PM2 vs Remote Process Explorer

PM2 is a daemon process manager for managing applications and keeping them online. PM2 Runtime is an open-source process manager; PM2 Plus adds monitoring for Node.js production applications. Runtime supports cluster mode, zero-downtime reloads, watch and restart, startup scripts, log management and memory-based reloads. For containers, pm2-runtime can run Node.js applications with process fallback, flow control, monitoring and source-map support. PM2 Plus lists a web monitoring interface, application overview, issue tracking, custom metrics, server health checks and Node.js V8 monitoring. Its alerts include email and Slack notifications, while Enterprise adds rule-based alerting. The AI Assistant connects Claude, Cursor and other MCP-compatible assistants to monitoring data through OAuth with a PM2.io account. Documentation covers Docker, cloud providers, Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Nginx and deployment workflows. Runtime costs nothing, and Plus costs $79 a month.

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.