hw-probe vs iStat Menus
hw-probe
github.com
iStat Menus
bjango.comSide by side
| Figure | hw-probe | iStat Menus |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $9.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · System Information Software | 8.2 (#7) | 7.8 (#12) |
| Privacy | The project says it attempts to mask private information before upload, warns this can fail in edge cases, and uploads data over HTTPS. | The maker says the app has no ads, analytics or user tracking; its privacy policy says the app runs predominantly on the computer and does not store location or other identifiable data on its servers. |
| Purpose | hw-probe snapshots computer hardware and logs, checks device operability, and returns a permanent URL for viewing the probe. | iStat Menus monitors Mac system information from customizable menu bar items and detailed menus. |
Plans
iStat Menus
- Setapp subscription$9.99 a month
- Family LicensePrice not published
- Single LicensePrice not published
In their own words
hw-probe
hw-probe is a free hardware probing tool for Linux and BSD systems, aimed at debugging computer problems and managing hardware inventory. It captures a snapshot of hardware state and logs, then provides a permanent URL to view the probe. If a device lacks a driver, it can suggest a Linux kernel version or third-party driver using LKDDb data. Users can create an inventory ID and mark probes to locate their computers on Linux-Hardware.org. Its monitoring command schedules a daily cron probe and emails alerts about operating-system failures, configuration changes, and hardware degradation. Optional tests check graphics, drive read speed, CPU performance, and RAM. Installation options include AppImage, Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Live CD/USB, and native packages. Uploads use HTTPS; selected logs can be disabled, and private details are decorated before upload, though edge-case failures are acknowledged. MAC addresses and serial numbers are represented by prefixes of salted SHA-512 hashes. The tool is dual-licensed under LGPL-2.1-or-later and BSD-4-Clause. The Snap package runs in a sandbox with limited functionality.
iStat Menus
iStat Menus has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.