Side by side
AlwaysUp vs WinSW
Both stand on startup manager software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial Windows
AlwaysUp combines Windows service management with monitoring, restart rules, alerts, and scheduling. A trial is available, and individual licensing starts at $49.99, paid once for one PC.
Visit AlwaysUp Free plan Windows
WinSW provides service management and configuration for Windows executables, with logging and failure-handling options. Check the runtime requirements for version 3 and avoid Basic credentials over HTTP.
Visit WinSWThe facts
| AlwaysUp | WinSW | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 10 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | coretechnologies.com | winsw.github.io |
| On startup manager software | #20 of 30 | #16 of 30 |
AlwaysUp: what it does well
- Restarts applications after crashes, hangs, or high memory use.
- Supports executables, batch files, Java, and Python.
- Sends email alerts and reports to Windows Event Log.
- Free Web Service add-on offers browser and API control.
- Unrestricted 30-day trial is available.
What to know first
- Windows-only platform.
- No free plan is listed.
- Individual single-PC license costs $49.99, paid once.
WinSW: what it does well
- Can host any executable as a Windows service.
- Offers install, start, stop, and status commands.
- Supports log capture and rotation.
- Can download resources before launch.
- Free and MIT licensed.
What to know first
- Windows only; Unix systems are directed to daemon conventions.
- Requires an XML configuration file.
- Basic credentials over HTTP are sent in clear text.
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