iStat Menus

Name: iStat Menus
Brand: iStat Menus

Real-time Mac system monitor for CPU, memory, disk, network, battery, and sensors in your menu bar.

softwareSystem Monitorssystem monitormac utilitymenu bar

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Our Verdict

Best for

Mac users who want deep, real-time hardware monitoring in the menu bar.

Skip if

You just need a basic Activity Monitor replacement and don't want to pay.

What is iStat Menus?

iStat Menus is a macOS menu bar utility from Bjango that displays detailed, real-time system information, including CPU and GPU load per core, memory pressure, disk activity and S.M.A.R.T. health, network bandwidth by app, battery and connected Bluetooth device levels, and hardware sensor temperatures and fan speeds. Modules can be combined or split across multiple menu bar icons to match a user's monitoring priorities. Beyond hardware stats, iStat Menus adds world clocks, weather forecasts, and customizable, rules-based notifications for thresholds like high CPU temperature or low battery. The app is privacy-focused, with no ads, analytics, or tracking, and is sold as a one-time license or included with a Setapp subscription.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source❌ No

api available❌ No

support optionsDocumentation, email support

key integrationsSetapp

Key Features of iStat Menus

Shows per-core CPU and GPU load directly in the menu bar with customizable graph styles.

Tracks memory pressure and app-level memory usage in real time.

Monitors disk activity, free space, and drive S.M.A.R.T. health status.

Breaks down network bandwidth by application, not just total throughput.

Displays battery level and charge status for the Mac plus connected Bluetooth accessories.

Reads hardware sensors for temperatures, fan speeds, and voltages.

Sends rules-based notifications for events like high CPU temperature or a nearly full disk.

Includes world clocks and multi-day weather forecasts in the same menu bar dropdown.

Use Cases for iStat Menus

Diagnosing performance issues

Spot which app is spiking CPU or memory usage directly from the menu bar.

Monitoring drive health

Watch S.M.A.R.T. status and free space to catch a failing drive before data loss.

Tracking network usage per app

Identify which application is consuming bandwidth during a slow connection.

Thermal monitoring for demanding workloads

Watch CPU and fan sensors while running video exports or compiling large projects.

Pros & Cons of iStat Menus

Pros

Extremely detailed, real-time system data not exposed by macOS by default.
Highly customizable menu bar layout to show only the stats a user cares about.
No ads, analytics, or tracking in a system monitoring tool that could otherwise justify it.
Long track record of regular updates for new macOS and Apple Silicon releases.

Cons

One-time price plus paid upgrades for major new versions.
Menu bar can get crowded if many modules are enabled at once.
Some deeper sensor data availability depends on the specific Mac model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is iStat Menus a subscription?

No, it is sold as a one-time license (Single or Family); it is also available bundled through Setapp.

Does iStat Menus track my data?

No, Bjango states the app includes no ads, analytics, or tracking.

Can I choose which stats appear in the menu bar?

Yes, each module (CPU, memory, disk, network, and so on) can be shown, hidden, or combined.

Does iStat Menus support Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes, iStat Menus 7 runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Pricing Overview

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Paid (One-time)

Single License

$11.99

Family License

$14.99

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mectrics

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mectrics is a lightweight, open-source system monitor that lives in the macOS menu bar and displays real-time hardware metrics including CPU, memory, battery, network, disk, GPU, temperature, and fan speed. Users can customize which metrics are visible, set alert thresholds for specific values, and click any item to open a detailed popover showing granular data like per-core CPU load or disk throughput. A "Compact Health" mode folds the entire machine's status into a single menu bar item that stays quiet until something needs attention, and the app processes everything locally with no network requests, so nothing leaves the Mac. It is distributed under the MIT license, supports headless automation through command-line tools, and is localized into English, Turkish, Russian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

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