Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

iWatch VS FSMonitor

Compare iWatch VS FSMonitor and see what are their differences

iWatch logo iWatch

iWatch is a realtime filesystem monitoring program.

FSMonitor logo FSMonitor

FSMonitor is a macOS app that monitors all changes in the file system, including file creation...
  • iWatch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-15
  • FSMonitor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-02

iWatch features and specs

  • Open Source
    iWatch is an open-source project, meaning that the source code is available for modification and customization by anyone, fostering community involvement and innovation.
  • Real-time Monitoring
    It provides real-time monitoring of files and directories, allowing users to immediately detect and respond to changes.
  • Configurable
    Highly configurable with various options to suit different monitoring needs, including the ability to specify which files or directories to watch and what kind of changes to monitor.
  • Email Alerts
    Supports sending email alerts when changes are detected, ensuring timely notification of important events.

Possible disadvantages of iWatch

  • Limited Platform Support
    Primarily designed for Linux systems and may not be compatible or available on Windows or macOS without additional setup or compatibility layers.
  • Potential Complexity
    Configuring iWatch for specific use cases can be complex, requiring a certain level of technical knowledge to set up effectively.
  • Potential Resource Usage
    Depending on the configuration and the number of files or directories being monitored, iWatch can consume significant system resources.
  • User Interface
    Lacks a graphical user interface, making it less approachable for users who prefer not to work with command-line tools.

FSMonitor features and specs

  • Real-time Monitoring
    FSMonitor provides real-time monitoring of file system changes, allowing users to quickly detect and respond to modifications.
  • Detailed File Information
    The tool offers comprehensive insights into file attributes such as size, path, and type, which can help in effective file management.
  • Cross-platform Support
    FSMonitor is available on multiple operating systems, providing flexibility and convenience for users working in diverse environments.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Customizable Alerts
    Users can set up customizable alerts to receive notifications of specific file system events, enhancing proactive management capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of FSMonitor

  • Resource Intensive
    The constant monitoring can be resource-heavy, potentially impacting system performance, especially on older hardware.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, some advanced features may require a learning curve for full utilization.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of FSMonitor has limited capabilities, prompting users to opt for the paid version to access all features.
  • Potential for Information Overload
    With extensive monitoring capabilities, users may encounter an overwhelming amount of information, making it challenging to identify critical alerts.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with certain file systems or configurations, which could hinder optimal functioning on specific setups.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iWatch and FSMonitor)
Note Taking
44 44%
56% 56
Image Optimisation
53 53%
47% 47
Computer Monitoring Software
Monitoring Tools
44 44%
56% 56

User comments

Share your experience with using iWatch and FSMonitor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FSMonitor should be more popular than iWatch. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

iWatch mentions (1)

  • I made a UNIX-style program to run commands every time a file is updated!
    There's also iWatch which has been around forever, though maybe it's dead. I see Ubuntu 18.04 has man pages anyway. Source: over 2 years ago

FSMonitor mentions (6)

  • Mac Power Users 690: Better Touch Tool with Andreas Hegenberg
    Links and Show Notes:More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segmentsSubmit Feedbackfolivora.ai - Great Tools for your Mac!iPhone Praktikum 2009GitHub - quicklywilliam/multiclutch: Customization App for Macbooks with MultiTouch supportHopperFSMonitorProxyman · Native, Modern Web Debugging Proxy · Inspect network traffic from Mac, iOS, Android devices with easeCharles Web Debugging Proxy • HTTP... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Sloth – A Mac app that shows all open files, directories, sockets, etc.
    FSMonitor[0] is similar to the old FileMon[1] but for macOS. In the default tree view, as new data is written, the entries are highlighted and sort of throb, so it's easy to track what's going on. [0] https://fsmonitor.com/ [1] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/filemon. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • App wants to make changes
    They're hard to find these days for later versions of macOS, but you could try a file monitor so you can see what files the app is making changes to. You could try the free trial of FSMonitor. I'm just not sure how much you can do with the free trial though. Or look on GitHub to see if someone has scripted something similar. Source: over 2 years ago
  • An app to find out which app created a file/folder?
    Maybe FSMonitor can help if you set it to watch the parent folder. Source: over 3 years ago
  • The orange dot appears while on the lock screen but goes away right after I login. Does this happen for anyone else? I'm starting to think that a hidden process is using the microphone
    You can use something like FSMonitor to watch/analyze which files are being touched while the orange dot is on. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing iWatch and FSMonitor, you can also consider the following products

WatchDirectory - WatchDirectory monitors a file system directory and performs tasks when certain conditions are met.

DiskPulse - DiskPulse is a real-time disk change monitoring solution allowing one to monitor one or more disks...

DaemonFS - DaemonFS is a real time file monitoring software.

Directory Monitor - Monitor and detect who is making changes to your directories and network shares in real-time.

HDD Profiler - HDD-Profiler is a powerful HDD (Hard-Disk-Drive) profiling utility that will inform you which...

Free folder monitor - Free file monitor software - free file monitor to record the system changes in real-time, investigating exactly what files/folders have been altered, created or removed.