iStat Menus 7: Monitoring Mac Performance with Menu Bar Magic

macOS system monitors can often help you get the best out of your Mac. You may be looking for an app that is taking up a lot of RAM or may want to know when the CPU temperature is way overboard. Insights from system monitoring data can also help you solve problems with your Mac. However, not many of us can afford to keep a window open for the system monitor app, let alone check it continuously.

iStat Menus 7 aims to solve this problem by bringing system monitoring modules into your menu bar.

What is iStat Menus 7?

iStat Menus 7 is essentially a system monitoring tool for macOS. However, instead of displaying monitoring data in a complex window, iStat Menus makes it available in your menu bar. Depending on what you want to monitor on your Mac, you can set up the corresponding menu bar widget.

You should keep in mind that iStat Menus does more than show sensor data. The latest version, iStat Menus 7, also brings a full reboot, starting from design. More importantly, this system monitor seems to focus the most on customization.

“Our goal is still to show all the important stats in a well-made app. Even if a lot of the details have changed, that vision has remained constant.”

Marc Edwards, Founder and Designer of iStat Menus. Discover more in our interview.

Key Features

• iStat Menus 7 lets you access accurate system monitoring statistics right from the menu bar.
• Widgets for Weather, CPU & GPU, Memory, Disk Activity, Network, Sensor, and Battery and Power.
• Each of the menu bar entries is heavily customizable, including color, style, and behavior.
• iStat Menus 7 brings a revamped set of UI designs and combinations.
• Minimal software footprint, making it ideal for older, low-configuration Macs.

Key Specs

• macOS 11+ required.
• Support frequency monitoring on Apple Silicon Macs.
• Support for M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max MacBook Pros and iMacs.
• Support for early 2023 Mac Studio, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, Mac minis and 15-inch MacBook Air.
• 14-day free trial.
• Fully localized for over 30 languages.

iStat Menu Review (TheSweetBits Take)

Understanding their impact on system resources is an integral part of reviewing apps. So, ever since I started testing macOS apps, I have been using Mac system monitoring utilities.

However, most of the tools I have used do not offer the convenience and integration I need. So, when I saw iStat Menus a couple of years back, I tried it. Since then, it has been my go-to choice to monitor and manage macOS system performance continuously.

I have been testing the latest version, iStat Menus 7, for a few months. Here’s what I have found.

Installation and Setup

You can download iStat Menus from three places: the official website, Mac App Store, and Setapp. No matter which method, the installation package is small, and the process does not take more than a few seconds.

When you first open iStat Menus 7, it might take a few seconds to load the components. But, depending on your menu bar preferences, you may see one or two active modules out there. Nothing to worry, though. It is all customizable.

I also noticed that iStat Menus doesn’t require many permissions. However, you may have to install a helper to enable data from sensors/components.

Interface and Experience

There are two components to the IStat Menus 7 User Interface design: menu bar items and the iStat Menus window.

As soon as you start the program, the enabled menu bar items will appear on the menu bar. You’d have an option to add, remove, or modify these entries. Each menu bar entry will expand into a pane, where you can find the required system monitoring data. You can easily rearrange the menu bar entries based on what you want to see where.

Then, we have the iStat Menus window. This is where all the magic happens, and you get maximum control over what appears where. The UI is pretty intuitive, and you can move between multiple modules, including Global, Rules, Weather, Processor, Disks, Network, Sensors, Power, and Combined.

The Global tab lets you customize the system accent color for iStat Menus 7. You can choose between many designs and also pick dark/light mode. More importantly, this tab lets you control how frequently the iStat Menus engine will update system data and choose between Normal and Compact menu bar spacing.

In the same way, you can customize the many system monitoring modules.

System Monitoring Modules

Let’s take a look at the core system monitoring modules of iStat Menus 7 and what they can do.

• CPU & GPU: You’ll find accurate sensor data, such as the clock speed, temperature, etc. There are dedicated sections to track processes, GPU performance, load, and uptime. All these metrics will help you identify heavy-duty apps and background processes on your Mac.
  
• Memory: Given the importance of RAM when it comes to multitasking, everyone will benefit from the Memory module of iStat Menus 7. You can use this menu bar entry to monitor the pressure, memory usage, processes, and SWAP usage.
• Disk: As the name suggests, you can use this module to get monitoring data from the disks on your Mac. You get to see the storage capacity, read/Write speed statistics, and see a list of processes using disk resources.
• Network: This module provides you with all the necessary network-related metrics. These include real-time download/upload speeds, Wi-Fi name, public IP addresses, Ping, and processes that take up network resources the most.
  
• Sensors: This module can provide real-time numbers from the many sensors on your Mac. You get to know the CPU temperature, fan speed, power input, voltage, and frequency.
• Power: In this module, you can find details such as the battery percentage, battery health, current energy mode, keyboard brightness, and apps using up significant energy.

In addition to these, iStat Menus 7 also brings a few useful menu bar entries.

• Weather: This one lets you find compact/detailed information about the weather in an area.
• Time: You can use this module to replace the conventional clock. It comes with a fully customizable calendar interface as well.

These modules are powerful enough to replace a few menu bar apps you may already have.

Rules & Controls: Beyond Monitoring

iStat Menus 7 does more than let you monitor the vital system statistics of your Mac. Instead, you get a few controls that can keep your Mac running at its finest.

First, we have Rules and Notifications. Rules are automation instances that track your Mac’s performance. It is easy to create and manage these rules, thanks to the dedicated tab. Here, you can either customize the existing ones.

For example, you can ask iStat Menus to notify you when the CPU usage is high or the sensor temperature has been through the roof for some time. I have also set up a few banners to track changes to the network. It is nice to customize the type of notification—Banner or Alert—based on the data.

iStat Menus 7 also brings adaptive fan controls to your Mac. You can use Rules to customize the fan speeds at specific instances. For instance, you can put the fans to full speed when the CPU temperature is overboard. The latest version also lets you set up custom fan curves to efficiently manage the system temperature.

These automation options, combined with rich notifications, make it easy to keep track of your Mac without opening the menu bar entries often.

The Customization Factor

iStat Menus 7 is not the first system monitor to provide in-depth data in easy-to-understand formats. Nor is it the only app with menu bar entries. So, what makes this system monitoring suite worth all the praise? It’s customization.

You get to customize almost every aspect of iStat Menus, starting with what appears on the menu bar. On the other hand, if you have less menu bar real estate, you can use the Combined module, which packs crucial stats from different modules. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.

You will understand the extent of customization potential when it comes to the different modules. As I said before, you can change the color scheme of the module and rearrange what appears where. Moreover, iStat Menus lets you add multiple menu bar icons (entries) from a module.

For instance, you can use one entry from CPU & GPU to show the CPU resource consumption percentage. At the same time, you can have separate entries to show the display FPS or system load average. You can also choose different ways—graphs or bars—to show the same metric.

Depending on the module, you may get advanced customization options too. For instance, the Time module lets you choose from calendar viewing options.

Accuracy and Performance Impact

The latest version, iStat Menus 7, brings many customizations exclusive to Apple Silicon Macs. If you got one of these, you would love the support for frequency monitoring and data from additional sensors. Its options for fan control have also become better by a long shot.

Accuracy and Speed of Updates

iStat Menus 7 might very well be the most accurate system monitor I have come across. I noticed the overall difference, but something more for specific modules like Network Activity. Since we get to control the update frequency, the menu bar entries reflect changes quicker than many alternatives I’ve tried.

In this particular case, I used to have an app called Bandwidth+ to show network statistics on the menu bar. Though I was pleased with what it did, the Network module of iStat Menus showed me the drastic change in speed.

Impact on System

This system monitoring app surprises me in terms of performance impact as well. Considering the countless customization options it provides, iStat Menus can reasonably consume much more system resources. But, interestingly enough, it doesn’t.

Even when it is set to update details as frequently as possible, iStat Menus 7 retains its minimal footprint. It means you only have to worry about the space on your menu bar.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• You get comprehensive system monitoring modules
• Entirely customizable, from the menu bar to each section
• Well-integrated with macOS and its workflows
• Minimal impact on system resources/performance
• Multiple purchase options (one-time and subscription)
• Excellent support and maintenance

Cons

• It may cause menu bar clutter based on usage
• Fewer options to take action/fix system issues

Pricing and Availability

You can get iStat Menus from the official website for $11.99 (Personal license) or $14.99 for the Family pack. Both these rates are pretty reasonable compared to other Mac system monitors. You can also get iStat Menu 7 and further upgrades through a Setapp subscription, which costs around $10 a month but also offers access to 250+ other apps.

A note on Mac App Store version limitations

The Mac App Store version of iStat Menus, while convenient, has some limitations:

• Lacks weather information
• Cannot control fan speeds
• Cannot show CPU frequency
• Requires the iStat Menus Helper for certain statistics

For the full feature set and customization options, getting iStat Menus directly from the official website or through a Setapp subscription is recommended. It can replace multiple individual apps, offering significant value for the price.

Safety and Security

Is iStat Menus safe to use?
Yes, iStat Menus is considered safe to use. It is developed by Bjango, a reputable company known for creating reliable software for macOS. The application does not require excessive permissions and is designed to run efficiently without compromising system security.

Does iStat Menus collect any personal data or send information to third parties?
No, iStat Menus does not collect any personal data or send information to third parties. All monitoring data is kept locally on your Mac, and the app operates without requiring an internet connection. Privacy is a key focus for the development of iStat Menus.

More FAQs

How does iStat Menus monitor CPU and GPU performance?
iStat Menus provides detailed real-time monitoring of both CPU and GPU performance. It tracks core usage, frequency, temperature, and other key metrics. For Apple Silicon Macs, the app includes advanced frequency monitoring, offering you insights into CPU performance under different load conditions, such as during idle or heavy tasks.

How customizable is iStat Menus?
iStat Menus is highly customizable. You can rearrange menu bar items, combine multiple metrics into single entries, and choose different display styles (graphs or bars). Additionally, you can set rules for notifications and adapt fan speeds based on CPU temperature.

Is iStat Menus a free or paid app? Can I use it on multiple Macs?
iStat Menus is a paid app, but it offers a 14-day free trial to let you explore its features before purchasing. Once the trial expires, you’ll need to purchase either a Standard License or a Family Pack License to continue using the app. The Standard license allows installation on up to 3 computers primarily used by the purchaser, or 1 computer if the computer has no primary user. Family license allows installation on up to 5 computers within a single residential household.

Final Notes

iStat Menus 7 doesn’t have a steep learning curve, even as it allows room for maximum customization.

And please note: on M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max, M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max Macs, fan control may not work correctly in situations where macOS has turned the fans off. The developer is currently investigating this issue.