RIVET
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RIVET XP vs Task Manager 98
Short answer: pick Task Manager 98 if you want the Windows XP Task Manager as it was, rebuilt feature for feature, open source and with a native Arm64 build. Pick RIVET XP if you want the XP look plus things the original never had: focus timers with a focus guard, a task list and an XP rank ladder that rewards finished work, installed and updated through the Microsoft Store.
Both are free, unofficial, XP-era task managers for modern Windows. Task Manager 98, by Jan Kammerath, is a rewrite in Go that aims for feature parity with Task Manager 5.1 from 2001. RIVET XP, by Kirby Systems, is an original app in the same spirit that adds productivity features on top.
Side by side
| RIVET XP | Task Manager 98 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (sponsorship optional) |
| Source code | Closed | Open source (MPL-2.0) |
| Goal | An XP-themed task manager and productivity suite | Feature parity with the Windows XP Task Manager (version 5.1) |
| Install | Microsoft Store, updates itself | MSI installer or standalone EXE from GitHub |
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11, x64 | Windows 11 x64 and Arm64; standalone EXE on Windows 10 and 11 |
| Performance graphs and process list | Yes | Yes |
| Applications and Networking tabs | Not in 1.0 | Yes |
| Focus timers and focus guard | Yes | No |
| Tasks and XP rank ladder | Yes (+25 XP per finished 25-minute sprint) | No |
| Network connections made by the app | None | Not stated |
Where Task Manager 98 is better
- Faithful. It sets out to match the XP Task Manager's features, including its Applications and Networking tabs.
- Open source under MPL-2.0.
- Arm64. There is a native build for Arm64 Windows 11 PCs.
- Portable. A standalone EXE runs without installing.
Where RIVET XP is better
- Focus timers with a focus guard that stops other windows stealing focus.
- A reason to finish things: tasks and an XP rank ladder from LABOURER to SITE MASTER.
- Microsoft Store install, signed and updated automatically, with nothing to unblock.
- No network connections at all, and no AI.
What RIVET XP doesn't do
- It isn't a feature-for-feature copy of the XP Task Manager.
- No Applications or Networking tab in 1.0.
- No Arm64 build and no portable EXE.
- The source isn't published.
Questions
Is RIVET XP a Task Manager 98 alternative?
Yes. Both bring an XP-era task manager to Windows 10 and 11 for free. Task Manager 98 is the faithful rebuild; RIVET XP adds focus timers, tasks and ranks.
Are these official Microsoft apps?
No. Neither RIVET XP nor Task Manager 98 is made by or affiliated with Microsoft.
Can I run both?
Yes. They are separate apps and don't replace the built-in Task Manager, so you can keep all three.