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Glances vs Iotop

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

Glances icon
Glances
Iotop icon
Iotop

Glances vs Iotop: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

Glances: Glances is an open source, cross-platform system monitoring tool. It provides an overview of system resources like CPU, memory, disks, network, and processes in a clean and intuitive interface.

Iotop: Iotop is a Linux program that provides detailed monitoring of disk I/O usage by processes. It shows a table of current I/O usage with columns for process IDs, process names, type of I/O, bandwidth used, and more.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature Glances Iotop
Sugggest Score — —
Category System & Hardware System & Hardware
Pricing Open Source Open Source

Product Overview

Glances
Glances

Description: Glances is an open source, cross-platform system monitoring tool. It provides an overview of system resources like CPU, memory, disks, network, and processes in a clean and intuitive interface.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Iotop
Iotop

Description: Iotop is a Linux program that provides detailed monitoring of disk I/O usage by processes. It shows a table of current I/O usage with columns for process IDs, process names, type of I/O, bandwidth used, and more.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Key Features Comparison

Glances
Glances Features
  • Real-time monitoring of CPU, memory, disk I/O, network, processes
  • Web interface for remote monitoring
  • Alerts and notifications
  • Support for major operating systems like Linux, Windows, macOS
  • Plugin architecture for extensibility
  • CLI and API for integration with other tools
Iotop
Iotop Features
  • Monitors disk I/O usage in real time
  • Displays table of processes sorted by I/O usage
  • Shows bandwidth used, I/O type (read/write), process ID, process name
  • Interactive terminal based UI
  • Color coded output for easy identification of high I/O processes

Pros & Cons Analysis

Glances
Glances

Pros

  • Lightweight and low resource usage
  • Easy to install and configure
  • Intuitive UI with different views
  • Extensive metrics for system resources
  • Open source and free

Cons

  • Limited historical data
  • No log aggregation or search
  • Less customizable than other tools
  • Steep learning curve for advanced features
Iotop
Iotop

Pros

  • Lightweight and low overhead
  • Easy to use terminal interface
  • Helps identify processes causing disk I/O bottlenecks
  • Open source and free

Cons

  • Terminal based only, no GUI available
  • Limited to monitoring disk I/O only
  • Requires some Linux/Unix command line knowledge to use effectively

Pricing Comparison

Glances
Glances
  • Open Source
Iotop
Iotop
  • Open Source

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Learn More About Each Product

Glances
Glances
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →
Iotop
Iotop
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →

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