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SessionWatcher vs ccusage (2026)
ccusage is a genuinely great free, open-source CLI for Claude Code usage, and now for Codex and 16 more agent CLIs. SessionWatcher is a different category: a native, always-on app for the Mac menu bar and the Windows taskbar that keeps 22 AI coding tools in view, with notifications before a limit. Here's an honest, head-to-head look at which one fits your workflow.
Last updated October 2026 · ccusage facts from its README, read 6 October 2026 · By Soren Starck
The short answer
If you want a free, terminal-based usage report you run when you feel like it, ccusage is excellent and you should use it. If you want an always-on menu bar or taskbar tracker that covers 22 AI coding tools and sends desktop notifications before you get locked out, that's what SessionWatcher is built for. They're not really competitors so much as two answers to two different questions.
What ccusage is (and why it's good)
ccusage is a free, open-source command-line tool started by ryoppippi. It parses the local session files that Claude Code (in ~/.claude/projects/*.jsonl) and, per its README, 17 other agent CLIs keep, including Codex, OpenCode, GitHub Copilot CLI and Gemini CLI, and prints a clean breakdown of your token usage and cost right in the terminal.
What it does well:
- Free and open source. No license to buy, fully inspectable code, easy to run via
npx. - Excellent Claude Code reporting. Token and cost breakdowns by day, session, and project, straight from your local Claude logs.
- Terminal-native. If you live in the shell and like piping output into scripts, it fits right in.
- Cross-platform. As a Node CLI it runs anywhere you have Node, not just macOS.
In short: for free, on-demand usage reporting from the command line, ccusage is one of the best tools out there. This page isn't here to talk you out of it.
Where SessionWatcher is different
SessionWatcher is a native Claude usage tracker for Mac and Windows that also covers Codex, Cursor and 19 more tools. Instead of running a command when you remember to, it sits in your Mac menu bar or Windows taskbar and updates in real time as you work. Three differences matter most:
- Always-on, not on-demand. The current 5-hour window, your percentage used, and a live countdown to reset are always visible. You glance up; you don't stop and run anything.
- Notifications before lockout. Because it runs persistently, SessionWatcher can fire native desktop notifications at 70% and 90% by default (or every 10%) so you can pace yourself before Claude stops responding.
- Live limits, not only token reports. SessionWatcher shows each provider's own limit percentages and reset times for 22 tools, Cursor included, in one place. ccusage reports tokens and estimated cost from local logs when you run it.
It also shows dollar cost for the current session and offers several menu bar display modes (percentage, tokens, cost, or a compact icon). On a Mac, setup is download, drag to Applications, paste your license key, tracking in under 30 seconds; on Windows you run the installer instead. The trade-off is honest: it runs on macOS 14+ or Windows 10 (2004+)/11 only, and it's a paid app rather than a free CLI.
SessionWatcher
Always-on usage tracking
for every tool you use.
Native app for the Mac menu bar and the Windows taskbar. Track Claude, Codex and 20 more tools' usage, costs, and rate limits in real time.
“Fast, simple, and does exactly what it should. Definitely worth it.”
@nicojerome on GitHub
macOS 14+. Free for 7 days, no credit card.
SessionWatcher vs ccusage at a glance
| Feature | SessionWatcher | ccusage |
|---|---|---|
| Tools covered | 20, including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot and Gemini CLI | 18 agent CLIs per its README, including Claude Code, Codex and Gemini CLI; not Cursor |
| Interface | Native app (Mac menu bar, Windows taskbar) | Terminal CLI |
| Always-on | Yes | On demand |
| Desktop notifications | Yes | No |
| 5-hour window countdown | Live, always visible | When run, or a live view in a terminal window |
| Cost reporting | Yes | Yes, estimated from local logs |
| Platform | macOS & Windows | Cross-platform (Node) |
| Setup | Mac: drag to Applications, ~30s. Windows: installer | npx / npm install |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Cost | $8.99 once (single tool) | Free |
Notice the orange highlights go both ways. ccusage genuinely wins on price, open source, and cross-platform support. SessionWatcher wins on coverage, always-on visibility, and notifications. That's the honest shape of the comparison.
What about Windows?
ccusage runs anywhere Node does, Windows included. SessionWatcher now does too: SessionWatcher for Windows puts the same always-on reading in the Windows 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 licence key covers your Macs and PCs. For the wider field, see our guide to AI usage trackers for Windows.
The verdict
Choose ccusage if you only use Claude Code, you're happy in the terminal, you want something free and open source, or you need it to run on Linux. It does that job extremely well.
Choose SessionWatcher if you're on a Mac or a Windows PC and you want usage that's always in front of you, notifications before you hit a wall, and one tool that covers Claude Code plus Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini, opencode, and Antigravity. For many developers the deciding factor is simply: do you want to remember to check, or do you want it watching for you?
Plenty of people run both: ccusage for occasional deep Claude cost reports, SessionWatcher for the live menu bar or taskbar number that keeps them from getting locked out mid-flow. They complement each other well.
SessionWatcherThe always-on ccusage alternative.
$8.99. No subscription.
Native app for the Mac menu bar and the Windows taskbar. Track Claude, Codex and 20 more tools' usage, costs, and rate limits in real time.
“Fast, simple, and does exactly what it should. Definitely worth it.”
@nicojerome on GitHub
macOS 14+. Free for 7 days, no credit card.
SessionWatcher pricing
A single tool (Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor) is $8.99 one-time. The Bundle (Claude Code + Codex + Cursor) is $19.99. Pro covers all supported tools for $79 one-time or $24/year. Every purchase comes with a 14-day refund, so you can try it risk-free. One licence key works on Mac and Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a GUI for ccusage?
ccusage is a terminal CLI, so it doesn't ship a native GUI or menu bar app. If you want an always-on graphical tracker that lives in the Mac menu bar or the Windows taskbar with notifications, SessionWatcher is the closest native alternative. $8.99 one-time for Claude Code.
Does ccusage work with Codex?
Yes. ccusage now reads local usage data from 18 coding agent CLIs, including Codex (ccusage codex daily), OpenCode, GitHub Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, Kimi, Qwen and Antigravity, according to its README in October 2026. Cursor is not on its list. It reports tokens and estimated cost when you run it; it does not stay on screen or warn you before a limit.
Is ccusage free?
Yes. ccusage is a free, open-source CLI started by ryoppippi (github.com/ccusage/ccusage). SessionWatcher is a paid native app for Mac and Windows, $8.99 one-time for a single tool, with a 14-day refund.
Does ccusage send notifications before you hit your rate limit?
ccusage runs on demand in the terminal and isn't a persistent background process, so it doesn't send native desktop notifications. SessionWatcher runs always-on in the Mac menu bar or Windows taskbar and can alert you at configurable thresholds before a lockout.
What is the best ccusage alternative for Mac?
If you want a native, always-on menu bar app instead of an on-demand CLI, SessionWatcher is built for that. It keeps the limits of 22 AI coding tools in view with alerts at 70% and 90%, for $8.99 one-time for a single tool, and it also runs on Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) and Windows 11. If free command-line reports are enough, ccusage remains an excellent choice.
Is there a ccusage alternative for Windows?
ccusage itself is a Node CLI, so it runs on Windows too. If you want an always-on graphical tracker instead, SessionWatcher for Windows shows your usage in the Windows 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 as the Mac app. One licence key works on Mac and Windows.