Software Alternatives & Startups

Process Explorer VS MxToolBox

Compare Process Explorer VS MxToolBox and see what are their differences

Process Explorer

The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you'l…

Rating
0 reviews
MxToolBox

All of your MX record, DNS, blacklist and SMTP diagnostics in one integrated tool.

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Process Explorer might be a bit more popular than MxToolBox. We know about 289 links to it since March 2021 and only 200 links to MxToolBox.

social mentions
289 vs 200
Monitoring Tools popularity
75% vs 25%
alternatives listed
159 vs 240+

Base details

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

Process Explorer
MxToolBox
Website learn.microsoft.com mxtoolbox.com
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Process Explorer 6 features
MxToolBox 5 features
  • Detailed System Information
    Process Explorer provides in-depth information about system processes, including detailed CPU and memory usage stats.
  • Hierarchical View
    It shows processes in a tree structure, making it easy to understand parent-child relationships between processes.
  • Advanced Diagnostic Capabilities
    The tool offers advanced features like DLL and handle viewing, allowing detailed investigation of system issues.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    It allows real-time monitoring of system performance, including CPU, GPU, and I/O activity, which is critical for diagnosing performance bottlenecks.
  • Integration with VirusTotal
    Process Explorer can integrate with VirusTotal to check the safety of running processes, adding an extra layer of security.
  • Free to Use
    Process Explorer is part of the Sysinternals suite, which is freely available for use, making it accessible for both individual users and organizations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    The extensive features and detailed information can be overwhelming for novice users who may find the interface complex to navigate.
  • Resource Intensive
    While generally lightweight, the comprehensive monitoring features can consume a noticeable amount of system resources, which might affect performance on older or less powerful systems.
  • Windows Only
    Process Explorer is designed specifically for Windows operating systems, limiting its use for those who work in cross-platform environments.
  • No Built-In Reporting
    The tool does not offer built-in reporting capabilities, requiring users to manually capture and document information.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its advanced features and detailed information, new users might face a steep learning curve before being able to fully utilize all its capabilities.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there are some resources available, the documentation can be sparse, making it difficult for users to find solutions to specific problems.
  • Ease of Use
    MxToolBox offers a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for users of all technical levels to conduct a variety of diagnostic tests.
  • Comprehensive Tools
    It provides a wide range of tools such as DNS lookup, email health check, blacklist check, and more, making it a one-stop solution for IT professionals.
  • Speed
    The platform delivers fast results, allowing users to quickly diagnose and address issues without lengthy wait times.
  • Free Tier
    MxToolBox offers a robust free tier of services that can handle basic diagnostics and checks, making it accessible for smaller businesses or individual users.
  • Detailed Reports
    The tool provides detailed reports that can be exported, which are beneficial for record-keeping and further analysis.

Possible disadvantages

  • Premium Costs
    Advanced features and extended monitoring options require a paid subscription, which can be expensive for small businesses or independent users.
  • Limited Customization
    The platform offers limited customization options for users to tailor reports and dashboards according to their specific needs.
  • Advertisement
    Free tier users may experience ads, which can be distracting and negatively impact the user experience.
  • Occasional Downtime
    Some users have reported occasional downtime or issues with service reliability, which can be problematic during critical troubleshooting.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, some of the more advanced features may require a learning curve for users who are not well-versed in IT diagnostics.

Analysis

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

Process Explorer
MxToolBox

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Process Explorer is generally regarded as a good and reliable tool by both system administrators and other IT professionals. It is frequently recommended for its depth of features, ease of use, and the detailed process information it provides.

Why this product is good

  • Process Explorer is considered a valuable tool because it offers comprehensive insights into system processes, threads, and resource usage. It provides detailed information about which files and directories individual processes have open, the DLLs they have loaded, and more. Its ability to offer real-time data and powerful searching capabilities makes it invaluable for troubleshooting and performance monitoring.

Recommended for

  • System administrators
  • IT professionals
  • Software developers
  • Anyone interested in detailed system diagnostics
  • Users troubleshooting application issues

Overall verdict

  • Yes, MxToolBox is considered a good and valuable resource for network diagnostics and email troubleshooting. Its robust set of tools and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice for both technical experts and those with less networking experience.

Why this product is good

  • MxToolBox is widely used and trusted by IT professionals for its comprehensive suite of online tools that assist with network diagnostics and troubleshooting. It offers services such as DNS lookup, blacklisting checks, SMTP diagnostics, and email server testing, which are essential in identifying and resolving network issues efficiently. The platform provides reliable information and results that aid in maintaining optimal network performance and email deliverability.

Recommended for

    MxToolBox is highly recommended for IT professionals, network administrators, email server administrators, and anyone responsible for maintaining the health and security of network systems. It is also beneficial for businesses of all sizes that rely on email communication and need to ensure their servers and domains are functioning correctly and not blacklisted.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Process Explorer 3 videos + Add
MxToolBox 1 video + Add

Sysinternals Process Explorer Review + download link and method

More videos

  • - Scan for Malware Using Process Explorer and Virus Total
  • - What Is?: Process Explorer?

Episode 201 - Tools, Tips and Tricks - MXToolbox.com

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
Process Explorer
MxToolBox
75% 75%
25% 25%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Process Explorer and MxToolBox. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Process Explorer 289 mentions
MxToolBox 200 mentions
  • Stats – macOS system monitor in your menu bar
    Unclear what you mean by programmable, but https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer is the bee's knees and you can set an option to have it take over taskmon.exe, launch on login, and put as many of the... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What tools do you recommend for working on Windows?
    Always put all your portable programs in the "A:\MyPC\Programs\" folder. Always put all your documents in the "A:\MyPC\Documents\" folder. Put driver files and runtime libraries in the "A:\MyPC\Install\" folder. For all three, feel free... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Hidden dependencies in Linux binaries.
    On windows, this is Dependency Walker versus ProcExp. Similar eye-goggling results. https://www.dependencywalker.com/ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

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  • Ask HN: Replacement for Rackspace SMTP Hosting?
    Made the switch to self-hosted https://mailu.io (on k8s) 2 years ago when Gandi announced the deprecation of their free plan. Happy after IP was off most blocklists, but setup was kinda rough - https://mxtoolbox.com is your friend. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • DKIM, SPF, SpamAssassin Email Validator
    I used these tools in the past: https://mxtoolbox.com/ https://www.mail-tester.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • The funny rules of SpamAssassin in 2023
    Suprised to not see https://mxtoolbox.com in this list too. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

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Alternatives to Process Explorer and MxToolBox

When comparing Process Explorer and MxToolBox, you can also consider the following products.