System monitoring is an essential part of maintaining a healthy Linux environment. Whether you are a system administrator, developer, or casual Linux user, keeping an eye on CPU usage, memory consumption, disk activity, and running processes helps you avoid performance issues before they become serious problems.
One of the most powerful and visually appealing tools for this purpose is Bpytop. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about installing and using Bpytop on Linux & Ubuntu in a simple, user-friendly way.
What is Bpytop?
Bpytop is a terminal-based system monitoring tool designed for Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD. It is written in Python and provides a modern, interactive, and colorful interface for monitoring system performance in real time.
It is a successor to tools like bashtop, offering better performance, improved UI, and more features.
Key Features of Bpytop:
- Real-time CPU, RAM, and disk usage monitoring
- Network traffic monitoring
- Process management (kill, sort, filter processes)
- Battery usage tracking (for laptops)
- Highly responsive terminal UI
- Mouse support in the terminal
Why Use Bpytop on Linux & Ubuntu?
Linux already provides tools like top and htop, but Bpytop stands out because:
- It is visually intuitive
- Easier to understand for beginners
- More interactive controls
- Lightweight and fast
- Better process management features
If you want a modern system monitor inside the terminal, Bpytop is one of the best choices.
How to Install Bpytop on Ubuntu & Linux
Installing Bpytop is simple and takes only a few minutes.
Step 1: Update System Packages
Before installing anything, update your system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Install Bpytop
On Ubuntu and Debian-based systems:
sudo apt install bpytop -y
For other Linux distributions:
Fedora:
sudo dnf install bpytop
Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S bpytop
Step 3: Launch Bpytop
Once installed, start it by running:
bpytop
You will instantly see a colorful dashboard showing system performance in real time.
How to Use Bpytop (Beginner Guide)
Once Bpytop is open, you’ll see different panels displaying system information.
1. CPU Usage
Shows real-time usage of each CPU core.
2. Memory (RAM)
Displays how much RAM is being used and how much is free.
3. Disk Usage
Shows storage consumption of your drives.
4. Network Monitoring
Displays upload and download speeds.
5. Process Management
You can:
- View running processes
- Sort by CPU or memory usage
- Kill processes if needed
To kill a process:
- Select it using arrow keys or mouse
- Press
K
Useful Keyboard Shortcuts in Bpytop
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Quit | Q |
| Sort processes | S |
| Search process | F |
| Kill process | K |
| Settings menu | M |
Customizing Bpytop
Bpytop allows you to easily customize themes and layouts.
To open settings:
bpytop
Then press M to access the menu.
You can change:
- Colors and themes
- Update intervals
- Layout style
- Display options
Bpytop vs Htop: Which is Better?
| Feature | Bpytop | Htop |
|---|---|---|
| UI Design | Modern & colorful | Classic terminal style |
| Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly | Moderate |
| Mouse Support | Yes | Limited |
| Performance | Fast | Fast |
👉 If you prefer a modern UI, go for Bpytop
👉 If you prefer minimal classic tools, go for Htop
Common Issues & Fixes
Bpytop command not found
Fix:
sudo apt install bpytop
Slow performance
Close unnecessary background applications or increase update interval in settings.
Conclusion
Bpytop is one of the best system monitoring tools available for Linux and Ubuntu users. Its clean interface, real-time performance tracking, and easy controls make it perfect for beginners and professionals alike.
If you want a powerful yet simple way to monitor your system resources, Bpytop is definitely worth trying.