Beszel vs GlassWire
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Beszel is a free, open-source server monitoring hub built in Go for a tiny resource footprint, with an agent that uses only about 10-15MB of RAM per monitored system. The hub, built on PocketBase, gives a central dashboard for viewing CPU, memory, disk, network, and temperature history, while agents communicate over a minimal SSH connection with no need to expose systems publicly. It tracks Docker and Podman container resource usage individually, sends configurable alerts for CPU, memory, disk, bandwidth, temperature, and status changes, supports multi-user access with OAuth/OIDC login, and includes automatic backups plus a REST API out of the box.
GlassWire is a network monitoring and personal firewall application for Windows and Android that visualizes current and past network activity to help users spot malware, bandwidth hogs, and unfamiliar devices on their network. Its firewall includes an ask-to-connect mode that lets users approve or deny individual apps' network access, alongside a network time machine for reviewing historical connections. GlassWire also tracks data usage across devices and can alert users before they exceed set data limits, while its network scanner flags new or unknown devices joining a WiFi network. Over 53 million downloads have been recorded for the Windows and Android apps combined.
- Extremely low resource footprint, runs comfortably on a Raspberry Pi
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Combines host and per-container Docker/Podman metrics in one dashboard
- Built-in REST API and automatic backups included by default
- Combines network monitoring and firewall in one lightweight app
- Very affordable premium pricing at $2.99/month
- Visual, easy-to-understand traffic graphs
- Available on both Windows and Android
- Primarily designed for Linux hosts; Windows support relies on community forks
- Smaller ecosystem and plugin library than established tools like Zabbix or Netdata
- Alerting is simpler and less feature-rich than dedicated enterprise monitoring platforms
- Free tier limits network history to just 24 hours
- Windows and Android only, no Mac or Linux support
- Advanced threat detection features require Premium
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBeszel is a free, self‑hosted server and container monitor ideal for Linux homelabs, while GlassWire is a paid, visual network‑traffic and firewall app for Windows/Android users.
Key differences
- •Deployment model: Beszel is self‑hosted; GlassWire runs as a desktop application.
- •Scope of monitoring: Beszel tracks host‑level CPU, memory, disk, network and per‑container metrics; GlassWire focuses on network traffic and firewall on a single device.
- •Platform support: Beszel runs on Linux (Windows via community forks); GlassWire supports only Windows and Android.
- •Pricing: Beszel is completely free and open source; GlassWire uses a freemium model with premium features at $2.99/month.
- •Extensibility: Beszel offers an API and integrates with Docker/Podman and S3 storage; GlassWire has no API or third‑party integrations.
Pricing & value
Beszel is free and open source; GlassWire requires paid premium for full features.
Ease of use / learning curve
GlassWire provides a visual UI and firewall wizard; Beszel requires self‑hosting and Linux familiarity.
Features & depth
Beszel monitors host and per‑container metrics with alerts and backups; GlassWire limits history to 24 h free and focuses on network only.
Integrations & ecosystem
Beszel has API, Docker/Podman, S3, OAuth/OIDC; GlassWire has no API or integrations.
Collaboration
Beszel supports multi‑user access with admin roles; GlassWire is a single‑user desktop app.
Scalability
Beszel can monitor many Linux hosts centrally; GlassWire monitors only the local device.
Support
GlassWire offers dedicated premium support; Beszel relies on community GitHub issues.
Choose Beszel if…
Linux‑based homelab operators or small teams needing central host/container monitoring.
Choose GlassWire if…
Home or small‑business users on Windows/Android wanting visual network traffic and built‑in firewall.
Common questions
Can I use GlassWire to monitor Docker containers?
No; GlassWire monitors network traffic on the local device only and does not provide per‑container metrics.
Is there any cost to run Beszel in production?
No; Beszel is free under an MIT license, with optional costs only for storage (e.g., S3) if used.
What platforms does each tool support?
Beszel runs on Linux (Windows via community forks); GlassWire runs on Windows and Android only.