How to Set Up SessionWatcher in Under 2 Minutes

What Is SessionWatcher?

SessionWatcher is a lightweight macOS menu bar app designed for developers who use Claude Code or OpenAI Codex as part of their daily workflow. It monitors your token usage, tracks API costs in real-time, counts down the 5-hour rate limit window, and sends you macOS notifications before you hit your limit.

Instead of running /usage in the CLI or switching to the Anthropic dashboard, you glance at your menu bar. That's it.

Who it's for: Any developer on macOS who uses Claude Code or Codex regularly and wants to avoid surprise rate limit lockouts. Whether you're on the Pro plan ($20/month) or Max plan ($100–$200/month), SessionWatcher tracks your usage automatically.

Step 1: Purchase SessionWatcher

Head to sessionwatcher.com/#pricing and choose your plan:

• Claude Code only — $2.99 one-time. Tracks Claude Code usage, tokens, costs, and rate limits.
• Codex only — $2.99 one-time. Same features for OpenAI Codex.
• Bundle (Claude Code + Codex) — $4.99 one-time. Both products, one license. Save $1 compared to buying separately.

Payment is processed through a secure checkout. After purchase, you'll receive a confirmation email with your license key and a download link.

Step 2: Download the DMG

Click the download link in your confirmation email. You'll get a .dmg file — the standard macOS disk image format.

The download is small (under 15 MB). SessionWatcher is a native Swift app with no Electron, no web views, and no background services consuming resources.

Step 3: Drag to Applications

Open the DMG file. You'll see the familiar macOS installer window with the SessionWatcher app icon and an arrow pointing to the Applications folder. Drag the icon to Applications.

If macOS shows a Gatekeeper warning (“SessionWatcher can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer”), right-click the app in Applications and select Open. This only happens on first launch.

Step 4: Launch and Enter Your License Key

Launch SessionWatcher from your Applications folder (or Spotlight). On first launch, you'll see a license activation prompt.

1. Paste the license key from your confirmation email
2. Click Activate
3. SessionWatcher validates your key and activates instantly

That's it for setup. No Anthropic API key needed. No OAuth flow. No configuration files to edit. SessionWatcher reads usage data directly from Claude Code and Codex running on your machine.

Step 5: See Your Usage in the Menu Bar

Once activated, SessionWatcher appears in your macOS menu bar. Start using Claude Code or Codex as you normally would, and SessionWatcher automatically detects your activity and begins tracking.

Click the menu bar icon to see the full detail view with:

• Current token usage (input, output, cache, reasoning tokens)
• Percentage of your rate limit used
• Estimated API cost for the current session
• 5-hour window countdown timer
• Historical usage for previous sessions

SessionWatcher

Ready to start tracking?
Set up in 2 minutes.

Native macOS menu bar app. Track Claude Code and Codex usage, costs, and rate limits in real-time.

★★★★★ 4.9/5 from developers

“Fast, simple, and does exactly what it should. Definitely worth it.”

@nicojerome on GitHub

Get SessionWatcher

macOS 14+. $2.99 one-time purchase.

What You'll See: A Walkthrough of Key Features

The 5-Hour Window Countdown

The most valuable feature for power users. SessionWatcher tracks the rolling 5-hour window that Anthropic uses to enforce rate limits. You see a live countdown showing when your oldest usage rolls off and capacity frees up. This means you always know exactly when you can resume heavy usage after approaching your limit.

Real-Time Cost Tracking

SessionWatcher calculates your API cost in real-time based on Anthropic's published token prices. See exactly how much your current session is costing in dollars and cents. Over time, this helps you understand your daily and weekly Claude Code spend without logging into any dashboard.

Menu Bar Display Modes

SessionWatcher offers multiple display modes so you see exactly the information you care about:

• Percentage mode — Shows “72%” in your menu bar. At a glance, you know how much of your rate limit is consumed.
• Token count mode — Shows raw token numbers for precision tracking.
• Cost mode — Shows your dollar spend for the current window.
• Icon-only mode — Minimal footprint. The icon color changes as you approach your limit (green, yellow, red).

macOS Notifications

SessionWatcher sends native macOS notifications at configurable thresholds. By default, you get alerted at 80% and 90% of your rate limit. This gives you a chance to wrap up your current task or pace your remaining requests before getting locked out.

Troubleshooting Common Questions

“SessionWatcher isn't showing any usage data”

Make sure Claude Code or Codex is actively running on your machine. SessionWatcher detects usage from running instances. If you haven't made any requests yet in the current session, there's nothing to display. Try sending a message in Claude Code, then check SessionWatcher.

“My license key isn't working”

Double-check that you copied the full key from your confirmation email, with no leading or trailing spaces. License keys are case-sensitive. If the issue persists, reach out via the support link in the app or email support directly.

“macOS says the app is from an unidentified developer”

Right-click the app in your Applications folder and select Open. macOS will show a dialog with an Open button. This bypasses Gatekeeper for that specific app. You only need to do this once.

“Can I move SessionWatcher to a new Mac?”

Each license is tied to one machine. If you replace your Mac or need to switch devices, contact support to transfer your license.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install SessionWatcher?

Purchase from sessionwatcher.com, download the DMG, drag to Applications, launch, and enter your license key. The whole process takes under 2 minutes.

What macOS version does SessionWatcher require?

macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. SessionWatcher runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Does SessionWatcher require an Anthropic API key?

No. SessionWatcher reads usage data directly from Claude Code running on your machine. You do not need to provide any API keys or credentials beyond your SessionWatcher license key.

How much does SessionWatcher cost?

$2.99 one-time for Claude Code tracking. $4.99 for the bundle (Claude Code + Codex). No subscription. No recurring fees.

Can I use SessionWatcher on multiple Macs?

Each license key activates on one Mac. Contact support if you need to transfer your license to a different machine.