Live menu bar usage
Shows Codex usage in the macOS menu bar and updates automatically, so you can check status without opening a browser tab or running a command manually.
CodexBar Lite
CodexBar Lite is a free, open-source macOS menu bar app for tracking OpenAI Codex usage and reset times. It reads the local Codex session created by codex login and shows usage without browser cookies, Keychain access, or an API key.
Overview
CodexBar Lite is a minimal macOS menu bar app for checking OpenAI Codex usage and rate-limit reset timing. It is built for one job: showing your current Codex status quickly, without browser extensions, Keychain access, API keys, or extra account setup.
The app reads the local session created by your existing Codex login from ~/.codex/auth.json and requests usage directly from chatgpt.com. On first launch, if no Codex session exists yet, it can start codex login in Terminal and then begin showing usage once authentication completes.
Features
Dual-window reset tracking
Displays both primary and secondary rate-limit windows, including reset times and remaining credits, when you click the menu bar item.
Threshold alerts
Sends notifications at 80%, 90%, exhaustion, and credit reset using native macOS notification behavior.
Used or remaining view
Lets you switch between percentage used and percentage remaining for the menu bar display.
Auto-refresh with offline cache
Refreshes automatically, falls back to cached usage when offline, and can launch at login.
Self-updating workflow
Can update over the air with Sparkle and includes a Check for Updates flow in the app menu.
Use cases
Monitor Codex during active work
For developers using Codex interactively, the app keeps the current usage number visible in the menu bar so they do not need to remember /status during a session.
Plan around rate-limit resets
For long-running tasks, the app shows reset timing and credit status so you can decide whether to continue or wait before hitting the limit.
Keep tracking lightweight and local
For users who want fewer background permissions, the app provides a Codex-only tracker that does not ask for browser access, Keychain access, or an API key.
Keep status available after login
For people who leave their Mac running through the day, launch-at-login and automatic refresh make the usage display available without manual setup each time.
Receive usage alerts proactively
For users who prefer native alerts over checking a dashboard, the app surfaces 80%, 90%, exhaustion, and reset notifications through macOS.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Minimal permission model: no Keychain, browser cookies, API keys, Accessibility, Screen Recording, or Full Disk Access.
- Shows both usage windows and their reset times directly in the menu bar.
- Provides notifications at key usage thresholds instead of requiring a manual check.
- Can start at login, refresh automatically, and fall back to cached usage when offline.
- Independent open-source distribution with no third-party backend, telemetry, or analytics described.
Cons
- It is limited to Codex rather than tracking multiple AI providers.
- The site says macOS may warn that the app is not notarized, which means you may need to use the provided open-and-allow flow.
- There is no team-sharing or multi-user workflow described on the site.
FAQ
Does CodexBar Lite need Keychain access or an API key?
No. The app is designed to work without Keychain, Chrome, browser cookies, or an API key. It reads the session file created by an existing Codex login at ~/.codex/auth.json and requests usage directly from chatgpt.com.
How do I get started if I have not run codex login yet?
If no Codex session exists yet, opening the app launches codex login in Terminal and waits for completion. Usage appears automatically once the login succeeds.
What system requirements are supported?
CodexBar Lite is built for an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 13 Ventura or newer. The page also notes Swift 5.10+ as part of the app’s build environment.
What does the menu bar display?
The app shows both primary and secondary usage windows, reset times, and remaining credits in the menu bar dropdown. It also supports alerts at 80%, 90%, exhaustion, and credit reset.
Can it be used as a team or shared account tracker?
No. The site presents CodexBar Lite as a single-user utility that reads the local Codex session on one Mac. It does not mention team sharing, multi-user sync, or a shared backend.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Developer Tool
- Platform
- macOS 13 Ventura+ on Apple Silicon (arm64)
- Pricing
- Free and open source
- Integration
- Reads ~/.codex/auth.json and requests usage from chatgpt.com
- Distribution
- Independent app download, with GitHub source and release links
- Source domain
- getcodexbar.xyz
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