Freedom251 › Process Monitoring Software
atop
What atop is
atop is a free, GPL-licensed performance monitor for Linux, presented in a full-screen, character-based interface. At regular intervals it reports CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity for the system, along with CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics for processes and threads. It also records resource consumption for processes that finish during a monitoring interval.
For longer-term analysis, atop can store compressed raw counters; daily log files are preserved for 28 days by default. The atopsar command generates system activity reports from atop logs. At the cgroup v2 level, atop reports CPU, memory, and disk I/O utilization and pressure. The optional netatop kernel module adds TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics per process and thread. Display options include character-based bar graphs or detailed text, and columns adjust to terminal width. The download page offers a source archive and an x86_64 RPM for version 2.13.0, with only a limited number of distribution-specific packages. The software is described as experimental and offered as-is with limited guarantees and liability.
Who it suits
atop suits Linux users who need regular system and process resource reports, including activity from processes that have ended. Its logs and reporting command also support longer-term analysis.
What it does well
- Reports CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity.
- Captures resource use for processes that finish during an interval.
- Keeps daily logs for 28 days by default.
- Reports cgroup v2 utilization and pressure.
- Free and GPL-licensed.
What to know first
- The download page lists only a limited selection of distribution-specific packages.
- The software is described as experimental and offered as-is.
- Per-process network statistics require the optional netatop kernel module.
Limits
The free plan is GPL-licensed and for Linux. The download page lists a source archive and an x86_64 RPM for version 2.13.0, with only a limited number of distro-specific packages.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| atop | GPL-licensed · Linux performance monitor | Free |
As atoptool.nl lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://www.atoptool.nl/.
- Choose the source archive or x86_64 RPM package for version 2.13.0, if suitable for your system.
- Use atop to view recurring system and process activity.
- Use atopsar to generate system activity reports from atop log files.
Verdict
atop provides detailed Linux resource monitoring and log-based reports, including records for finished processes. Check package availability for your distribution and note the software’s experimental, as-is status.
Questions
Is atop free?
Yes. The listed atop plan is free and is GPL-licensed.
What platform does atop support?
Linux.
Can atop keep activity logs?
Yes. It can store compressed raw counters, and daily log files are preserved for 28 days by default.
How can I generate reports from atop logs?
The atopsar command generates system activity reports from atop log files.
What license does atop use?
The download page identifies its license as GPL.
Facts from atop's own pages
- Cgroups
- Atop reports CPU, memory, and disk I/O utilization and pressure values at cgroup v2 level. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Display options
- Atop can display utilization as character-based bar graphs or detailed text, and dynamically adds or removes columns as the terminal width changes. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Download formats
- The download page lists a source archive and an x86_64 RPM package for version 2.13.0, and says only a limited number of distro-specific packages are available there. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Finished processes
- Atop reports resource consumption by processes that finished during the monitoring interval. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maintainer lectures a four-day Linux Performance Analysis and Tuning training course that covers atop and related tools. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- License and warranty
- The download page identifies the license as GPL and says the software is offered as is, with limited guarantees and liability; it also disclaims warranty for data loss or damage and calls the software experimental. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Long-term logs
- Atop can store compressed raw counters for long-term analysis, and daily log files are preserved for 28 days by default. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Optional network module
- The optional netatop kernel module adds TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics per process and thread. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Atop is an ASCII full-screen performance monitor for Linux that reports system and process activity. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Reports
- The atopsar command generates system activity reports from atop log files. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Resource monitoring
- At regular intervals it reports CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity at system level, along with CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics for processes and threads. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site provides a contact form for the maintainer, Gerlof Langeveld. · atoptool.nl, 8 Oct 2026
Where atop stands on Freedom251
- Process Monitoring Software#8 of 26