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Best Gemini Usage Trackers for macOS (2026)
Gemini Code Assist's free tier stopped serving Gemini CLI and the IDE extensions on June 18, 2026, so that work now runs on a Standard or Enterprise license or a paid API key - and the moment you hit the daily cap mid-task, you stop being productive. Here are the four real ways to track your Gemini CLI and Code Assist usage on macOS, ranked.
Last updated October 2026 · By Soren Starck
Quick answer: which Gemini tracker should you use?
Use SessionWatcher if you want an always-on tracker in the Mac menu bar or the Windows taskbar, with notifications before Gemini Code Assist or Gemini CLI quota pressure interrupts work. Use Google Cloud Console if you only need occasional manual quota checks, and use the Gemini CLI status command for a one-off terminal snapshot.
Best fit: developers on Mac or Windows who use Gemini alongside Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, opencode, Antigravity, Z.ai, Grok, OpenRouter, Devin, or Kimi Code and want one local usage dashboard instead of several browser tabs and commands.
Why You Need a Usage Tracker for Gemini
Gemini Code Assist enforces three stacked limits: requests-per-minute, daily request quota, and monthly token cap. On the Free tier the daily cap was usually the binding one (historically 240 chat requests/day), but since June 18, 2026 that tier no longer serves Gemini CLI or the IDE extensions. On Standard ($22.80/user, or $19 with an annual commitment) and Enterprise ($54/user, or $45 annual) the ceilings are higher, but a heavy agentic workflow can still blow through hours of quota in 90 minutes.
Worse: Google Cloud's quota dashboard is buried under IAM & Admin → Quotas → filter to Gemini Code Assist. It lags by minutes and won't tell you “you have 23 chat requests left today.” The CLI's status command is on-demand only.
A real tracker fixes this. We tested four. Here's how they compare.
#1: SessionWatcher for Gemini Editor's Pick
SessionWatcher for Gemini is a native app for Mac and Windows that watches your Gemini Code Assist quotas live, from the Mac menu bar or the Windows taskbar, and notifies before you hit the daily cap.
What it tracks:
- Daily chat/agent request count: Exact requests used out of your tier's daily quota.
- Token-per-minute meter: Live RPM and TPM so you can see if a parallel agent run is about to throttle.
- Monthly token cap: Where you are against the rolling 30-day total.
- Tier-aware: Knows Free, Standard, and Enterprise ceilings and applies the right math.
- Desktop notifications: Warn at 70% / 90% so you can pace before the cap hits.
- Reset countdown: Live timer to next quota reset (midnight Pacific by default).
Setup: Download, paste your GCP service-account key with the Quotas read role, choose your project. Tracking in under 60 seconds.
Pricing: included in Pro ($59 one-time, or $24/year), covering all supported tools.
Limitations: macOS 14+ or Windows 10 (2004+)/11 only. Requires a GCP read-only service account.
#2: Google Cloud Console Quotas Page
Go to console.cloud.google.com/iam-admin/quotas, filter by “Gemini Code Assist” or “Cloud AI Companion API”, and you'll see live(ish) usage of your daily and per-minute quotas.
What it shows:
- Each individual quota (RPM, daily requests, TPM)
- Current usage vs limit, with a percentage bar
- Reset cadence and a request-increase button
Pricing: Free (included with GCP).
Limitations: Buried under IAM & Admin. Lives in a browser tab. Lags by 1–2 minutes. No notifications. No projection. You have to remember to check. The console's UI is overwhelming if you're not a GCP regular.
#3: Gemini CLI Status Command
The Gemini CLI ships with a status / usage command that prints remaining requests for the day and current rate-limit state. The exact flag depends on your CLI version - check gemini --help.
What it shows:
- Remaining requests in today's quota
- Current model and tier
- Project ID being billed
Pricing: Free (built into the CLI).
Limitations: Snapshot only. No notifications. Doesn't show monthly trend or token-per-minute pressure. You have to remember to run it - exactly the failure mode you want to avoid.
SessionWatcher
Free tier or not.
Always know how close you are.
Native app for the Mac menu bar and the Windows taskbar. Track Claude, Codex and 18 more tools' usage, costs, and rate limits in real time.
“Fast, simple, and does exactly what it should. Definitely worth it.”
@nicojerome on GitHub
Prices go up Nov 1, midnight Paris time. Prices go up Nov 1
macOS 14+. Free for 7 days, no credit card.
For Mac (macOS 14+). Gemini CLI and everything in Pro are included. Nothing is charged when it ends.
Rather buy now? Pro covers Gemini CLI: $24 a year or $59 once →
#4: DIY Scripts (Cloud Monitoring API + cron)
Google Cloud's Monitoring API exposes per-quota metrics that you can query, alert on, and visualize.
Typical approaches:
- Cron job hitting
monitoring.googleapis.comfor quota usage metrics - Cloud Monitoring alert policies that email you at threshold
- Custom Grafana / Datadog dashboards with GCP exporter
- SwiftBar plugins that hit the API and render to menu bar
Pricing: Free, plus your time. (Heavy Monitoring API usage can incur charges.)
Limitations: Steepest learning curve of the four. Service accounts, IAM scopes, metric paths - getting it right takes hours. Maintaining it across GCP API changes takes more.
Comparison: All 4 Options at a Glance
| Feature | SessionWatcher | GCP Console | CLI status | DIY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live daily-cap meter | Yes | Delayed | On demand | Varies |
| RPM / TPM monitoring | Yes | Yes | No | DIY |
| Tier-aware (Free/Standard/Enterprise) | Yes | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Desktop notifications | Yes | No | No | DIY (email) |
| Always-on display | Menu bar / taskbar | No | No | DIY |
| Setup time | 60 seconds | None | None | Hours |
| Price | $59 one-time (Pro) | Free | Free | Free + time |
Tracking Gemini CLI Usage on Windows
The Google Cloud Console quotas page and the Gemini CLI status command work the same on Windows. For an always-on readout, SessionWatcher for Windows tracks Gemini CLI alongside the same 20 tools as the Mac app: in the taskbar on Windows 11, or in a small window next to the taskbar on Windows 10 (version 2004 or later), with the same threshold notifications. One license key covers both platforms, and Pro works on up to 5 devices, any mix of Macs and Windows PCs. For every Windows option side by side, see the best AI usage trackers for Windows.
The Verdict
For anyone using Gemini Code Assist daily - Free, Standard, or Enterprise - SessionWatcher for Gemini is the only tool that gives you tier-aware caps, live RPM/TPM, and notifications without a GCP rabbit-hole.
If you use Gemini once a week, the console is fine. Daily users: Pro pays for itself the first time you avoid a 4pm lockout.
SessionWatcherGemini quotas, live in your menu bar or taskbar.
All supported tools, one license. No subscription.
Native app for the Mac menu bar and the Windows taskbar. Track Claude, Codex and 18 more tools' usage, costs, and rate limits in real time.
“Fast, simple, and does exactly what it should. Definitely worth it.”
@nicojerome on GitHub
Prices go up Nov 1, midnight Paris time. Prices go up Nov 1
macOS 14+. Free for 7 days, no credit card.
For Mac (macOS 14+). Gemini CLI and everything in Pro are included. Nothing is charged when it ends.
Rather buy now? Pro covers Gemini CLI: $24 a year or $59 once →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Gemini usage tracker for Mac?
SessionWatcher for Gemini. A live readout in the Mac menu bar (or the Windows taskbar), tier-aware caps, RPM/TPM monitoring, notifications. Part of Pro, $59 one-time.
Is Gemini Code Assist Free actually free?
It is still $0, but since June 18, 2026 it no longer serves Gemini CLI or the Gemini Code Assist IDE extensions. For that work you now need a Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license or a paid Gemini API key. See Gemini rate limits explained for how the limits work.
Can I track Gemini usage for free?
Yes - the GCP Quotas page and the Gemini CLI status command are free. Neither is always-on or notifies you before lockout.
How much does SessionWatcher for Gemini cost?
Included in Pro ($59 one-time, or $24/year), covering all 20 supported tools, including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, and opencode. One license key works on Mac and Windows: Pro covers up to 5 devices, any mix of Macs and Windows PCs.
Is there a Gemini CLI usage tracker for Windows?
Yes. SessionWatcher for Windows tracks Gemini CLI alongside the same 20 tools as the Mac app. On Windows 11 the live readout sits in the taskbar; on Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) it appears in a small window next to the taskbar. It sends threshold notifications (70% and 90% by default), and the same license key works on Mac and Windows. The installer is not code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen may show a warning: click More info, then Run anyway. See also the best AI usage trackers for Windows.