Overmind vs PM2 in 2026
Overmind and PM2 compared on what each does, what each costs, how each is installed, with DevWebUI as a third option for local dev servers.
SayDeploy is published by LunarWerx, which makes some of the tools compared here.
Both tools run processes for a developer, but for different jobs: Overmind works with Procfile-based applications and tmux [1], while PM2 keeps applications online 24/7 [2]. DevWebUI is a third option that starts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard, and shows each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [3].
| Option | Free to use | Paid plan | Install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overmind | Not published | Not published | Needs tmux installed first [1] |
| PM2 | PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source [4] | PM2 Plus has no free plan [4]; 20% discount [4]; price not published | npm install pm2 -g [2] |
| DevWebUI | Free, core features need no account [3] | No paid tier is stated [3] | devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, or bun install then bun run dev [3] |
The short answer
Overmind is a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux [1]. PM2 is a daemon process manager that helps manage an application and keep it online 24/7 [2]. DevWebUI lets a developer start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [3].
Overmind's page says it captures process output without clipping or delay [1] and can read environment variables from a file [1]. PM2's page says it covers keeping an app online [2]. DevWebUI lets a developer start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [3].
What Overmind and PM2 are built for
Overmind's page calls it a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux [1]. It captures process output without clipping or delay [1]. It can read environment variables from a file [1].
PM2's own page calls it a daemon process manager that will help you manage and keep your application online 24/7 [2]. The page lists 44 AI tools [2] and says they work with Claude Code, Claude Desktop and Cursor [2].
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 [3]. One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and processes changed in the GUI are written back to that file [3].
When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask [3]. Errors are collected into one log that merges repeats and is kept across restarts, and each file:line link opens in your editor [3]. A setting in the repo file can start the project's Docker services first, wait until they are ready and pass their connection settings to your servers [3]. You can set threshold alert rules and see a history of the alerts that fired [3]. AI assistants can control your dev servers through 43 tools [3].
Pricing and fees
Overmind's sources here give no price, so it is not published here.
PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan, but PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source [4]. Paying yearly gives a 20% discount on the PM2 Plus subscription [4]. After you cancel a subscription, you finish the current month and then access is disabled [4]. The PM2 sources given here do not state a dollar price for PM2 Plus, so it is not published here [4].
DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [3]. It is open source under the MIT License [3]. No paid tier price is stated in its sources.
Setting it up and daily use
Overmind works with tmux, so you need to install it first [1]. Its page says it supports Linux, *BSD, and macOS only at the moment [1]. Building from source needs Go 1.21 or later [1]. By default it starts one instance of each process [1].
PM2 can be installed globally with npm install pm2 -g [2]. 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, and on any operating system you run bun install and then bun run dev [3]. Daily, you control servers from the dashboard [3] or from a devwebui command-line tool [3]. If the last shutdown was not clean, the next launch loads your projects but starts nothing automatically [3].
Things to check before you choose
Ask what you need the tool to manage: processes from a Procfile, an application kept online around the clock, or local dev servers. Overmind's page speaks of Procfile-based applications [1], PM2's of helping keep an application online 24/7 [2], and DevWebUI's claims of local dev servers [3].
Check your operating system. Overmind's page lists Linux, *BSD, and macOS [1]. DevWebUI has a prebuilt Windows x64 app, and other systems run it from source with Bun [3].
Check cost and accounts. PM2 Plus has no free plan [4].
Check what data leaves your machine. DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [3]. Check Overmind's and PM2's own pages, since the facts here do not cover it.
How to choose
If you want a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux, Overmind's page describes that [1].
If you need an application kept online 24/7, PM2's page says that is its purpose [2].
If you want a tool installed globally with npm, PM2's page describes npm install pm2 -g [2].
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 [3].
If you want a free tool with no account for core features, DevWebUI's claims say that [3].
Frequently asked questions
Is PM2 free to use?
PM2 Runtime remains free because it is open source [4]. PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan [4]. The page gives a 20% discount on the PM2 Plus subscription [4]. The facts here do not give a dollar price for PM2 Plus, so the price is not published here [4].
Does Overmind need tmux?
Overmind works with tmux, so its page says you need to install it first [1]. Building it from source requires Go 1.21 or later [1].
Which operating systems does Overmind support?
Overmind's page says it supports Linux, *BSD, and macOS only at the moment [1]. For PM2, the facts here do not list operating systems, so check its pages. DevWebUI has a prebuilt Windows x64 app, and other systems run it from source with Bun [3].
Is DevWebUI free and open source?
DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [3]. It is open source under the MIT License [3]. The sources here do not state any paid tier, so the only price they give is free [3]. Check the project's own pages for anything beyond that.
Can PM2 or DevWebUI work with AI assistants like Claude?
PM2's page lists 44 AI tools [2] and says they work with Claude Code, Claude Desktop and Cursor [2]. DevWebUI lets AI assistants control your dev servers through 43 tools [3]. The Overmind facts here do not mention AI assistants.
DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [3]
Try DevWebUISources
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