macOS menu bar
v1.0.0 — Free Download · macOS 13+ · Apple M-series

Finally understand
what your Mac is
actually doing.

MacStats lives in your menu bar and monitors CPU, RAM, battery, and thermals in real time. When a process spikes or a warning appears — ask MacStats what it means. Get a plain English answer in seconds.

Apple Notarized · Native Swift · No Subscription · Privacy-First
MacStats — Dashboard
Mac Stats ● Nominal
4%CPU
4.77GB RAM
Memory Pressure● Warning (70%)
🗄️
18 GB
Disk Free
🔋
95%
Battery
🌐
↑0 MB/s
Network
CPU History60s

Activity Monitor shows you the numbers.
MacStats explains what they mean.

When kernel_task spikes to 200% or mds_stores eats your CPU, Activity Monitor gives you a red number. MacStats gives you an answer.

Activity Monitor
Process Name % CPU
kernel_task189.2%
mds_stores94.1%
WindowServer22.5%
com.apple.MRT18.7%
Spotlight11.4%
kernel_task 189.2%
mds_stores 94.1%
WindowServer 22.5%
com.apple.MRT 18.7%
Spotlight 11.4%

What does kernel_task 189% mean? Why is mds_stores running?

MacStats — AI Insight PRO
KT
kernel_task
189%
✦ AI Insight

kernel_task is using 189% CPU — this is macOS acting as a thermal governor. It intentionally consumes CPU to slow down other processes and protect your hardware from overheating. Uptime is 01-05:55:12.

Read Full Analysis

How it works

Up and running in 30 seconds.

01

#8b5cf6

Download MacStats and open it. macOS verifies it instantly — it's notarized by Apple.

02

#14b8a6

MacStats adds itself to your menu bar. CPU, RAM, battery, and thermals always one glance away.

03

#f43f5e

See a process spike? Click it and tap Ask AI. Get a plain English explanation in seconds.

01

Download & Launch

Download MacStats and open it. macOS will verify it instantly — it's notarized by Apple.

02

Lives in Your Menu Bar

MacStats adds itself to your menu bar. CPU, RAM, battery, and thermals are always one glance away.

03

Ask What Anything Means

See a process spike? Click it in MacStats and tap Ask AI. Get a plain English explanation in seconds.

Supported Not supported ~ Partial / limited

Hardware sensor comparison reflects public documentation. Accuracy may vary. Detailed comparison →

Features

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Lightweight enough to always be on. Powerful enough to actually help when things go wrong.

★ The Core Feature

AI Process Explainer

Click any process in MacStats and ask what it is. Get a clear, human-readable explanation — what the process does, why it's running at this usage level, and whether you should be worried. No terminal. No Googling. No guessing.

Privacy guarantee: Only the generic process name is ever sent. Your file paths, arguments, and personal data never leave your Mac.

MacStats — AI Insight
WS
WindowServer
22.5%
✦ AI Insight ✓ PRO

WindowServer is using 1.7% CPU, which is low. Uptime is 01-05:55:12.

Read Full Analysis

Always-On Menu Bar

CPU sparkline, RAM pressure, battery percentage, and network speed — always visible without opening another window.

Memory Pressure Tracking

See free memory, compressed memory, and pressure state. Know which app to quit before your Mac slows to a crawl.

Smart Alerts

Native macOS notifications for thermal throttling, battery drain, and memory spikes — with smart cooldowns so you're never spammed.

How we compare

MacStats vs. the alternatives.

You've probably tried Activity Monitor, Stats, or iStat Menus. Here's how MacStats is different.

Feature
MacStats
Activity Monitor
Stats (free)
iStat Menus
AI process explanations
Always-on menu bar
Price
$0 / $14.99
Free
Free
$14.99/yr
One-time purchase
Native Apple Silicon
Memory pressure tracking
~
~
Hardware sensors / fans
~
~
Open source
Supported Not supported ~ Partial / limited

Pricing

Download free.
Pay once when you want AI.

Core monitoring is free forever. Upgrade once to unlock AI explanations — no subscription, no annual fees.

Free

Always free core monitor

$0 forever
  • Real-time CPU & RAM
  • Menu bar integration
  • Disk, battery & network
  • Process list
  • AI explanations
Download Free
Most Popular

Pro Personal

AI + all features, up to 2 Macs

$14.99 one-time
  • Everything in Free
  • AI process explanations
  • Fair-use hosted AI access
  • Use on 2 personal Macs
Join Pro Waitlist

Early access pricing. Notified when ready.

Family

Home or small team, up to 5 Macs

$39.99 one-time
  • Everything in Pro Personal
  • Use on up to 5 Macs
  • Fair-use hosted AI access
  • Family or small team
Join Family Waitlist
14-day money-back guarantee on Pro · No questions asked Full pricing details →

FAQ

Common questions.

Does the AI send my personal data to a server?
No. When you ask MacStats to explain a process, only the generic process name — like kernel_task — is sent. Your file paths, arguments, and personal data never leave your Mac.
Is it really a one-time purchase? No subscription?
Yes, completely. You pay once and own it forever. We're as tired of subscription fatigue as you are.
Why isn't MacStats on the Mac App Store?
MacStats needs low-level access for accurate CPU and process data. The App Store sandbox blocks this. MacStats is notarized by Apple directly — Gatekeeper verifies it on first launch.
How is MacStats different from the free Stats app?
Stats shows numbers. MacStats explains what they mean. If you've ever Googled a process name, MacStats is the upgrade you've been looking for.
Does the AI send my personal data to a server?
No. When you ask MacStats to explain a process, only the generic process name — like kernel_task — is sent. Your file paths, command-line arguments, usernames, and personal data never leave your Mac.
Is it really a one-time purchase? No subscription?
Yes, completely. You pay once for your major version and own it forever. We're as tired of subscription fatigue as you are.
Why isn't MacStats on the Mac App Store?
MacStats needs low-level system access for accurate CPU, memory, and process data. The App Store sandbox blocks this. MacStats is notarized by Apple directly — Gatekeeper verifies it on first launch.
How is MacStats different from the free Stats app?
Stats shows numbers. MacStats explains what the numbers mean. If you've ever Googled a process name, MacStats is the upgrade you've been looking for.

Ready to understand your Mac?

Download MacStats free. No account required. No credit card. Just a clearer Mac.

Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later · Apple M-series & Intel