AIUsageWatchAIUsageWatch vs ccusage.
Find your fit.
AIUsageWatch and ccusage answer different everyday questions. AIUsageWatch shows the remaining allowance reported for an account. ccusage analyses local token history and estimates costs. A cost estimate is not the same as the percentage left in a subscription window.
Which should you choose?
Choose AIUsageWatch for an always-visible Mac menu bar view of allowance left. Choose ccusage when you want to examine token use by date or session, work in the terminal or export data for your own analysis. You can use both for these different purposes.
ccusage is a local command-line tool for token usage and estimated costs across supported coding agents. It offers date and session reports plus JSON output. Choose it for usage analysis and scripts; those estimates answer a different question from subscription allowance left. Official source ↗
Feature comparison
| Feature | AIUsageWatch | ccusage |
|---|---|---|
| Main question | How much allowance is left? | How many tokens were used, and what is their estimated cost? |
| Interface | Native macOS menu bar app | Command-line tables and JSON |
| Data sources | Provider readings, CLI app-server and local fallback/logs | Local usage files from supported coding agents |
| Expiring banked resets | Codex warning dot; configurable 1–14 days ahead | Different reporting focus |
| Usage periods | Provider-specific allowance and available reset times | Daily, weekly, monthly and session reports |
| Estimated token costs | Not calculated | Calculated using token counts and model pricing |
| Export | No reporting export | JSON output |
| Platform | macOS 14+ | CLI on compatible environments |
| Price and availability | Free; public release in preparation | MIT-licensed; publicly available |
Allowance windows and reporting periods are different
A weekly report groups activity into a reporting period. A provider’s weekly allowance is an account limit with its own reset boundary. You should not turn a token-cost estimate into a remaining percentage without an appropriate provider limit. AIUsageWatch displays the allowance figure available from each source; it does not estimate your invoice or how many prompts you can still send.
What an AIUsageWatch reading means
The filled bar is allowance left, and color identifies an account. Separate Claude and Codex directories can appear together. Open the menu for reset times and reading status. If a fetch fails, the app keeps the last good number and explains how old it is. Grok readings come from the CLI log; Cursor’s included-usage figure is not assumed to be weekly.
Live monitoring uses your existing provider authentication. At a live Codex weekly balance of 100% remaining, the app can send a small request to start the weekly window. It consumes a small amount of allowance; read the starter details before use.
Common questions
Can ccusage tell me exactly how much subscription allowance is left?
Its token and estimated-cost reports should not be treated as an exact remaining subscription quota. AIUsageWatch reads account allowance information where available. Provider readings and local history can be incomplete or stale, so check the source and status for either tool.
Can AIUsageWatch guarantee that I will not hit a limit?
No. Readings depend on provider data, refresh timing and permissions. Saved readings can be old, and providers can apply other restrictions. The app shows available information and does not increase your allowance.
Can I download AIUsageWatch today?
The public release is in preparation. The website has an illustrative preview and setup information. A verified download link will be added when it is available.
Sources and scope
ccusage official website ↗ · Official documentation ↗
Features checked against official product documentation on 4 October 2026. AIUsageWatch information follows its current app source. Availability and features can change. This is a workflow comparison, not a benchmark or an independent endorsement.
See the full guide to AI usage monitors for Mac →
A clearer view of your AI allowance.
AIUsageWatch is free. Public release is in preparation.