atop vs Remote Process Explorer

atop is a free, GPL-licensed performance monitor for Linux. It uses a full-screen ASCII interface to report system and process activity at regular intervals. System-level views cover CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity. Process and thread views include CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics, including consumption by processes that finish during the interval. atop can save compressed raw counters for longer-term analysis, preserving daily logs for 28 days by default. The atopsar command turns those logs into system activity reports. It also reports CPU, memory, disk I/O utilization, and pressure for cgroup v2. An optional netatop kernel module adds per-process and per-thread TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics. Displays can use bar graphs or detailed text, with columns adjusting to terminal width. Downloads list source and x86_64 RPM packages for version 2.13.0.

Remote Process Explorer manages and monitors processes on local and remote Windows computers in real time. It can stop processes, start new ones, change priorities, and shut down or restart remote computers. Process details include process and parent IDs, CPU and memory use, priority, handles and threads, with running processes displayed as a tree. Computer management features include groups, on/off status, automatic list refresh, an Add Computers Wizard and separate accounts for each computer. The maker says remote computers need no additional software because the program uses built-in operating system functions. It can be downloaded and run on a user's own network without registration. The free Personal License is for non-commercial use on one computer and excludes support and maintenance. The Business License costs $149.95 as a one-time purchase for one machine; the Corporate License costs $2,999.95 as a one-time purchase for unlimited installations within one organization. Paid licenses are perpetual and include one year of updates and support, with optional renewal afterward. Listed platforms include Windows 10, 11 and several Windows Server versions through 2025.