How to Check OpenRouter Usage on macOS

Short answer: open the OpenRouter dashboard when you want the authoritative number, or put it in your menu bar so you stop having to ask. Both are below, with what each one can actually see.

Method 1: the OpenRouter dashboard

This is the source of truth and it is free. The catch is that it is a pull, not a push: you only learn where you stand when you stop what you are doing and go and look. That is fine occasionally and poor when you are mid-task.

Method 2: the macOS menu bar

SessionWatcher reads your own account usage with an OpenRouter API key. The reading sits in the menu bar, so it is in front of you without being asked for.

OpenRouter fronts many upstream models, so per-model spend is the number worth watching and the easiest to lose track of.

It reads and displays usage on your Mac. It does not read your code or your conversations.

Which should you use?

If you check OpenRouter usage now and then, use the OpenRouter dashboard and spend nothing. If you run several tools at once, or you have already been caught out mid-task, an always-visible reading earns its one-time cost. For the full comparison including DIY scripts, see the best OpenRouter usage trackers.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check OpenRouter usage?

Open the OpenRouter dashboard for the authoritative figure, or keep it visible in the menu bar so you do not have to.

How does SessionWatcher connect to OpenRouter?

SessionWatcher reads your own account usage with an OpenRouter API key.

Does it read my code?

No. It reads and displays usage, not code or conversation content.