RIVET
Home / Compare / RIVET vs Process Explorer
RIVET vs Process Explorer
Short answer: pick Process Explorer to find out which process has a file open, which DLLs it loaded, or to chase a handle leak: it is free, from Microsoft's Sysinternals, and runs without installing. Pick RIVET if you want to understand what is running in plain English and change startup apps, services and Windows settings with a preview first and undo afterwards.
Process Explorer is a diagnostic tool by Mark Russinovich. It shows every process with its owning account, and in a second pane the handles or DLLs that process has open. RIVET is a system manager: it shows less low-level detail, but acts on what it shows and keeps a history you can undo from.
Side by side
| RIVET | Process Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro is a one-off $4.99 | Free |
| Made by | Kirby Systems (independent) | Mark Russinovich, Sysinternals (Microsoft) |
| Install | Microsoft Store | None: run procexp.exe (3.5 MB download) |
| Runs on | Windows 10 (2004+) and 11, x64 | Windows 11 and higher; Windows Server 2019 and higher |
| Process list | Grouped by app, plain-English descriptions, safety rating, signature check | Full process list with owning account |
| Handles and DLLs | No | Yes, with search across all processes |
| Startup apps | Disable or delay, with boot impact | Not a feature |
| Services | State and start type, editable, with undo | Not its focus |
| Cleanup and Windows settings | Yes | No |
| Undo history | Yes, most changes | No |
| AI assistant | Ask RIVET (Pro), on-device | No |
Where Process Explorer is better
- Depth. Handles, DLLs and memory-mapped files per process, and a search that finds which process has a file or DLL open. RIVET has nothing like it.
- Free and portable. No install, no Store, a 3.5 MB download.
- Pedigree. Written by the co-author of Windows Internals, and documented on Microsoft Learn.
- Windows Server. It runs on Windows Server 2019 and later; RIVET doesn't target servers.
Where RIVET is better
- It explains, then acts. Processes and services in plain English, with what happens if you stop them.
- Startup, services, cleanup and settings in one window, each change previewed first.
- Undo. Windows settings, startup apps and service start types can be undone after a restart.
- Windows 10. RIVET runs on Windows 10 version 2004 or newer; Process Explorer's page lists Windows 11 and higher.
What RIVET doesn't do
- No handle or DLL views, and no "find which process has this file open".
- No portable version: it installs from the Microsoft Store.
- Not built for Windows Server.
- Ending a process can't be undone.
Questions
Is RIVET a Process Explorer alternative?
Partly. RIVET replaces Process Explorer if you mainly want to see what's running and stop or change it safely. It is not a replacement for inspecting handles and DLLs; keep Process Explorer for that.
Is Process Explorer free?
Yes. Process Explorer is a free Sysinternals tool from Microsoft, and it runs without installing.
Can I use both?
Yes. They don't conflict: Process Explorer for deep inspection, RIVET for startup apps, services, cleanup and settings with undo.