Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Windows Task Manager VS GNOME System Monitor

Compare Windows Task Manager VS GNOME System Monitor and see what are their differences

Windows Task Manager logo Windows Task Manager

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GNOME System Monitor logo GNOME System Monitor

System Monitor is a tool to manage running processes and monitor system resources.
  • Windows Task Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02
  • GNOME System Monitor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-07

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.

GNOME System Monitor features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    GNOME System Monitor provides an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that allows both novice and advanced users to navigate and monitor system performance effortlessly.
  • Real-time Monitoring
    The application offers real-time updates on system resources such as CPU, memory, swap, and network usage, enabling users to stay informed about their system's performance.
  • Interactive Process Management
    Users can easily view, prioritize, or terminate processes directly from the interface, offering a convenient way to manage system tasks.
  • Resource Efficiency
    GNOME System Monitor itself utilizes minimal system resources, ensuring it does not burden the system while running in the background.
  • Integration with GNOME Desktop
    The tool is well-integrated with the GNOME desktop environment, providing a seamless and consistent user experience for those using GNOME.

Possible disadvantages of GNOME System Monitor

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced monitoring tools, GNOME System Monitor may lack certain features, such as in-depth hardware diagnostics or advanced logging capabilities.
  • Minimal Customization
    The application offers limited customization options, which might not satisfy power users who prefer to tailor their monitoring tools extensively.
  • GNOME Dependency
    As it is designed for the GNOME desktop environment, users of other desktop environments may experience reduced integration or need additional dependencies.
  • Basic Graphical Representation
    The graphical representation of data, while adequate for basic monitoring, may not provide the level of detail and customization required by advanced users.
  • No Remote Monitoring
    GNOME System Monitor lacks built-in support for remote monitoring, which could be a drawback for system administrators managing multiple machines remotely.

Analysis of Windows Task Manager

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Windows Task Manager is generally considered a good utility for both everyday users and IT professionals. It's a built-in feature of the Windows operating system, making it easily accessible and trustworthy. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features make it an essential tool for system diagnostics and performance monitoring.

Why this product is good

  • Windows Task Manager is a reliable tool provided by Microsoft that allows users to monitor system performance, manage startup programs, and troubleshoot applications that are not responding. It provides detailed information on CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, helping users optimize their system's performance.

Recommended for

  • Users who want to monitor their computer's performance.
  • Individuals looking to troubleshoot unresponsive applications.
  • Anyone needing to manage Windows startup programs.
  • IT professionals seeking a quick overview of system resource allocation.

Analysis of GNOME System Monitor

Overall verdict

  • Good

Why this product is good

  • GNOME System Monitor is a user-friendly process viewer and system monitor tool that integrates well with the GNOME desktop environment. It provides an intuitive interface for users to view and manage running processes, monitor system resource usage such as CPU and memory, and track system performance over time. The simplicity and elegance of its design make it accessible to both beginners and experienced users alike.

Recommended for

  • GNOME desktop users
  • Linux users seeking a graphical system monitoring tool
  • Users who prefer a simple and intuitive interface
  • Those who need basic process management capabilities

Windows Task Manager videos

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GNOME System Monitor videos

Fantastic GNOME System Monitor Tray - Vitals

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to install Gnome System Monitor on Ubuntu

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Windows Task Manager and GNOME System Monitor)
Monitoring Tools
67 67%
33% 33
Command Line Tools
67 67%
33% 33
Performance Monitoring
66 66%
34% 34
Log Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Windows Task Manager seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 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.

Windows Task Manager mentions (11)

  • 10 Microsoft Word AI Hacks That Will Transform Your Work in 2025
    Note: Copilot isn’t free. To use it, you’ll need an active Microsoft 365 subscription and the Copilot add-on (officially called Copilot for Microsoft 365). - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • 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 / 9 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
View more

GNOME System Monitor mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of GNOME System Monitor yet. Tracking of GNOME System Monitor recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Windows Task Manager and GNOME System Monitor, you can also consider the following products

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.

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…

glances system monitoring - Glances is a cross-platform system monitoring tool written in Python. Written in Python, Glances will run on almost any plaftorm : GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, OS X and Windows.

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

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

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