Netdata as a Linux alternative to GlassWire
Updated
Our verdict
Netdata can replace GlassWire for users who need real‑time network monitoring and per‑application bandwidth tracking on Linux. It provides detailed, per‑second charts, alerts, and a web dashboard that is easy to navigate. However, it lacks a built‑in firewall and granular app‑level blocking that GlassWire offers. For Linux users who only need monitoring and historical data, Netdata is a solid choice; for those who rely on firewall controls, additional tools such as UFW or nftables will be required.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 2.12.1
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Real‑time traffic graphs
- Per‑application bandwidth monitoring
- Alert notifications for new connections
- Historical usage data
- User‑friendly web interface
What is different
- No native firewall or app/domain blocking
- No Windows‑style GUI – uses a web dashboard
- Does not integrate with Windows‑specific networking stack
- Requires root or sudo for full system visibility
- No built‑in packet‑filtering rules
Opening your GlassWire files
GlassWire stores its data in proprietary SQLite databases and exports logs in CSV or XML. Netdata does not read these files directly; you would need to export GlassWire logs and import them into Netdata’s Prometheus or InfluxDB backend for analysis, which is not supported out of the box.
Switching from GlassWire to Netdata, step by step
- 1. Install Netdata using your distro’s package manager or the official script.
- 2. Verify that Netdata is running by visiting http://localhost:19999 in a browser.
- 3. Export GlassWire logs to CSV if you need historical data.
- 4. Import those CSV files into a Prometheus or InfluxDB instance that Netdata can query.
- 5. Configure Netdata alerts to match your desired thresholds.
- 6. (Optional) Set up Netdata Cloud for centralized monitoring across machines.
Key features of Netdata
- Per‑second metrics for CPU, memory, disk I/O, network, and processes
- Automatic detection of over 300 applications and services
- Interactive web dashboard with zoomable charts
- Alarm notifications via email, Slack, Discord, etc.
- Zero‑configuration installation on most distros
- Export to Prometheus, Graphite, or InfluxDB
- Netdata Cloud for centralized view of multiple nodes
- Plugin system for custom data collection
How to install Netdata on Linux
sudo apt install netdatasudo dnf install netdatasudo pacman -S netdataFrequently asked questions
Does Netdata block applications like GlassWire does?
No. Netdata only monitors traffic; you need a separate firewall such as UFW or nftables to block apps or domains.
Can Netdata run on a typical Linux desktop?
Yes. It is available in the repositories of Arch, Fedora, and Ubuntu, and can be installed with a single command.
Will Netdata replace all of GlassWire’s features?
It covers most monitoring and alerting features but lacks the integrated firewall and Windows‑specific UI. For full replacement, combine Netdata with a firewall tool.
3 other alternatives to GlassWire
WiresharkWireshark is a free network protocol analyzer that reads capture files and lets you inspect traffic details.Open sourceFreeFlatpakWireshark vs GlassWireGlancesGlances is a cross‑platform, Python‑based system monitor that shows CPU, memory, disk, network and process…Open sourceFreeGlances vs GlassWire