The iStat Menus Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about iStat Menus in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
iStat Menus
The Insider’s Guide
System monitor that lives in the Mac menu bar
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from iStat Menus’s own pages.
Made by Bjango Pty Ltd · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from iStat Menus’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on iStat Menus’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 18 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
iStat Menus is a macOS system monitor from Bjango that shows CPU, GPU, memory, disk, network, sensor, battery and weather readings as menu bar items with detailed drop-down menus. It can send notifications when a reading crosses a threshold, and on the version sold from the vendor's site it can control fan speeds. It is a one-time purchase with a 14-day trial, also sold on the Mac App Store and included in Setapp.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about iStat Menus, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Combined mode folds several items into one if the bar is crowded.
- 1
Best for watching your Mac's vital signs from the menu bar
It's Mac only, so Windows and Linux users need something else.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes.
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
CPU and GPU monitoring
Per-core usage, history graphs, load averages, uptime and the apps using the most CPU, plus GPU processor, memory, temperature and frequency on supported Macs.
- 6
Memory, disks and network
Memory pressure and swap, used and free disk space with S.M.A.R.T. status, and network bandwidth with a per-app breakdown, public and private IP addresses and a connectivity indicator.
- 7
Sensors and fan control
Lists temperatures, fans, voltages, current and power. Fan speeds can be controlled, or switched and ramped based on temperatures and battery state.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 18 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing iStat Menus does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
iStat Menus at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Bjango Pty Ltd
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for watching your Mac's vital signs from the menu bar
iStat Menus shows your Mac's CPU, memory, network, disks, sensors and weather in the menu bar, for $11.99 once after a 14-day trial. The catches add up: weather data stops after 6 months unless you buy a pack or subscribe, a license covers only the current major version, and the Mac App Store edition can't control fans. It's Mac only, so Windows and Linux users need something else.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $11.99 once for up to 3 of your computers, or $14.99 for a family of 5. Utilities here sit around $2.99 a month in the middle, so you've paid for this one in four months and then stopped. Weather data packs from $2.49 for 12 months are the only extra. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free version. There's a 14-day trial and the listing shows no card being asked for, which is the ordinary deal here. After two weeks you buy or stop. |
| Features | C | It reads per-core CPU, GPU, memory pressure, disks with S.M.A.R.T. status, network use per app, sensors and fans, and runs rules like CPU above 60% for 10 seconds. The gaps are its own notes: the App Store edition can't control fans, and weather stops after 6 months. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: install it and the numbers are in your menu bar, with the detail in drop-down menus. Combined mode folds several items into one if the bar is crowded. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only. Bjango's own version needs macOS 11 or later, the Mac App Store one macOS 14. Weather comes from Apple Weather, AccuWeather and others, and the app is in Setapp too, but there's nothing for Windows or Linux. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who iStat Menus is for
- Fits if you want CPU, memory, network and temperatures in view on a Mac
- Works for laptop owners who check battery, sensors and fan speeds
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, or a Mac below macOS 11 (macOS 14 for the App Store edition)
- Watch out: weather data lasts 6 months, then costs from $2.49 for 12 months, or $0.99 a month in the App Store edition
- Not for you if you want fan control from the Mac App Store edition, which can't do it and needs a helper app for some stats
- Watch out: a license covers the current major version only, and version 6 owners pay an upgrade price for 7
- Tight if you have more than 3 computers: the single license covers 3, and the $14.99 family one 5 in one household
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want CPU, memory, network and temperature readings always visible
- People who want an alert when a system reading crosses a threshold
- Laptop owners keeping an eye on battery, sensors and fan speeds
Worth knowing
- macOS only. The version on the vendor's site requires macOS 11 or later; the Mac App Store listing requires macOS 14.
- Weather data is included for 6 months, after which the direct version needs a paid data pack and the App Store edition a subscription.
- A license covers only the current major release; iStat Menus 6 owners pay an upgrade price for version 7.
- The pricing panel shows local-currency prices by visitor location, with local taxes on top.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$11.99 one-time
To start
iStat Menus is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $11.99 one-time purchase (Single License), plus local taxes.
Single License
$11.99
one-time purchase, plus local taxes
iStat Menus 7 on up to 3 computers primarily used by the buyer, with 6 months of weather data included.
Family License
$14.99
one-time purchase, plus local taxes
For up to 5 family members, on up to 5 computers in one household, with 6 months of weather data included.
Mac App Store edition
$11.99
one-time purchase (US Mac App Store price)
Cannot control fan speeds and needs a helper app for some stats. Weather is an in-app subscription at $0.99 a month or $4.99 a year.
Weather data pack
From $2.49
one-off purchase for 12 months of weather data
Optional add-on for the direct version once the included weather period ends. Data packs do not renew automatically.
Trying it first
14-day free trial
Read from bjango.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Upgrade pricing from iStat Menus 6
Holders of an iStat Menus 6 license pay $9.99 for a single upgrade or $12.99 for a family upgrade. The discount is applied when upgrading from inside iStat Menus 7.
Stated on bjango.comOther savings
Included with a Setapp subscription
iStat Menus is also available through Setapp, which the vendor quotes at USD$9.99 a month for more than 250 Mac apps.
Stated on bjango.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $11.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $14.99 | $10.54 | 12% less |
| Turkey | ₺599,99 | $12.20 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 1,199 | $12.40 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 799.00 | $12.72 | 6% more |
| Germany | 12,99 € | $14.56 | 21% more |
| South Africa | R249.99 | $15.12 | 26% more |
| United Kingdom | £11.99 | $15.85 | 32% more |
| Brazil | R$ 79,90 | $15.96 | 33% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
System monitor that lives in the Mac menu bar. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, menu bar app, system monitor.
It reads per-core CPU, GPU, memory pressure, disks with S.M.A.R.T.
- CPU and GPU monitoring
- Per-core usage, history graphs, load averages, uptime and the apps using the most CPU, plus GPU processor, memory, temperature and frequency on supported Macs.
- Memory, disks and network
- Memory pressure and swap, used and free disk space with S.M.A.R.T. status, and network bandwidth with a per-app breakdown, public and private IP addresses and a connectivity indicator.
- Sensors and fan control
- Lists temperatures, fans, voltages, current and power. Fan speeds can be controlled, or switched and ramped based on temperatures and battery state.
- Rules and notifications
- Notifies you about events such as CPU usage above 60% for more than 10 seconds, low disk space, a changed public IP address or a dropped internet connection.
- Weather
- Current conditions in the menu bar with an hourly forecast and weekly overview, for your location or elsewhere. Data comes from providers including Apple Weather and AccuWeather.
- Combined mode and customization
- Combined mode folds several items into a single menu bar item to save space. Colors, item order and what each menu shows can all be changed.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Weather
- AccuWeather
- Xweather
- Environment Canada
- WillyWeather
- Setapp
iStat Menus is made by Bjango Pty Ltd.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
iStat Menus's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 17.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. iStat Menus’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing iStat Menus does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 59 of the 94 other desktop utilities grade higher. It costs $11.99, paid once.
What you could not
- Readings from inside the operating system.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Apple Weather, AccuWeather and Xweather among them.
What this rests on. iStat Menus’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Stats, SwiftBar and CleanMyMac
The 3 tools iStat Menus is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Stats
Free
Free, open-source system monitor for the Mac menu bar.
- Stats has a free plan. iStat Menus does not, though it has a free trial.
- iStat Menus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Stats is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
SwiftBar
Free
Open-source tool that puts script output in the Mac menu bar.
- SwiftBar has a free plan. iStat Menus does not, though it has a free trial.
- iStat Menus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SwiftBar is open source, according to its own site.
- 1.8GPA
CleanMyMac
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Mac cleanup, malware removal and maintenance in one app.
- CleanMyMac also covers disk cleanup.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is iStat Menus free?
No, iStat Menus is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial.
How much does iStat Menus cost?
iStat Menus lists 4 plans. Single License: $11.99 one-time purchase, plus local taxes.
What platforms does iStat Menus work on?
iStat Menus is available on macOS.
Does iStat Menus offer any discounts?
iStat Menus publicly lists the following: Upgrade pricing from iStat Menus 6; Included with a Setapp subscription.
Does iStat Menus have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. iStat Menus is listed for macOS.
Does iStat Menus have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. iStat Menus is listed for macOS.
Is iStat Menus open source?
iStat Menus is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does iStat Menus integrate with?
iStat Menus's listing names Apple Weather, AccuWeather, Xweather, Environment Canada, WillyWeather and Setapp.
Who makes iStat Menus?
iStat Menus is made by Bjango Pty Ltd.
What are the alternatives to iStat Menus?
The closest alternatives to iStat Menus in our directory are Stats, SwiftBar and CleanMyMac.
How does iStat Menus compare with other desktop utilities?
iStat Menus's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 17.
Could I make my own version of iStat Menus?
Nothing iStat Menus does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from iStat Menus’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Bjango's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-16.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Bjango Pty Ltd. Prices change, so check bjango.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- iStat Menus, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/istat-menus
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "iStat Menus: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/istat-menus
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/istat-menus/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after iStat Menus, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what iStat Menus’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. iStat Menus is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Bjango Pty Ltd. Prices and plans change: check bjango.com before you buy.