GKrellM vs Monitor Flows

GKrellM is a free system-monitoring program that stacks multiple readings in one interface and supports themes matching a window manager, GTK or another theme. Its built-in monitors cover CPU, processes, disks, network interfaces, memory, swap, filesystems, uptime and internet connections. When supported by the system’s hardware and software, temperature, fan and voltage monitors can show configurable warnings and alarms. A mailbox monitor checks mbox, maildir, MH, POP3 and IMAP mailboxes, and can launch a mail reader or mail-checking program. GKrellM can also run as a client and collect data from a gkrellmd server on a remote machine. Both the program and server support plugins for specialized monitors. Builds or compilation options are listed for Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, NetBSD, OpenBSD and Windows. GKrellM requires GTK, GDK and GLib; the server requires GLib and can be installed without GTK or X libraries. It is released under the GNU General Public License at no cost.

Monitor Flows provides customizable desktop widgets that stay visible while users switch between apps. Its library has more than 50 widgets across nine categories, with examples including weather forecasts, terminal emulators, color pickers, and 3D globes. A drag-and-drop editor arranges and resizes widgets, while settings adjust opacity, blur, accent colors, themes, and backgrounds. Video can keep playing, radio can keep streaming, and web pages can stay loaded as users switch pages. The listed integrations include Spotify, Google Assistant, Philips Hue, Discord, YouTube, GitHub, Twitch, Steam, Slack, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, WLED, and OpenWeather. The app supports Windows 10 and 11, including Home and Pro editions; macOS and Linux support are being explored for the 2026 roadmap. Free includes 15 core widgets, three pages, and five themes, with no time limit or credit card. Pro costs $3 a month; Max costs $49 a year. The FAQ says credentials and configurations are stored locally and that the product collects no telemetry, usage analytics, or personal information.