GlimmerStatsBarCPU activity at a glance
Choose a percentage, bar or graph. Open the CPU details for user and system activity, or the Apps tab to see which apps are busy.
Understand CPU usage →Free Mac menu bar system monitor
Know what
your Mac is doing.
When your Mac feels busy, a quick look can help. Keep CPU and memory nearby, then add the readings you want to see. GlimmerStatsBar (mac stats bar) gives you one clear place to choose.
Free. macOS 13 or later. No app account or subscription.
See what’s happeningCPU, memory and network, right in your menu bar.
Find the busy appFollow CPU and memory use by app.
Look back at a sessionRecord locally and export your history as CSV.
Start with the readings that help
A little context,
while you keep working.
CPU and used memory start in your menu bar. Add another reading when it is useful, or choose Off to keep the bar compact. The live cards remain available in the app.
Memory with useful context
See used memory, compression, swap and memory composition. The Apps tab helps you follow an individual app without treating every used byte as a problem.
Read memory more clearly →Follow your connections
Watch upload and download rates, explore connections on a world map and sort traffic by app or destination. Per-app traffic is optional and needs macOS approval.
See what network rates mean →Disk activity and battery details
Keep free space nearby, follow physical disk read and write activity, and check battery health, cycles and power details when your Mac reports them.
Thermals, sensors and GPU details
See your Mac’s thermal condition alongside GPU details. An optional sensor companion adds supported temperature and fan-speed readings with history.
Understand the thermal reading →Install GlimmerStatsBar (mac stats bar) Sensors
Date and time, your way
Add the time, date or both. The date display includes an ISO week number, and the clock follows your Mac's local time zone.
Keep a session to look back on
Record CPU, memory, network, storage and battery readings locally. Keep up to 24 hours of sampled history and export a CSV when you want to compare a longer session.
Hear only about what matters to you
Choose optional alerts for low battery, low storage, sustained CPU use, memory pressure and thermal pressure. Leave them off when a quiet menu bar is all you need.
See where everything lives
Choose above.
Read below.
Start with Overview, then open Apps, Network or Recording when you want a closer look. Live charts offer 5, 15 and 60-minute views. Record a longer session and export it as CSV.
A straightforward place to start
Record a session locally to keep up to 24 hours of sampled history, then export a CSV when you want to look back.
Choose your menu bar styles and colours, and turn on only the alerts you want: low battery, low storage, sustained CPU usage, memory pressure or thermal pressure.
Read the privacy policy →Want to see which app is busy?
Open Apps to sort CPU and memory use and follow the selected app’s history. Optional companion details add memory footprint, disk activity and thread counts.
Compare before you choose
A free iStat Menus alternative
for everyday readings.
GlimmerStatsBar (mac stats bar) brings menu bar readings, app monitoring, network maps and local recording together for free. Compare it with iStat Menus, iStatistica Pro and Stats around the tools you use.
Free or paid
See our guide to the best Mac system monitors →GlimmerStatsBar (mac stats bar) vs iStat Menus
Compare free monitoring, sensor support, alerts and fan controls.
Read the comparison →Menu bar or wider dashboardGlimmerStatsBar (mac stats bar) vs iStatistica Pro
Compare app monitoring, network maps, recording and remote tools.
Read the comparison →Two free approachesGlimmerStatsBar vs Stats
Choose around the readings and controls you want to use.
Read the comparison →Free, when you are ready
A useful little view
of your Mac.
GlimmerStatsBar is free and available now. Leave your email to request the download link.
macOS 13 or later. No app account or subscription.
A few things you might wonder
Before you add it
to your menu bar.
Is GlimmerStatsBar free?
Yes. GlimmerStatsBar is a free Mac system monitor with no app account or subscription required. It is available now. You can request the free download link on the homepage.
What can I show in the Mac menu bar?
CPU, memory, network rates, available storage, built-in battery charge, thermal condition, and date or time. Each has its own display choices, including Off. CPU and used memory start visible; the other items start Off.
Does it work as an iStat Menus or iStatistica Pro alternative?
Yes. GlimmerStatsBar is free and includes menu bar readings, GPU details, app monitoring, network maps, local recording and alerts. An optional companion adds supported temperatures and fan speeds. Compare the features you use in our guides.
Can GlimmerStatsBar show my CPU temperature?
An optional sensor companion adds temperatures in degrees and fan-speed history on supported hardware. The thermal condition reported by macOS remains available separately.
Will turning a statistic Off stop its live card?
Off hides that item from the menu bar. Its live reading remains in the app below the display controls. You can keep the menu bar small and open the app when you want more detail.
Why might a reading show a dash or be unavailable?
Some readings need a fresh baseline, so the first CPU or network interval can be blank. Sleep and route changes can also leave gaps. Memory pressure stays unavailable until macOS reports a pressure event. A desktop can show Not present for the battery.
Which version of macOS do I need?
GlimmerStatsBar requires macOS 13 or later.