How is Vitals Buddy different from Activity Monitor?

Activity Monitor lists processes, about a thousand on a working Mac. Vitals Buddy lists apps. Every helper is added to the app that launched it, so each app has one figure for memory, CPU, energy, disk and network. Vitals Buddy also keeps 30 days of history, sends a notification when an app misbehaves, lives in the menu bar, and finds dev servers left running.

Does it replace Activity Monitor completely?

For everyday questions, yes: what is using the memory, what is draining the battery, what is slowing the Mac down. You can quit or force quit an app or a single process from Vitals Buddy. Activity Monitor still has a few specialist tools, such as sampling a process, that Vitals Buddy does not copy.

Does it slow my Mac down?

With no window open it samples every five seconds and uses about a tenth of a percent of one core. It samples faster only while you are looking at it.

Which Macs does it run on?

macOS 15 Sequoia or later, on Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 chips) and Intel. Power and temperature figures are most detailed on Apple silicon.

Can I arrange the menu bar like iStat Menus?

Yes. Every readout can be its own menu bar item, a value, a graph or both, and you ⌘-drag them into any order. The dropdown and the window are yours to arrange too: choose the tabs, and show, hide or reorder the sections on each.

Does it live in the Dock or the menu bar?

Both, if you like. It is always in the menu bar. Turn on Show in Dock and it stays in the Dock like Activity Monitor; opened by hand it shows its window, and at login it stays in the menu bar.

How much does it cost?

The regular price is $29 for one Mac. During the launch it is $5 for the first licenses, and the price goes up as they sell. It is one payment, not a subscription. The count on this page comes from our licensing server, so it is the real number.

Do I pay again for updates?

No. Every update is included for life. There are no paid upgrades and no renewal.

How many Macs can I use it on?

As many as you pay for. One license covers one Mac, and two Macs cost twice that. For more, pick 5, 10, 25 or 50 Macs on the pricing card. You get one license key that works on that many Macs, and each Mac costs less as the bundle gets bigger: $99 for 5, up to $699 for 50. During the launch, a bundle costs the launch price for each Mac if that is less. Move a license to a new Mac whenever you like, with no account and no email to support.

How does the 50% back offer work?

Buy Vitals Buddy, post about it on X, Reels, TikTok or Shorts, and email us the link. At 2,000 views we refund half of what you paid, and at 20,000 views we refund all of it. On X it takes 10,000 and 50,000 impressions. You keep your license. The cash back page has the rules.

Is there a free trial?

No, but there is a 14-day refund. If Vitals Buddy is not for you, email us and we refund the payment.

How do I get the app after paying?

The download link is on the page you land on after checkout. Your license key arrives by email within a minute. If you lose either, enter your key on the download page to get the link again.

Why is it not on the Mac App Store?

The App Store sandbox stops an app from reading other apps' processes, which is the one thing an activity monitor has to do. Vitals Buddy is signed with our Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so it opens like any other app.

Does it send anything about my Mac anywhere?

Nothing about what you run. Your apps, your history and your project names stay on the Mac. Vitals Buddy goes online only to check for updates and to check your license. Activating sends the key, the Mac's name and an anonymous ID, so you can tell your Macs apart when you move a license.

What is the optional helper?

macOS only lets an app read your own processes. To include the system's, you can enable a small helper. It answers one question, how much these processes are using, takes no commands, changes nothing, and quits when Vitals Buddy closes. Vitals Buddy works without it.

Can Vitals Buddy quit apps on its own?

No. It only quits an app, a process or a dev server when you ask, and it shows a confirmation first.

macOS Performance & Activity Monitor Knowledge Base

Mac Activity Monitor & System Performance Guides

Name: Vitals Buddy
Price: 5.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (186 reviews)
Author: Vitals Buddy

Clear, actionable tutorials on understanding macOS processes, cooling down high CPU load, fixing kernel_task spikes, and optimizing Apple Silicon M1–M5.

All Tutorials & Articles (6)

Updated for macOS Sequoia & Tahoe

Guides5 min read · October 2026

How to Open Activity Monitor on Mac (5 Fastest Ways + Shortcuts)

Need to open Activity Monitor on your Mac right now? Here are the 5 fastest methods — from the instant ⌘ + Space Spotlight shortcut to Terminal commands and Dock pins.

#how to open activity monitor on mac#open activity monitor mac#how to open activity monitor on macbook

By Hukam SinghRead guide

Guides8 min read · October 2026

Mac Activity Monitor Guide: How to Read, Use & Understand Process Stats

A complete walkthrough of macOS Activity Monitor. Learn how to decode the 5 core tabs, understand % CPU on multi-core chips, diagnose battery hogs, and spot memory leaks.

#macbook activity monitor#macbook pro activity monitor#activity monitor mac

By Hukam SinghRead guide

Performance6 min read · October 2026

How to Check CPU Usage on Mac & Fix High CPU Load

Wondering why your MacBook is running slow, warm, or loud? Here is how to check your real-time CPU usage via Menu Bar widgets, Activity Monitor, and Terminal commands.

#check cpu mac#check mac cpu usage#mac performance monitor

By Hukam SinghRead guide

Troubleshooting7 min read · October 2026

Why is kernel_task Using High CPU on Mac & How to Fix It

Is kernel_task using 400%, 700%, or even 1,000% CPU in Activity Monitor? Do not panic. It is not a virus or a corrupt app — here is what is actually happening and how to fix it.

#kernel_task#kernel_task high cpu#kernel_task macbook pro

By Hukam SinghRead guide

Comparisons8 min read · October 2026

Best Mac Monitoring Apps in 2026: Activity Monitor Alternatives Reviewed

Default Activity Monitor is clunky, hides in a window, and separates apps into 1,000 cryptic processes. Here are the 5 best Mac monitoring apps in 2026 compared head-to-head.

#mac monitoring#mac monitoring app#mac performance monitor

By Hukam SinghRead guide

Hardware7 min read · October 2026

Mac Activity Monitor on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4 & M5)

Apple Silicon (M1 through M5) completely changed how Macs process tasks, manage memory, and handle heat. Here is how to read Activity Monitor on modern MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

#apple macbook air m1#apple macbook air m3#apple macbook air

By Hukam SinghRead guide

Built for macOS

See What Your Mac is Doing — Without 1,000 Cryptic Processes

Vitals Buddy rolls every background helper under the application that spawned it. 30 days of metrics history, menu bar readouts, and local dev servers finder.

Get Vitals Buddy · $5 Launch Price Learn more about features →