vnStat Client is an open-source GUI desktop client for the vnStat network traffic monitor, built for Linux with Electron, Next.js, and Chakra UI. It pulls data from a running vnStat daemon (version 2.8 or newer) and visualizes it as bar charts, line charts, and tables across daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and custom time intervals. The project is maintained by Hulxv on GitHub under the GPL-2 license.
What is vnStat Client?
vnStat Client is a graphical front-end for vnStat, the command-line network traffic monitor, designed for Linux and GNU/Linux systems. It reads data from the vnStat daemon and presents it through a desktop interface, turning raw statistics into interactive charts and tables. The application is built with Nextron (Electron + Next.js) and uses Chakra UI for the interface and Nivo for chart rendering.
Key Features
- Multi-interval statistics — View network usage as daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or any custom date range you choose.
- Three display modes — Switch between bar chart, line chart, and table layouts for the same data set.
- Export to CSV, XML, and JSON — Save statistics in three machine-readable formats for reporting or further analysis.
- Daemon control — Start, stop, and manage the vnStat daemon directly from the app, with support for systemd and sysvinit init systems.
- Configuration editor — Change vnStat's settings without manually editing configuration files.
- Theme support — Choose different UI color schemes and chart palettes; the UI components come from Chakra UI and the charts from Nivo.
Who is it for?
- Linux administrators who want a visual overview of bandwidth usage without memorizing vnStat command-line flags.
- Home network users running vnStat on a router or server who prefer a desktop GUI over terminal output.
- Network monitoring hobbyists who need to export usage history to CSV, XML, or JSON for custom dashboards or scripts.
What can you do with vnStat Client?
Monitor daily bandwidth trends: Quickly see which days consumed the most data on your Linux machine or server. Compare monthly usage: Set a custom interval to view usage across a billing cycle and check against provider limits. Manage the vnStat service: Toggle the daemon and edit its configuration from one interface, without SSH or editing config files. Export reports: Generate CSV, XML, or JSON files of traffic stats for archival or import into other tools.
FAQ
Is vnStat Client free?
Yes, vnStat Client is open source and released under the GPL-2 license. You can freely use, modify, and distribute it.
What does vnStat Client require?
It requires a Linux system with vnStat version 2.8 or newer installed and running. The client connects to the vnStat daemon to read traffic data.
What charts does vnStat Client support?
It offers bar charts and line charts built with the Nivo chart library, plus a plain table view. The chart colors follow the selected UI theme.
Can vnStat Client export data?
Yes, you can export the displayed statistics to CSV, XML, or JSON formats, making it easy to consume the data in other applications.
Does vnStat Client work on Windows or macOS?
The README and badges target Linux only; the project is positioned as a Linux or GNU/Linux GUI client, so no official Windows or macOS support is stated.
