iStat Menus alternative
An iStat Menus alternative focused on the battery
iStat Menus is a complete system monitor for the menu bar: CPU and GPU, memory, disks, network, sensors with fan control, weather, clocks. The battery is one of its many items, with the time left, health and history graphs, and since version 7 a switch for Low and High Power. It does not limit the charge, name the apps by energy or keep the Mac awake. Dotwatt gives the whole menu bar item to the battery.
Dotwatt vs iStat Menus
Checked on 13 November 2026, iStat Menus 7.5. Low price for what it does: the one-time price divided by the score on the other rows; Yes under $1 a point, Partly up to $2.50.
| Feature | Dotwatt | iStat Menus |
|---|---|---|
| See | ||
| Time left on battery | YesMeasured from the real draw | YesIn the menu bar |
| Names the apps spending the charge | YesEach app's share | NoTop apps by CPU, memory, disk and network |
| Measures what quitting an app gave | YesMeasured again after the app quits | No |
| Control | ||
| Charge limit | Yes80 to 100%, on macOS 26.4 or later | No |
| Charge to 100% once | YesOne tap, or by a set time | No |
| Switches Low and High Power | YesOr Low Power by itself under a level | YesOn supported Macs |
| Keeps the Mac awake on demand | YesNo limit, a timer, or while an app runs; a shortcut key | NoIts help says it does not |
| Awake only while coding agents work | YesRecognises 13 agents | No |
| Record | ||
| Battery health over time | YesMonth by month, and a report file | YesHealth, and graphs up to 28 days |
| What a night asleep cost | YesCharge lost and wakes | NoNothing is recorded during sleep |
| Price and fit | ||
| One payment, no subscription | Yes | YesWeather data is sold separately |
| Automation from Shortcuts or scripts | YesShortcuts actions and dotwatt:// links | No |
| Runs on macOS 13 or earlier | NoNeeds macOS 14 and Apple silicon | YesmacOS 13.5 or later |
| Low price for what it does | Yes$7.99 at the regular price, $0.61 a point | Partly$11.99, $2.00 a point |
| Where the others go further | ||
| iPhone and iPad battery health | No | NoBattery levels of Bluetooth devices |
| CPU, memory, disk and network monitors | YesAnd GPU, temperatures and fans | YesAnd GPU, sensors, fan control, weather |
| Dotwatt | iStat Menus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99, one payment. | $11.99, or $14.99 for a Family Pack. Weather data is included for 6 months, then sold in packs from $2.49 a year. |
| Macs per licence | Up to 3 | Up to 3, or 5 in a household with the Family Pack |
| Free to try | 7 days, the whole app. | 14 days. |
| Needs | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon. The charge limit needs macOS 26.4. | macOS 13.5 or later. |
| Sold through | This website | The maker's website, the Mac App Store and Setapp |
Based on what Bjango publishes: iStat Menus, iStat Menus version history, iStat Menus help: history graphs, iStat Menus licence agreement. "No" means those pages do not list the feature. Prices are those shown to a visitor from the United States, unless given in euros.
Which should you choose?
Choose iStat Menus if
You want to watch the whole Mac from the menu bar: processor, memory, disks, network, temperatures and fans, with fan control and weather.
iStat Menus by BjangoChoose Dotwatt if
The battery is what you care about. You want the apps ranked by the energy they use, a charge limit, a record of what each night asleep cost, and a Mac that stays awake while your agents work.
Everything Dotwatt does
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iStat Menus is a product and trademark of Bjango. Dotwatt is not affiliated with it. Found something out of date? Write to support@dotwatt.app and we will correct it.