bottom (btm)

bottom (btm) is a free, customizable terminal monitor for users who want live resource history and process control without leaving a shell. It is best for command-line-oriented administrators, developers, and power users on supported desktop systems. Choose it for broad, configurable monitoring at no cost; choose something else if you require an officially supported Android client or a conventional graphical interface.

Overview

bottom combines a live process view with graphs that show how a machine changes over time. CPU usage is plotted for each core and as an overall average, while memory and swap consumption, network traffic, and disk I/O are also tracked. This makes it useful for correlating a sluggish process with broader system activity instead of merely checking a snapshot.

The interface runs in a terminal and can be adjusted with command-line options or a configuration file. Themes, widget behavior, layout, and filtering are configurable, so a compact status screen and a detailed diagnostic layout are both possible. An htop-inspired basic mode reduces the initial complexity, and focus mode expands a selected widget to occupy the terminal. That flexibility rewards users comfortable with terminal configuration; readers wanting a fixed, mouse-first desktop dashboard will be better served elsewhere.

Key features

Graphs and time ranges

CPU, RAM, swap, network, and disk data are presented as time-based graphs. Network and disk displays support zooming the visible interval, which helps distinguish a short burst from a sustained trend. The graphs are particularly useful when investigating intermittent load or I/O rather than only current utilization.

Process management

The process widget displays process information and can sort and search it. Tree mode exposes parent-child relationships, useful when a service launches workers or when a process chain is difficult to untangle. Kill signals provide direct control from the monitor. A read-only option disables system-affecting actions such as stopping processes, making it suitable for observation-only sessions or shared operational workflows.

Additional widgets and customization

Widgets cover disk capacity and use, temperature sensors, and battery use in addition to the core resource graphs. Filtering and layout controls let you emphasize only the signals relevant to a particular machine. Installation is documented through package managers, Cargo, and pre-built release binaries, giving users several practical deployment routes.

Pricing

bottom costs free on its sole bottom plan. There is no free trial because the software is already free, and no seat, usage, or quota limits are stated. The plan includes the monitor, its widgets, process controls, and configuration options rather than separating capabilities into paid tiers. It is therefore a straightforward fit for personal use, development machines, and teams that can adopt a free tool without commercial support requirements.

Platforms

Official support covers Linux, macOS, and Windows, with architecture coverage varying by operating system. Installation can use a package manager, Cargo, or a pre-built release binary. Android and some other systems may run the software unofficially, but support and testing are limited there, so those platforms are a poor choice when dependable vendor-backed operation is required. For issues on officially supported systems, the project says it will fix problems where possible and directs users to troubleshooting resources, GitHub issues, and discussions.

Who it's for

Choose bottom if you work primarily in a terminal and need both historical resource graphs and immediate process actions. It suits developers diagnosing local performance, administrators checking desktop or server-like environments, and users who want to tailor a monitor to a particular terminal size or workflow. The read-only setting is valuable when monitoring should not permit intervention.

It is less suitable for users who need a polished graphical application, centralized multi-machine operations, or dependable official Android support. Its configuration depth is an advantage for people willing to tune a command-line tool, but unnecessary overhead for anyone seeking a ready-made dashboard.

Pros and cons

Pro: CPU, memory, swap, network, and disk history appear together, helping diagnose trends rather than isolated readings.

Pro: Sorting, searching, tree mode, and kill signals make the process view useful for investigation and intervention.

Pro: Themes, layouts, filters, widget behavior, basic mode, and focus mode support different monitoring styles.

Pro: The complete product is free, with no stated usage or seat caps.

Con: The terminal-first interface will not suit readers who expect a conventional graphical monitor.

Con: Android and other unofficial platforms have limited testing and support.

Con: Architecture support differs by operating system, so installation requires checking the target system.

Alternatives

For a process manager with a real-time web interface and API-oriented deployment, choose PM2; its Runtime plan is free, while Plus costs $79 a month for essential monitoring. Windows users wanting process-priority and automation tooling can consider Process Lasso, which offers a free plan and paid single-PC subscriptions. Glances is a free, open-source monitor spanning desktop, web, API, self-hosted, and Android contexts, though optional features require extra dependencies. Monit is a free AGPL-licensed option for Linux, macOS, and self-hosted setups. Supervisor is another free choice for process supervision across Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and API environments. Windows users wanting session history and anomaly detection can look at Ambih Monitor, whose Free plan keeps five sessions per project and whose Pro plan costs $10 a month billed annually. OpenProcMon is a free MIT-licensed, 64-bit Windows monitor whose live capture requires Administrator privileges. For commercial Windows use, Remote Process Explorer offers a free personal license and a 149.95 USD one-time business license.

Verdict

bottom is the right choice for terminal users who want one free tool for live graphs, process inspection, and configurable widgets on Linux, macOS, or Windows. Its breadth and read-only safety option are compelling without a subscription. Look elsewhere if you need a graphical dashboard, centralized service management, or officially supported Android operation.