Power · 6 min read
iStat Menus vs Tegaro
Tegaro is better if you want a compact set of everyday utilities beside power readouts. iStat Menus is stronger for deep system monitoring.
iStat Menus is a detailed system monitor for the menu bar. Here is how it compares to Tegaro, which shows battery and CPU, memory and disk load and adds eight more everyday tools in one icon.
Tegaro and iStat Menus both put information about your Mac in the menu bar, but they do different jobs. iStat Menus is a detailed system monitor with graphs for CPU, memory, fans, temperatures and network, spread across menu bar items you choose. Tegaro is a set of ten tools in one icon. Its Power tool shows battery charge, charging wattage, battery health, cycle count and temperature, plus CPU, memory and disk load, and Displays adds brightness, resolution and a Dock copy on every screen. Power and Displays stay free after the 14-day trial. If you want detailed monitoring or fan control, iStat Menus goes further.
Free power readouts
Battery, adapter and normal Power information remain available after the trial.
CPU and memory beside battery
Power keeps load information beside battery data.
No extra app to install
These readouts live inside the existing Tegaro menu-bar app.
At a glance
| Capability | iStat Menus | Tegaro |
|---|---|---|
| Menu bar space Fewer icons, which helps on MacBooks with a camera notch | One icon for each monitor you turn on | One icon for all ten tools |
| Battery and power details Both show battery information | Yes, a detailed battery menu | Yes: charge, charging wattage, time left, battery health, cycle count and temperature |
| Fan speed control iStat Menus can set fan speeds | Yes | No |
| Detailed CPU, memory and network graphs iStat Menus is a full system monitor | Yes, in depth | A simpler view of CPU, memory and disk load in Power |
| Clipboard history and search Clipboard needs Pro after the trial | No | Yes (text and images, search inside screenshots) |
| External monitor brightness (DDC/CI) Displays stays free after the trial | No | Yes, plus resolution switching for each display and a Dock copy on every screen |
| Fix text typed in the wrong keyboard layout Unlimited manual fixes and 100 automatic fixes per month stay free | No | Yes (English and Russian, on Space or by hotkey) |
| Pricing Checked against the official source on 2026-10-07; taxes and regional terms can vary. | iStat Menus 7 is $11.99 on the US Mac App Store and includes six months of weather. Weather is then $4.99/year or $0.99/month in-app; the direct download has a 14-day trial. | 14-day trial with everything unlocked; Power, Displays, Sound, Mac load panel, AI usage and Disk analysis stay free; Pro: $1.99 first month, then $4.99/month, $29.99/year or $100 lifetime |
When to Choose iStat Menus
People who want detailed, continuous monitoring of CPU, memory, fans, temperatures and network traffic, including manual fan control.
When to Choose Tegaro
People who want a simple view of battery, charging wattage and CPU, memory and disk load, plus brightness, resolution and a Dock copy for their displays, together with clipboard history, dictation, screenshots and typing tools, in a single menu-bar icon.
Tegaro tools, one icon
Typing · Clipboard · Screenshots · Dictation · Displays · Power · Disk · Sound · AI Usage · Critter
Current Tegaro access
Try every Pro tool for 14 days without a card or account. Afterward, Free keeps Classic, Cat and Dog, Power, Sound, AI Usage, normal Displays and Disk analysis; it includes 100 successful automatic layout fixes per calendar month and 2,000 delivered dictation words per Monday-starting week. Pro unlocks Clipboard, Screenshots, Disk cleanup and app removal, unlimited layout automation and dictation, more critters and compatible EDR brightness. A $100 lifetime license covers one person on up to three Macs.
Pricing and terms: iStat Menus
iStat Menus 7 is $11.99 on the US Mac App Store and includes six months of weather. Weather is then $4.99/year or $0.99/month in-app; the direct download has a 14-day trial.
iStat Menus 7 is $11.99 on the US Mac App Store and includes six months of weather. Weather is then $4.99/year or $0.99/month in-app; the direct download has a 14-day trial.
Offers: iStat Menus
No public promotion is asserted here; check the official checkout for current offers.
Tegaro trial offer
Eligible trial users may receive a one-time 30% annual or lifetime offer valid for 48 hours. It is optional, not a promised public price.
Privacy and footprint
Tegaro runs its core typing, clipboard and downloaded-model dictation workflows locally. AI usage may query Claude or Codex providers using existing authentication; licensing checks, downloads, updates and opted-in email have separate network behaviour. Review each product’s privacy documentation for the feature you use.
Native macOS app built with Swift.
Core typing, copied-content and downloaded-model dictation workflows stay local. Licensing, optional renewal lookups, model downloads, opted-in diagnostics and direct AI-provider checks are separate network actions. AI Usage uses existing provider sign-in and does not send provider credentials to Tegaro.
How to Switch from iStat Menus to Tegaro
- In iStat Menus settings, turn off the menu bar items you no longer need.
- Open Tegaro and look through the tools in its menu-bar icon, such as Power, Displays and Clipboard.
- Check your battery and CPU, memory and disk load in Power, and see how much menu bar space you gained.
- Keep iStat Menus if you need detailed graphs or manual fan control.
Frequently asked questions
Why do menu bar icons disappear on a MacBook with a camera notch?
The notch takes up menu bar space, and macOS hides icons that do not fit. If you turn on several iStat Menus items, some may be hidden. Tegaro uses a single icon for all its tools.
Does Tegaro let me control my Mac's cooling fans like iStat Menus?
No. Tegaro does not set fan speeds. If you want manual fan control, iStat Menus offers it.
Can I use Tegaro and iStat Menus together?
Yes. They do different jobs. Many people could keep iStat Menus for detailed system graphs and use Tegaro for the other tools.
Sources and disclosure
Published by Tegaro. App information is checked against the linked official pages on the date shown. Checked: 2026-10-07.