The TripMode Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about TripMode 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.
TripMode
The Insider’s Guide
Mac app that blocks background data use on slow or metered networks
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from TripMode’s own pages.
Made by Alix Sàrl · checked Nov 13, 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 TripMode’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on TripMode’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
TripMode is a Mac app that blocks apps from using the internet unless you allow them, which stops background updates and syncs from eating a limited data plan. It adds a live traffic monitor, usage reports, data limits and hotspot detection. It is now sold only through the Mac App Store.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about TripMode, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is Mac only and sold through the Mac App Store alone, and the listing shows two prices for each plan.
- 1
Best for keeping Mac apps off a limited data plan
TripMode blocks Mac apps from the internet unless you allow them, which stops background updates eating a hotspot plan.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.25 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $14.99 per year after a 7-day trial.
- 3
There is a free plan
A feature-limited free mode is available on the Mac App Store; the listing does not say which features it leaves out.
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Block by default
Lists every app requesting internet access and blocks them by default; you choose which apps get through and see each one's data use.
- 6
Hotspot detection
Remembers networks it was activated on and turns on by itself when you connect to a mobile hotspot or tether an iPhone.
- 7
Live monitor and reports
Shows real-time traffic per app and reports usage for the last day, week or month, with the servers and domains each app contacted.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 69 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of TripMode you could make: reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
TripMode at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $14.99 per year after a 7-day trial
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial, then $14.99 a year unless cancelled
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Alix Sàrl
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for keeping Mac apps off a limited data plan
TripMode blocks Mac apps from the internet unless you allow them, which stops background updates eating a hotspot plan. It is Mac only and sold through the Mac App Store alone, and the listing shows two prices for each plan.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $14.99 a year, about $1.25 a month, below the cheapest quarter of this category. Lifetime is $39.99, under a year of the middle subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 7-day trial, then a feature-limited free mode that the listing does not describe. |
| Features | B | Block by default, hotspot detection, live monitor and reports, data limits, profiles and scheduling. The listing names no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but you install it, pick which apps may connect, and that is it. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, macOS 11.0 or later. The Windows version and TripMode 2 are end of life. |
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 TripMode is for
- Fits if you tether a Mac to a phone and want background apps kept off
- Works for people who travel on a small data allowance
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you use Windows, as that version is marked end of life
- Skip it if you hold an old license key, since the vendor no longer sells them and the old ones do not work with the App Store version
- Tight if you stay on the free mode, since the listing does not say what it leaves out
- Watch out: the listing shows two prices for Monthly, Yearly and Lifetime without explaining the difference
Good to know
Good for
- Travelers and anyone on tethered or capped mobile data
- Seeing which Mac apps use the network and which domains they contact
- Cutting background updates and cloud syncs on a slow connection
Worth knowing
- Mac only; the App Store listing states macOS 11.0 or later. TripMode for Windows and TripMode 2 are marked end of life.
- The vendor no longer sells license keys; purchases go through the Mac App Store, and an old license does not work with that version.
- The App Store listing shows two prices for each of Monthly, Yearly and Lifetime without explaining the difference.
- It is also included in Setapp, which the vendor lists at $9.99 a month for over 240 apps.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.25
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
TripMode has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14.99 per year after a 7-day trial.
Free
$0
Feature-limited mode of the Mac App Store app.
Monthly
$4.99
per month; the listing also shows $5.99 under this name
Auto-renewing subscription with full access, including Family Sharing.
Yearly
$14.99
per year; the listing also shows $17.99 under this name
Auto-renewing subscription after the 7-day trial, with all updates included.
Lifetime
$39.99
one-time; the listing also shows $49.99 under this name
One-time in-app purchase with full access and unlimited updates, shared through Family Sharing.
The free plan
A feature-limited free mode is available on the Mac App Store; the listing does not say which features it leaves out.
Trying it first
7-day free trial, then $14.99 a year unless cancelled
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 13, 2026.
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
Mac app that blocks background data use on slow or metered networks. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, site & app blocker, reports, system monitor.
Block by default, hotspot detection, live monitor and reports, data limits, profiles and scheduling.
- Block by default
- Lists every app requesting internet access and blocks them by default; you choose which apps get through and see each one's data use.
- Hotspot detection
- Remembers networks it was activated on and turns on by itself when you connect to a mobile hotspot or tether an iPhone.
- Live monitor and reports
- Shows real-time traffic per app and reports usage for the last day, week or month, with the servers and domains each app contacted.
- Data limits
- Warns before a limit you set is reached, then blocks all transfers; limits can apply to specific networks such as a hotspot.
- Profiles and scheduler
- Profiles for work, calls, streaming or gaming, with a scheduler to switch TripMode on or off at set times.
- Automation
- Supports AppleScript and Shortcuts for automating when and how it runs.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Setapp
- AppleScript
- Shortcuts
TripMode is made by Alix Sàrl.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
69/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
TripMode's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 55 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $1.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.99 for the category: 6 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 6 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. TripMode’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 186
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. TripMode is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
The plain part of TripMode you could make: reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $14.99 a year.
What you could make
- Reports: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Readings from inside the operating system.
- Blocking that reaches every browser and app and is hard to switch off.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. TripMode’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
NetLimiter, GlassWire, LuLu, Radio Silence and TG Pro
The 5 tools TripMode is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
NetLimiter
Free trial
Per-app internet bandwidth limits and monitoring for Windows.
- TripMode has a free plan. NetLimiter does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only TripMode lists a macOS app.
- Only NetLimiter lists a Windows app.
- 2.4GPA
GlassWire
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Windows network monitor and firewall with a traffic time machine.
- Only TripMode lists a macOS app.
- Only GlassWire lists Windows and Android apps.
- TripMode can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
LuLu
Free
Free open-source Mac firewall for outgoing connections.
- TripMode can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- LuLu is open source, according to its own site.
- TripMode also covers site & app blocker, reports and system monitor.
- 2.4GPA
Radio Silence
Free trial · from $9 one-time
Mac firewall and network monitor that blocks apps from going online.
- TripMode has a free plan. Radio Silence does not, though it has a free trial.
- TripMode also covers site & app blocker and reports.
- 2.4GPA
TG Pro
Free trial · from $10 one-time
Mac temperature monitor with manual and automatic fan control.
- TripMode has a free plan. TG Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- TripMode also covers site & app blocker and reports.
- TG Pro also covers menu bar app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 TripMode free?
TripMode has a free plan. A feature-limited free mode is available on the Mac App Store; the listing does not say which features it leaves out.
How much does TripMode cost?
TripMode lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does TripMode work on?
TripMode is available on macOS.
Does TripMode have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. TripMode is listed for macOS.
Does TripMode have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. TripMode is listed for macOS.
Is TripMode open source?
TripMode is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does TripMode integrate with?
TripMode's listing names Setapp, AppleScript and Shortcuts. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does TripMode have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial, then $14.99 a year unless cancelled.
Who makes TripMode?
TripMode is made by Alix Sàrl.
What are the alternatives to TripMode?
The closest alternatives to TripMode in our directory are NetLimiter, GlassWire, LuLu, Radio Silence and TG Pro.
How does TripMode compare with other desktop utilities?
TripMode's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
Is TripMode good value for money?
ToolGPA grades TripMode A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.99 for the category: 6 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of TripMode?
The plain part of TripMode you could make: reports. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from TripMode’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Alix Sàrl's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Alix Sàrl. Prices change, so check tripmode.ch before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- TripMode, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tripmode
- 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, "TripMode: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tripmode
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tripmode/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
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Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what TripMode’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. TripMode is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Alix Sàrl. Prices and plans change: check tripmode.ch before you buy.