If you’ve just switched from Windows to macOS, and have just finished setting-up your new Mac, one of the first things you’ll probably wonder is: “Where’s Task Manager?”
On Windows, Task Manager is the go-to utility for checking what’s running on your PC, monitoring CPU and memory usage, or force-quitting a program that’s frozen.
On macOS, the closest equivalent is Activity Monitor.
Both tools are designed to give you an overview of your system performance, but they work differently, and one isn’t necessarily a straight replacement for the other.
In this article, we’ll compare Activity Monitor vs Task Manager to see which one is better, and more importantly, which one you’ll actually find more useful day-to-day.
Table of Contents
What Is Windows Task Manager?
Task Manager has been around in some form since Windows NT. It’s a Swiss army knife for monitoring and managing your system.
With a quick Ctrl + Shift + Esc (or the classic Ctrl + Alt + Del), you can:
- See running applications and background processes
- Check CPU, GPU, disk, and memory usage
- Force-quit frozen programs
- Manage startup apps
- Change process priorities or even set processor affinity
For Windows users, it’s not just used as a troubleshooting tool but it’s also a way of keeping tabs on everything the system is doing.
What Is Activity Monitor on Mac?
Activity Monitor is the macOS equivalent, and you’ll find it in Applications > Utilities or faster still by searching in Spotlight (Cmd + Space then type “Activity Monitor”).
It’s split into five easy-to-navigate tabs:
- CPU – Shows which processes are hogging your processor.
- Memory – Displays RAM usage and a helpful “memory pressure” graph.
- Energy – Great for MacBooks, it highlights which apps are draining your battery the fastest.
- Disk – Monitors read and write activity.
- Network – Tracks incoming and outgoing data.
You can quit or force-quit apps directly here, and even keep a live performance graph in your Dock for real-time monitoring.
Activity Monitor vs Task Manager: Key Differences
| Feature | Task Manager (Windows) | Activity Monitor (macOS) |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | One unified window with tabs & summary view | Five separate tabs (CPU, Memory, Energy, etc.) |
| Quick Launch | Ctrl + Shift + Esc / Ctrl + Alt + Del | Spotlight search or Applications > Utilities |
| Process Management | End task, change priority, set affinity | Quit or Force Quit only |
| Startup Management | Built-in Startup tab | Not available (done in System Settings) |
| Battery/Energy Data | Not native | Dedicated Energy tab |
| Advanced Tools | Resource Monitor, Performance Monitor | Third-party apps like iStat Menus needed |
Which One Is Better?
The answer depends on how you work and how much control you expect.
If You’re a Windows User Moving to Mac
You’ll miss some of the more powerful features in Task Manager, like changing process priorities or managing startup items directly.
Activity Monitor is simpler, and Apple intentionally avoids giving users too much control at the risk of breaking something.
If You’re a Mac User
Activity Monitor does the job it’s meant to: helping you identify resource hogs, force-quit frozen apps, and understand how your Mac’s energy and memory are being used. For most Mac users, it’s all you’ll ever need.
The Energy tab in particular is something Windows lacks, invaluable for spotting battery-draining apps on a MacBook.
Do Mac Users Need More Than Activity Monitor?
If you want something closer to Task Manager’s level of detail, you can use third-party utilities such as:
- iStat Menus – Adds detailed system stats to your menu bar.
- Commander One – Dual-pane file manager with system monitoring.
- BuhoCleaner – Includes extra cleaning and monitoring tools.
These tools give you extra depth without overwhelming the simple defaults of Activity Monitor.
Final Thoughts
- Windows Task Manager is more powerful out of the box, making it better for more advanced users who like fine-tuning processes.
- Mac’s Activity Monitor is more streamlined, it focuses on clarity, battery awareness, and easy force-quitting.
For most Mac users, Activity Monitor is “better” in the sense that it does exactly what you need without getting in your way.
If you want the level of control that Task Manager gives Windows users, there are excellent third-party tools to bridge the gap.
Bottom line: Task Manager is like having a full diagnostic toolkit, while Activity Monitor is more of a simple dashboard. Neither is objectively “better”, they’re tailored to their respective operating systems, and both get the job done.
FAQ: Activity Monitor vs Task Manager
1. Does Mac have a Task Manager like Windows?
Not exactly. Macs don’t have a “Task Manager” by name, but Activity Monitor serves the same purpose. It lets you view running processes, monitor CPU and memory usage, and force quit apps.
2. How do I open Activity Monitor on a Mac?
You can find it in Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. A quick shortcut is to press Command + Space, type “Activity Monitor,” and hit Enter.
3. Can Activity Monitor close unresponsive apps like Task Manager?
Yes. Just select the app or process in Activity Monitor and click the Stop (X) button. It’s the Mac equivalent of Windows’ “End Task.”
4. Which is more powerful: Activity Monitor or Task Manager?
Both tools give you insight into system performance, but Activity Monitor tends to provide more detailed, real-time graphs and energy usage stats, while Task Manager has more direct controls over startup apps and system performance history.
5. Can I see GPU usage in Activity Monitor like in Task Manager?
Yes, but not as directly. Activity Monitor shows GPU processes under the “Window” menu > “GPU History.” Task Manager displays GPU usage more prominently in the “Performance” tab.
6. Why does my Mac slow down even if Activity Monitor shows low CPU usage?
Your Mac’s slowness could come from memory pressure, background processes, or disk bottlenecks, not just CPU usage. Check the Memory and Disk tabs in Activity Monitor for clues.
7. Do I need third-party software if I have Activity Monitor?
Most Mac users won’t. However, if you need advanced control, like managing startup items, cleaning system junk, or deeper real-time analytics, third-party tools can add more features.
8. Can I track internet usage with Activity Monitor like Task Manager’s network tab?
Yes, under the Network tab in Activity Monitor you’ll see data sent/received per process, though Windows’ Task Manager makes this easier to read at a glance.
9. Is there a shortcut to force quit apps on a Mac without Activity Monitor?
Yes. Use Command + Option + Escape to bring up the Force Quit menu. It’s quicker than opening Activity Monitor if an app freezes.
10. Should I use Activity Monitor daily?
Not unless you’re troubleshooting. Most users only need Activity Monitor when their Mac feels slow or an app misbehaves. Otherwise, it’s a behind-the-scenes tool you can forget about.