumps, analyze core dumps, and save application data for offline analysis.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Distribution
- VisualVM is currently distributed as a standalone tool, with a ZIP archive and a macOS application bundle linked from the download page.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The site documents integrations or launchers for Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio Code, and a third-party NetBeans profiler.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Monitoring
- It monitors CPU usage, garbage collection, heap and metaspace memory, loaded classes, and running threads.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Plugin limit
- The site warns that some third-party plugins may not work because of changes introduced in VisualVM 2.0.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Plugins
- Official and third-party plugins extend VisualVM, with installation through its Plugins Center or from downloaded plugin files for offline use.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Profiling
- It provides sampling and instrumentation profilers for analyzing application performance and memory use.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- VisualVM integrates command line JDK tools with lightweight profiling for Java application troubleshooting in development and production.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Remote processes
- VisualVM can list remote Java applications when jstatd runs on the remote host, or connect to applications manually by JMX.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Security
- A Security plugin provides a GUI for configuring keystores, truststores, protocols, and ciphers for SSL/TLS connections.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Support
- Users can contact developers and the community through Gitter, send private feedback by email, or report bugs through the linked issue tracker.checked 29 Sep 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2008checked 28 Sep 2026
- License and maker
- The project is copyright Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates and is released under GPLv2 with the Classpath Exception.checked 29 Sep 2026
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