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lsof VS iStat Menus

Compare lsof VS iStat Menus and see what are their differences

l
lsof

Lsof lists open files for running UNIX processes. It is a

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
iStat Menus

"An advanced Mac system monitor for your menubar."

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
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Which is more popular?

Based on our record, iStat Menus seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 54 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 54
Command Line Tools popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
22 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

l
lsof
iStat Menus
Website people.freebsd.org bjango.com
Listed in
Monitoring Tools Command Line Tools Performance Monitoring Accounting +1
Monitoring Tools Log Management Error Tracking Mac Tools +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

l
lsof 0 features
iStat Menus 5 features

No features have been listed yet.

  • Comprehensive System Monitoring
    iStat Menus offers detailed monitoring of numerous system metrics, including CPU, GPU, memory, network, disk usage, and sensors. This allows for thorough understanding and management of system performance.
  • Customizable Menubar Icons
    Users can customize the icons and data displayed in the menu bar, tailoring the tool to show only the metrics that are important to them.
  • Historical Data
    The app stores historical data over time, enabling users to track performance trends and identify issues that may develop gradually.
  • Alerts and Notifications
    Users can set up custom alerts for various metrics, such as CPU temperature or network status, providing proactive notifications for potential problems.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible even for users who may not be highly technical.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    iStat Menus is a paid application, which could be a con for users looking for a free alternative. The cost might not justify the features for casual users.
  • Resource Usage
    Although it is designed to monitor system performance, iStat Menus itself consumes system resources, which could be a downside, especially for users with older or less powerful machines.
  • Complexity
    While it offers a lot of data, the wealth of information can be overwhelming for users who are not familiar with technical details or system monitoring.
  • Limited Technical Support
    Technical support and comprehensive documentation can be somewhat limited, potentially posing a challenge for users who encounter problems or have intricate questions.
  • Potential Privacy Concerns
    As with any system monitoring tool, there could be concerns about the privacy and security of the data being monitored and collected, particularly for sensitive user information.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

l
lsof
iStat Menus

Overall verdict

  • lsof (List Open Files) is a mature, battle-tested Unix/Linux utility that reliably reveals which files, sockets, and resources are opened by processes, making it an indispensable diagnostic tool for system administrators and developers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides comprehensive visibility into open files, network sockets, pipes, and devices tied to running processes
  • Extremely useful for troubleshooting 'device busy' errors, port conflicts, and locating processes holding onto deleted files
  • Highly portable across many Unix-like systems including FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, and Solaris
  • Long history of stable, well-maintained releases with extensive documentation and community support
  • Powerful filtering options let you query by user, process, port, file, or network connection

Recommended for

  • System administrators diagnosing resource and file-locking issues
  • Developers debugging network connections and socket usage
  • Security professionals investigating suspicious process activity and open network ports
  • Anyone needing to identify which process is using a specific file, directory, or port before unmounting or killing

Overall verdict

  • Yes, iStat Menus is generally considered to be a good application.

Why this product is good

  • iStat Menus is highly regarded because it provides detailed insights into the performance of Mac systems, offering real-time and customizable monitoring of various system metrics such as CPU and GPU usage, temperature sensors, fan speeds, memory, network activity, and more. Its user-friendly interface and range of features make it a valuable tool for users who need or want detailed system information.

Recommended for

  • Tech enthusiasts who want in-depth data about their Mac's performance.
  • IT professionals and system administrators who need to monitor system performance closely.
  • Developers who want to optimize their development environment.
  • Gamers who need to keep an eye on system resources and temperatures.
  • Mac users experiencing performance issues and looking to diagnose potential causes.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

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lsof 2 videos + Add
iStat Menus 3 videos + Add

8 Basic lsof Commands Every Sysadmin Needs to Know

More videos

  • - HakTip - Network monitoring in Linux with lsof

iStat Menus 6 Review: Best Mac Power User App

More videos

  • - iStat Menus 6 for Mac Review
  • - iStat Menus 6 - Best macOS System Monitor - Tutorial

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
l
lsof
iStat Menus
100% 100%
Command Line Tools
0% 0%
4% 4%
Monitoring Tools
96% 96%
100% 100%
Performance Monitoring
0% 0%
0% 0%
Log Management
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using lsof and iStat Menus. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

l
lsof no reviews yet
iStat Menus no reviews yet

We have no reviews of lsof yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

l
lsof 0 mentions
iStat Menus 54 mentions

Tracking lsof since Mar 2021.

  • Stats – macOS system monitor in your menu bar
    I've been for many years a happily paying customer of iStat Menus [1], from which this seem to be the heavily inspired of. [1] https://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • A collection of useful Mac Apps
    iStat Menus - Price: $14.99 (one-time purchase) Advanced system monitor for macOS that displays real-time CPU, GPU, and network usage. Source: about 3 years ago
  • HELP PLEASE: MAC AIR ULTRA SLOW CPU
    iStat Menus has been around a long time and is very reliable. I've used this for many, many years on numerous different Mac models, and it's top-notch. It displays all sorts of system statistics in the menu bar and lets you define custom... Source: about 3 years ago

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Alternatives to lsof and iStat Menus

When comparing lsof and iStat Menus, you can also consider the following products.

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