CodexBar alternative · macOS 14+
The lightweight CodexBar alternative, with no pop-ups.
Mana keeps your Codex, Claude and other AI coding limits in the Mac menu bar in a 3.7 MB app. It reads the logins you already have, so there are no permission dialogs to click through and nothing extra to sign in to.
Download Mana for Mac3.7 MB · free for one ring · no extra sign-in
Why people switch to Mana
- Lightweight. Mana is a 3.7 MB download. The current CodexBar macOS release (v0.82.0) is an 86.3 MB download.
- No pop-ups. Built-in providers work without permission dialogs: no Keychain approval, no extra login and no Full Disk Access. CodexBar's site lists Full Disk Access and Keychain access among the permissions it uses.
- Read it at a glance. Each provider is a ring in the menu bar showing up to two remaining quotas, such as Codex's 5-hour and weekly limits, so you don't need to open a menu.
- Any quota, even internal ones. Add any other AI vendor or your company's internal LLM budget with a plugin your AI coding agent writes for you.
- Network you can verify. A deny-by-default allowlist limits Mana's traffic to each vendor's official API, with published firewall rules.
Mana and CodexBar at a glance
| Mana | CodexBar | |
|---|---|---|
| Download size | 3.7 MB download | 86.3 MB (v0.82.0 macOS app) |
| Permission prompts | None for built-in providers — no extra login, no Keychain approval, no Full Disk Access | Its site lists Full Disk Access (Safari cookies), Keychain and Files & Folders access |
| Menu bar | Rings in the menu bar show up to two remaining quotas per provider — no click needed | Usage, pace and reset countdowns in its menu |
| Requires | macOS 14 or later | macOS 14 or later |
Questions
Is Mana lighter than CodexBar?
Yes. Mana is a 3.7 MB download; the CodexBar v0.82.0 macOS release is 86.3 MB.
Does Mana show permission pop-ups?
Not for its built-in providers. Mana reads the sessions Codex, Claude and the other tools already keep on your Mac, without asking for Keychain approval, an extra login or Full Disk Access.
Is Mana related to CodexBar?
Mana is a separate app with its own interface. Its vendor quota detection draws on CodexBar's open-source (MIT-licensed) work, which Mana credits on its website.
Can I see my Codex usage without clicking the menu bar?
Yes. Each provider is a ring in the menu bar showing up to two remaining quotas, such as the 5-hour and weekly limits. Open the menu for reset times, credits and Reset Bank.
More comparisons
Mana is independent software by Silent Spell, not affiliated with CodexBar or the AI providers. CodexBar details are from codexbar.app and its GitHub releases as of October 2026 and may change. See how Mana accesses quota data.