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Show HN: macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time

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Show HN: macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time

#1
I built a macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time via API after hitting limits mid-flow too often.

Signed and notarised by Apple. Open source.

https://github.com/richhickson/claudecodeusage

https://x.com/richhickson

Show HN: macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time
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Re: Show HN: macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time

#3
post #2

Alternatively there's also this with 1.7k stars already and supporting more services (Despite the name): https://github.com/steipete/CodexBar ( https://codexbar.app )

Good shout. CodexBar covers a lot more ground. This one is intentionally minimal and Claude focused because that is all I personally needed.

Re: Show HN: macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time

#5
post #4
post #2

Alternatively there's also this with 1.7k stars already and supporting more services (Despite the name): https://github.com/steipete/CodexBar ( https://codexbar.app )

Is it safe ? It needs to reads Keychain. Like the OP app

The app only reads ONE specific keychain entry:

  Service: "Claude Code-credentials"

  This is the entry created by the official Claude Code CLI when you log in. The app:

  1. Only reads - never writes, modifies, or deletes any keychain data
  2. Only accesses this one service name - cannot read any other passwords, keys, or credentials
  3. Extracts only the OAuth access token - used to call api.anthropic.com/api/oauth/usage
  4. Sends data only to Anthropic's API - no analytics, no third-party servers

  The token never leaves your machine except to Anthropic's own API endpoint. You can verify this yourself - the entire source is ~400 lines of Swift: https://github.com/richhickson/claudecodeusage

  macOS will also prompt you the first time the app tries to access this keychain entry, giving you control to allow or deny.

Re: Show HN: macOS menu bar app to track Claude usage in real time

#8

If I wanted to vibe code my own macOS menu bar apps is this a good starter project to use as a template? Are there any others? Do I just not need one (claude code can do it without a starter template at all)?

That is exactly what I did. Claude scaffolded it from scratch based on behaviour, then I iterated and had Codex review it for safety.
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