▁▂▃▂▁ CPU 4%
RAM 4.8 GB
⚡ 95%
↑ 0 ↓ 2 MB/s
Tue 9:41 AM
macOS menu bar
v1.0.4 · 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.

Download Free for macOS See how it works
Native Swift · No Subscription · Privacy-First
MacStats Dashboard
Mac Stats ● Nominal
4%CPU
4.77GB RAM
Estimated 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

Download & Launch

Download MacStats and open it. It's ready to go right away.

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 of 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: MacStats sends only the selected process and limited diagnostic context. File paths, command-line arguments, documents, usernames, and Bluetooth device names stay on 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.

Estimated Memory Pressure

See free, wired, compressed, and swap memory with a clearly labeled pressure estimate. Know which app is consuming memory before your Mac slows down.

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
  • 500 AI Explanations / month
  • Use on 2 personal Macs
Buy Pro License

Family

Home or small team, up to 5 Macs

$39.99 one-time
  • Everything in Pro Personal
  • Use on up to 5 Macs
  • 500 AI Explanations / month
  • Family or small team
Buy Family License
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?
MacStats sends the selected process and limited system diagnostics needed for the explanation. It never sends file paths, command-line arguments, documents, usernames, or Bluetooth device names.
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.
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.
Read all FAQs

Ready to understand your Mac?

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

Download Free for macOS View pricing →

Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later · Apple M-series