Comparison with Alternatives

When it comes to running applications as Windows services, the most common tools are NSSM, WinSW, and now Servy:

• NSSM: lightweight but dated, providing only basic service wrapping functionality.
• WinSW: XML-driven and widely used in Jenkins, but not actively maintained and lacks modern management features.
• Servy: a modern open-source alternative designed for professional use. It offers a real-time GUI, a full-featured CLI and PowerShell module for automation and scripting, advanced stdout/stderr logging with rotation, health monitoring with automatic recovery, service event notifications via Windows toast or email, support for pre-launch scripts, service dependencies, and seamless integration into CI/CD pipelines.

Servy provides both the flexibility for advanced users and the simplicity for those who prefer graphical management, making it a complete and reliable solution for running and monitoring Windows services.

The table below shows a comparison of Servy, NSSM and WinSW.

Feature	Servy	NSSM	WinSW
GUI Management	✅ Real-time GUI for monitoring & configuration	⚪ Basic installer GUI only	❌ No GUI
CLI / Automation	✅ Full CLI support for scripting, PowerShell & CI/CD	✅ CLI only	✅ XML config + CLI
Run any executable as service	✅	✅	✅
Environment variables & expansion	✅ Fully supported	⚪ Basic	⚪ Basic
Service accounts	✅ Local System, local user, domain, or gMSA	⚪ Limited	⚪ Limited
Pre-launch scripts, retries, timeouts	✅ Advanced lifecycle options	❌	❌
Stdout/stderr logging with rotation	✅ Automatic, configurable	⚪ Basic	⚪ Basic
Health checks & automatic recovery	✅ Built-in monitoring & restart	❌	⚪ Limited
Notifications & alerts	✅ Windows notifications + email	❌	❌
Export / Import service configs	✅ Supported	❌	❌
Supported OS	Windows 7+, Server editions	Windows 7+	Windows 7+
License / Cost	✅ Free & Open Source (MIT)	✅ Free & Open Source	✅ Free & Open Source
Actively Maintained	✅ Yes	❌ No (archived)	❌ No

Servy is designed for professionals who need reliable, monitored, and fully configurable Windows services, combining a GUI, CLI, logging, notifications, and advanced lifecycle management. NSSM and WinSW are suitable for lightweight service wrapping, but lack monitoring, alerts, and professional-grade management features.

• NSSM: lightweight, but unmaintained and limited in features.
• WinSW: open-source, not actively maintained, relies on XML configs and lacks monitoring or GUI.

Servy fills the gap by providing a modern, free, open-source alternative with both developer and enterprise-grade features.