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psutil VS Windows Task Manager

Compare psutil VS Windows Task Manager and see what are their differences

psutil logo psutil

psutil is a module providing an interface for retrieving information on all running processes and...

Windows Task Manager logo Windows Task Manager

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  • psutil Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • Windows Task Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02

psutil features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Psutil is designed to work across different operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, providing a unified API for system monitoring.
  • Comprehensive Functionality
    It offers a wide range of features for monitoring system performance metrics such as CPU usage, memory, disks, network, and system sensors.
  • Active Maintenance and Support
    Psutil is actively maintained with regular updates and bug fixes, ensuring that it remains reliable and up-to-date with new system metrics and features.
  • Well-Documented
    The library comes with extensive documentation and examples, making it easier for developers to integrate and utilize its functionalities.
  • Pythonic API
    Psutil provides a clear and Pythonic interface, allowing Python developers to easily integrate system monitoring capabilities into their applications.

Possible disadvantages of psutil

  • Resource Intensive
    While providing extensive monitoring capabilities, psutil can be resource-intensive, potentially impacting system performance when monitoring frequently or on resource-constrained systems.
  • Platform-Specific Limitations
    Some functionality may not be available on all platforms, requiring platform-specific considerations or workarounds in application development.
  • Requires Administrative Privileges
    Certain metrics and functionalities may require administrative privileges, potentially limiting usage in restricted environments or without proper permissions.
  • Version Compatibility
    There may be compatibility issues between different versions of psutil and Python, requiring careful management of dependencies in larger projects.

Windows Task Manager features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    The Windows Task Manager has an intuitive interface that is easy for users to navigate, offering straightforward access to common tasks and system monitoring.
  • Performance Monitoring
    Provides real-time data on CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, helping users to diagnose system performance issues efficiently.
  • Process Management
    Allows users to view, start, and end processes conveniently. This is useful for terminating unresponsive applications and managing system resources.
  • Startup Program Management
    Enables users to manage which programs start up with Windows, allowing for faster boot times and better control over system performance.
  • Detailed Information
    Provides in-depth details about running processes, including their impact on system performance, resource usage, and associated hardware usage.

Possible disadvantages of Windows Task Manager

  • Limited Functionality
    While helpful for basic tasks, it lacks advanced features found in more robust system monitoring tools, such as detailed application performance history and custom alerts.
  • Potential for Misuse
    Inexperienced users might accidentally terminate vital system processes, leading to system instability or crashes.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Displays detailed information about running processes and applications, which could be misused if accessed by unauthorized users.
  • Resource Overhead
    While minimal, running the Task Manager itself consumes system resources which, on very low-end hardware, might have an impact.
  • Manual Interventions
    Requires manual interventions for process management and does not offer automated solutions for recurring issues or optimizations.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to psutil and Windows Task Manager)
Monitoring Tools
36 36%
64% 64
Command Line Tools
29 29%
71% 71
Performance Monitoring
26 26%
74% 74
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Windows Task Manager should be more popular than psutil. It has been mentiond 10 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.

psutil mentions (1)

  • Profiling Python code with memory_profiler
    It uses the psutil library (or can use tracemalloc or posix) to access process information in a cross platform way, so it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

Windows Task Manager mentions (10)

  • How economical is your local Taco Bell?
    Do operating system accessibility controls help you distinguish the colors? For example, both Windows 10/11 and MacOS have "color filters". https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/ windows/use-color-filters-in-windows-43893e44 b8b3-2e27-1a29-b0c15ef0e5ce https://support.apple.com/ guide/mac-help/change-display-colors-easier-onscreen mchl11ddd4b3/mac. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Microsoft basically stole my game.
    If you have migrated your Mojang/Minecraft account to a Microsoft account and need assistance, please contact Microsoft Support. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Can't play Minecraft Java since Today
    The error also gave a link to a form if I have problems. I filled the form out and send it. I got an answer back a few seconds later that mojang doesn't do the support anymore and I should go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Powershell.exe Virus
    End powershell.exe and go the startup tab of task manager and see if it starts up there if it keeps happening call Microsoft support. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • block Windows 11 KB's for patch management
    You can find more details on their support site here; https://support.microsoft.com/en-us. Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing psutil and Windows Task Manager, you can also consider the following products

nmon - This systems administrator, tuner, benchmark tool gives you a huge amount of important performance...

htop - htop - an interactive process viewer for Unix. This is htop, an interactive process viewer for Unix systems. It is a text-mode application (for console or X terminals) and requires ncurses. Latest release: htop 2.

iftop - iftop does for network usage what top(1) does for CPU usage.

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…

gtop - System monitoring dashboard for terminal

Process Monitor - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.