RIVET
Home / Compare / RIVET vs System Informer
RIVET vs System Informer
Short answer: pick System Informer if you are comfortable with Windows internals and want a free, open-source tool to monitor resources, inspect handles and DLLs, see and close network connections, and control services in depth. Pick RIVET if you want the everyday jobs (startup apps, services, cleanup, Windows settings) explained in plain English, previewed first and mostly undoable.
System Informer, from Winsider Seminars & Solutions, describes itself as a free, multi-purpose tool to monitor system resources, debug software and detect malware. RIVET aims at a different reader: someone who wants to know what something is before they touch it, and a way back if they change their mind.
Side by side
| RIVET | System Informer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro is a one-off $4.99 | Free |
| Source code | Closed | Open source (MIT licence) |
| Runs on | Windows 10 (2004+) and 11, x64 | Windows 10 or higher, 32-bit or 64-bit |
| Process list | Grouped by app, plain-English descriptions and safety ratings | Detailed monitoring with graphs and statistics |
| Handle and DLL search | No | Yes |
| Network connections | Throughput on the overview | Per-program connections, which you can close |
| Services | State and start type, with undo | Create, edit and control services |
| Disk and GPU | Live counters | Real-time disk access and GPU usage |
| Startup apps, cleanup, Windows settings | Yes | Not listed on its site |
| Undo history | Yes, most changes | Not listed |
| AI assistant | Ask RIVET (Pro), on-device | No |
Where System Informer is better
- Open source under the MIT licence, so anyone can read and audit it.
- Depth for power users: handle and DLL search, per-program network connections you can close, and full service control including creating services.
- Malware hunting and debugging are stated goals; RIVET doesn't try to do either.
- 32-bit Windows is supported; RIVET is x64 only.
Where RIVET is better
- Plain English. Each process and service says what it is, whether it is safe to stop, and what happens if you do.
- Everyday jobs in one place: startup apps (disable or delay), cleanup with sizes shown first, and Windows settings, including Recall and Copilot switches.
- Undo. Windows settings, startup apps and service start types can be undone after a restart.
- Store install with automatic updates and no unblocking.
What RIVET doesn't do
- No handle or DLL search, and no per-connection network view.
- No malware detection or debugging tools.
- It can't create new services.
- No 32-bit version, and the source isn't published.
Questions
Is RIVET a System Informer alternative?
For everyday control of startup apps, services, cleanup and Windows settings, yes. For low-level monitoring, handle and DLL search or malware hunting, System Informer goes much deeper.
Is System Informer free and open source?
Yes. System Informer is free, and its source code is published on GitHub under the MIT licence.
Which is safer for a beginner?
RIVET is built for people who aren't Windows experts: it explains each item, previews every change and can undo most of them. System Informer assumes you know what you are looking at.