CodexBar: Track Your AI Usage and Token Limits in Real Time on macOS

If you use tools like Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor, you’ve probably run into a frustrating situation: hitting your token limit in the middle of a session without warning. It interrupts your workflow, breaks your focus, and forces you to constantly check dashboards.

CodexBar solves this problem with a simple but powerful idea.

This lightweight, open-source macOS app lives in your menu bar and lets you monitor your AI usage quotas in real time—across multiple providers—without opening a single browser tab.

A Simple Tool That Fixes a Real Problem

Developed by Peter Steinberger, a well-known macOS and iOS developer in the Apple ecosystem, CodexBar is designed to be fast, minimal, and incredibly useful.

• ✅ Free and open source (MIT license)
• ✅ Works with multiple AI providers
• ✅ Available via Homebrew or GitHub
• ✅ Runs quietly in the background

Instead of juggling multiple dashboards, CodexBar gives you everything at a glance.

Real-Time AI Usage Right in Your Menu Bar

Once installed, CodexBar sits neatly in your macOS menu bar. There’s no dock icon, no clutter—just a small indicator that keeps you informed.

What You See at a Glance

The app uses a clever dual-bar icon:

• Top bar: current session usage
• Bottom bar: weekly usage

If something goes wrong (like outdated data), the icon automatically dims to alert you.

Detailed Insights for Each AI Provider

Clicking the icon opens a detailed card for each provider you’ve enabled.

For example, with Claude, you can view:

• Current session usage and reset timer
• Weekly quota and usage pace
• Breakdown by model
• Monthly extra usage and limits
• Total cost in tokens and USD (last 30 days)
• Quick links to dashboard and status page

This makes it much easier to stay within limits and manage your AI spending efficiently.

Supported AI Providers

CodexBar supports a wide range of AI services, and new ones are added regularly.

Some of the supported providers include:

• Claude
• Codex
• Cursor
• Gemini
• Copilot
• Vertex AI
• OpenRouter
• Ollama
• JetBrains AI
• Warp
• And many more

Each provider gets its own tab, and you can enable only the ones you actually use.

Merge Icons Mode

If you prefer a cleaner look, CodexBar also includes a “Merge Icons” mode, which combines all providers into a single menu bar icon with a built-in selector.

Easy Installation on macOS

CodexBar requires macOS 14 Sonoma or newer and works on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Install via Homebrew (Recommended)

brew install --cask steipete/tap/codexbar

Alternative Installation

• Download the ZIP file from GitHub Releases
• Extract the app
• Drag and drop it into your Applications folder

The app uses Sparkle for automatic updates, so you’ll always stay up to date.

Quick Setup and Smart Detection

Once launched, CodexBar appears instantly in your menu bar.

Setup is straightforward:

1. Open Settings → Providers
2. Enable the AI services you use

The app can:

• Automatically detect installed CLI tools (Claude, Codex, Gemini, etc.)
• Use browser cookies to fetch usage data when needed

This makes onboarding fast and mostly automatic.

Why CodexBar Is a Must-Have for AI Power Users

If you rely on multiple AI tools daily, managing usage limits can quickly become a headache. CodexBar eliminates that friction entirely.

Key Benefits

• No more surprise token limits
• Centralized monitoring across providers
• Minimal and distraction-free design
• Real-time insights without dashboards

It’s especially useful for developers, content creators, and AI-heavy workflows.

Final Thoughts

CodexBar is one of those rare tools that feels instantly essential. It doesn’t try to do too much—it simply solves a real problem extremely well.

By bringing real-time AI usage tracking directly into your macOS menu bar, it helps you stay in control, avoid interruptions, and optimize how you use AI tools every day.

If you regularly use Claude, Codex, Cursor, or similar services, CodexBar is absolutely worth installing.