Btop vs htop: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Btop and htop side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Btop
A fast and comprehensive resource monitor for Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD.
Best for you if:
- • You want visually appealing and interactive terminal interface
htop
An interactive, cross-platform process viewer for console and X terminals.
Best for you if:
- • You want more user-friendly and interactive than 'top'
| At a Glance | Btop | htop |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Monitoring Terminal Tools | Monitoring Terminal Tools |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Btop or htop?
Choose Btop if
- You want visually appealing and interactive terminal interface
- You want comprehensive resource monitoring capabilities
Choose htop if
- You want more user-friendly and interactive than 'top'
- You want provides a clear visual overview of system resources
In-Depth Analysis
Btop
A fast and comprehensive resource monitor for Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD.
Btop's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Visually appealing and interactive terminal interface
- Pro: Comprehensive resource monitoring capabilities
- Pro: Supports multiple operating systems
- Pro: Includes GPU monitoring on Linux
- Pro: Highly customizable with themes and configuration options
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires compilation for some advanced features like GPU monitoring on certain platforms
- Con: No official binaries for FreeBSD provided yet (as of last update)
- Con: AI-generated PRs are subject to strict guidelines and potential dismissal
Key features
htop
An interactive, cross-platform process viewer for console and X terminals.
Strengths
- Pro: More user-friendly and interactive than 'top'
- Pro: Provides a clear visual overview of system resources
- Pro: Supports a wide range of operating systems
- Pro: Allows direct process manipulation
- Pro: Open-source and free to use
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires ncurses library
- Con: Primarily a command-line tool, may not appeal to GUI-only users
Key features
Plans and prices: Btop vs htop
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Btop |
| github.com/aristocratos/btop read Oct 10, 2026 |
| htop | No plan prices on file | htop.dev |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Btop pricing and htop pricing.
Key Takeaways
Btop
- Choose if you want a fast and comprehensive resource monitor for Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD
htop
- Choose if you want an interactive, cross-platform process viewer for console and X terminals
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Btop and htop compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Both have a free plan.
What are Btop and htop used for?
Btop: A fast and comprehensive resource monitor for Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD. htop: An interactive, cross-platform process viewer for console and X terminals.
What does Btop cost vs htop?
Btop is free. htop is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 10, 2026.
What's the main difference between Btop and htop?
Btop's main strength: visually appealing and interactive terminal interface. htop's main strength: more user-friendly and interactive than 'top'.