AlwaysUp vs Corionis Service Manager.NET

AlwaysUp runs applications as Windows Services so they can start at boot and keep running without a user logged in. It supports executables, batch files, Java applications, Python scripts and other application types. Monitoring can trigger restarts if an application crashes, hangs or uses too much memory; email alerts and Windows Event Log reporting provide activity details. Scheduling options include application restarts and computer reboots, alongside custom sanity checks and automation for dialogs and forms. The maker lists compatibility guides for more than 160 applications, including Dropbox, Google Drive for desktop and Plex Media Server. The current release supports Windows 11 and 10, and Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016; earlier releases are available for some older versions. The maker says core functionality needs no internet access, configuration stays local, and installations do not transmit personal data or telemetry. A free Web Service add-on provides browser or HTTP API control, with HTTPS support. An unrestricted 30-day trial is available. An individual single-PC license costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase; additional volume and site license options are listed.

Corionis Service Manager.NET (CSM) is a free Windows tray application for monitoring and managing Windows services chosen by the user. It can start or stop selected services and change their startup type. When a monitored service changes state, CSM displays a notification and logs it; file logging is optional. Users can reorder the service list by dragging items and edit the names displayed in the application. An optional updater can be set to check daily, weekly, or monthly. CSM installs for the current user, so each user on a system may have a separate copy. Monitoring works without administrator privileges, but service management controls are disabled unless those privileges are available. The maker says it was tested on Windows 7 through Windows Server 2016, supports 32-bit and 64-bit systems, and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2. This version is a complete rewrite of the original, written in Microsoft C# and .NET. The release is MIT licensed and provided without warranty or guarantee. There is no restart button because the application cannot accurately determine when a service has finished shutting down and is safe to start again.