--- {"title": "DevWebUI vs PM2 in 2026: Pricing, Setup and Features", "description": "DevWebUI and PM2 compared on what each does, what each costs, how each is installed and what to check before you pick one for your dev servers.", "url": "https://saydeploy.com/devwebui-vs-pm2/", "date": "2026-10-13"} --- DevWebUI and PM2 compared on what each does, what each costs, how each is installed and what to check before you pick one for your dev servers. PM2 is a daemon process manager that keeps an application online around the clock [^1]. DevWebUI starts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard [^2]. PM2's sources describe a web based monitoring dashboard started with pm2 monitor [^1], and DevWebUI's sources describe status, CPU, memory and logs for each server in its dashboard [^2]. PM2 has an AI assistant link, where tools such as Claude or Cursor read your monitoring data after you sign in with a PM2.io account [^1]. DevWebUI lets AI assistants control your dev servers through 43 tools [^2]. DevWebUI is free [^2], while PM2 Plus has no free plan [^3]. | Option | Free to use | Paid plan | Account | Install | |---|---|---|---|---| | PM2 | PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source [^3] | PM2 Plus has no free plan [^3]; 20% yearly discount [^3]; price not published | PM2.io account for the AI assistant [^1] | npm install pm2 -g [^1] | | DevWebUI | Free, core features need no account [^2] | No paid tier is stated; it is free [^2] | Not needed for core features [^2] | devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, or bun install then bun run dev [^2] | ## The short answer PM2 is a daemon process manager that helps manage an application and keep it online 24/7 [^1]. DevWebUI lets a developer start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [^2]. On needs, PM2's page says it covers keeping an app online [^1] and web based monitoring [^1]. It also describes an AI assistant that reads monitoring data such as server status, metrics, logs, exceptions, traces and alerts [^1]. DevWebUI's sources cover a dashboard for starting and watching local servers [^2], a small file in each repo that lists the servers to run [^2] and a way for AI assistants to control your dev servers through 43 tools [^2]. ## What PM2 is built for PM2's own page calls it a daemon process manager that will help you manage and keep your application online 24/7 [^1]. It can be installed globally with npm [^1]. Monitoring is web based, and you can start it with the command pm2 monitor [^1]. The PM2 AI Assistant (MCP) connects Claude, Cursor or any MCP-compatible AI assistant to monitoring data such as server status, metrics, logs, exceptions, traces and alerts, secured by OAuth with a PM2.io account [^1]. The page says 44 AI tools are available [^1] and that it works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop and Cursor [^1]. ## What DevWebUI is built for DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. It lets you start, stop and restart your local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [^2]. One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and processes changed in the GUI are written back to that file [^2]. When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask [^2]. You can open any server it manages through one DevWebUI address on your own machine, and live page reloading in your browser keeps working through it [^2]. Errors are collected into one log that merges repeats and is kept across restarts, and each file:line link opens in your editor [^2]. A setting in the repo file can start the project's Docker services first, such as a database, wait until they are ready and pass their connection settings to your servers [^2]. You can also set threshold alert rules and see a history of the alerts that fired [^2]. AI assistants can control your dev servers through 43 tools, using the same background service as the dashboard [^2]. ## Pricing and fees PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan, but PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source [^3]. Its page also mentions a 20% discount on a subscription, and says that discount only refers to PM2 Plus [^3]. After you cancel a subscription, you finish the current month and then access is disabled [^3]. The PM2 sources given here do not state a dollar price for PM2 Plus, so it is not published here [^3]. DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [^2]. It is open source under the MIT License [^2]. No paid tier price is stated in its sources. ## Setting it up and daily use PM2 can be installed globally with npm using npm install pm2 -g [^1]. For day to day monitoring, its page says the web based dashboard starts with pm2 monitor [^1]. Using the AI assistant needs a PM2.io account for the OAuth sign in [^1]. The sources here say nothing more about its setup or routine use. On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases [^2]. On any operating system, you run bun install and then bun run dev [^2]. There is a prebuilt Windows x64 app, other systems run it from source with Bun, and the tray app is Windows-only for now [^2]. On Windows, a tray icon keeps DevWebUI running in the background and has Open, Restart and Quit options [^2]. Daily, you control servers from the dashboard [^2] or from a devwebui command-line tool that lets you control servers without the dashboard [^2]. If the last shutdown was not clean, the next launch loads your projects but starts nothing automatically [^2]. ## Things to check before you choose Ask what you need the tool to manage: local dev servers during development, or an application kept online around the clock. PM2's page speaks of keeping an application online 24/7 [^1], and DevWebUI's claims speak of local dev servers [^2]. Check your operating system. DevWebUI has a prebuilt Windows x64 app, and other systems run it from source with Bun [^2]. Check cost and accounts. PM2 Plus has no free plan [^3], and the PM2 AI Assistant uses a PM2.io account [^1]. Check what data leaves your machine. DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [^2]. Check PM2's own pages for its data handling, since the facts here do not cover it. Check access control if others can reach the tool. DevWebUI can be set to ask for a key before other programs can control it, and a browser gets that key by typing a 6-digit pairing code, with a few listed exceptions [^2]. ## How to choose If you need an application kept online 24/7, PM2's page says that is its purpose [^1]. If you want web based monitoring started from a command, PM2's page describes pm2 monitor [^1]. If you want to start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard with status, CPU, memory and logs, DevWebUI's claims describe that [^2]. If you want a small file in your repo that lists the servers to run [^2], with Docker services started first [^2], DevWebUI's claims describe that. If you want an AI assistant to work with the tool, PM2's assistant link reads monitoring data after a PM2.io sign in [^1], and DevWebUI lets AI assistants control your dev servers through 43 tools [^2]. If you want a free tool with no account for core features, DevWebUI's claims say that [^2]. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is PM2 free to use? PM2 Runtime remains free because it is open source [^3]. PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan [^3]. Its page also mentions a 20% discount on a subscription, and says it only refers to PM2 Plus [^3]. The facts here do not give a dollar price for PM2 Plus, so the price is not published here [^3]. ### Is DevWebUI free and open source? DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [^2]. It is open source under the MIT License [^2]. The sources here do not state any paid tier, so the only price they give is free. Check the project's own pages if you need more detail on future plans. ### How do you install PM2 and DevWebUI? PM2 can be installed globally with npm using npm install pm2 -g [^1]. On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, and on any OS you run bun install and then bun run dev [^2]. Other systems run DevWebUI from source with Bun [^2]. ### Can PM2 or DevWebUI work with AI assistants like Claude? PM2's AI Assistant (MCP) connects Claude, Cursor or any MCP-compatible assistant to monitoring data such as server status, metrics, logs, exceptions, traces and alerts, secured by OAuth with a PM2.io account [^1]. DevWebUI lets AI assistants control your dev servers through 43 tools [^2]. ### Does DevWebUI send any data about the machine? DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [^2]. Its sources here say nothing further about data collection. For PM2, the facts here do not cover data handling, so check its own pages and your account terms before relying on either tool in a sensitive setting. DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [^2] - [Visit DevWebUI](/go/devwebui-vs-pm2) ## Sources [^1]: PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07 (https://pm2.keymetrics.io) [^2]: DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/devwebui-vs-pm2) [^3]: PM2, pm2.io/pricing, read 2026-10-07 (https://pm2.io/pricing)