Side by side

Dashboard vs Monitor Flows

Both stand on desktop widget software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Dashboard

Free plan Linux

Choose Dashboard if you use Linux and want a free, open-source desktop canvas that combines planning tools with system and log monitoring. Its runtime plugins and widget SDK suit users who want to extend the built-in set. Look elsewhere if you need a non-Linux platform or feed widgets.

Visit Dashboard

Monitor Flows

Free plan APIWindows

Monitor Flows offers a customizable widget workspace with a no-cost tier and paid options for broader access and multi-monitor use. Its current Windows-only support is an important constraint for readers on other operating systems.

Visit Monitor Flows

The facts

	Dashboard	Monitor Flows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Linux	API, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Not published	Pro: $3 a month
Plans published	None	3
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	duh-dashboard.github.io	monitorflows.com
On desktop widget software	#16 of 29	#12 of 29

Dashboard: what it does well

Free and open source under GPL-3.0.
Includes 12 built-in widgets for planning, weather, and monitoring.
Widget positions, sizes, and state persist across restarts.
Weather works without an API key.
Offers AppImage and sandboxed Flatpak releases.

What to know first

Linux is the only listed platform.
No feed widget is supported.

Monitor Flows: what it does well

Drag-and-drop editor arranges and resizes widgets.
Free plan has no time limit or card requirement.
Pro and Max support independent multi-monitor layouts.
FAQ says credentials and configurations stay local.
Max includes dedicated support with a stated 24-hour response.

What to know first

Currently supports Windows 10 and 11 only.
Free plan is limited to 15 core widgets.
macOS and Linux support are still being explored.

Alternatives to Dashboard Alternatives to Monitor Flows The whole list