How to Check Z.ai Usage on macOS

Short answer: open the Z.ai console 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 Z.ai console

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 uses a Z.ai API key. The reading sits in the menu bar, so it is in front of you without being asked for.

Readings come from the provider, so a network problem shows up as a stale number rather than a wrong one.

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

Which should you use?

If you check Z.ai usage now and then, use the Z.ai console 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 Z.ai usage trackers.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check Z.ai usage?

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

How does SessionWatcher connect to Z.ai?

SessionWatcher uses a Z.ai API key.

Does it read my code?

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