PM2

What it is

PM2 is a production process manager for Node.js applications with a built-in load balancer. It allows you to keep applications alive forever, reload them without downtime and facilitates common system admin tasks.

PM2 stands out by offering a comprehensive solution for managing Node.js applications in production, including automatic restarts, load balancing, and zero-downtime reloads, making it an essential tool for developers deploying Node.js services.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

Known weaknesses

Each one links to the public issue, changelog or docs page it came from, where we have one.

1. 01

   Limited language support beyond Node.js

   Primarily designed for Node.js applications, with limited native support for other languages.

2. 02

   Complex setup and configuration for advanced use cases

   Advanced features like load balancing require detailed configuration that can be cumbersome to set up correctly.

3. 03

   Performance degradation under heavy load in certain configurations

   Some users report performance issues when running multiple instances of PM2 with complex application setups.

4. 04

   Poor documentation for less common features and integrations

   Documentation is extensive but lacks depth on advanced configurations and third-party integrations.

What it does well

• Process management and monitoring for Node.js applications.

• Automatic restart on crash or exit.

• Load balancing across multiple CPUs.

• Zero downtime reloads.

Pricing

Free tier

YesOpen source — free to use

Paid from

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise plan

No

Pricing not independently confirmed — check the vendor’s page.