Best Mac Optimization Software Reviews

  • Reviews
    • Coupons
    • Free Trials
  • Comparison
  • Articles
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
  • More
    • Data Recovery Software
    • Mac Security Software
    • Registry Cleaners
    • More Reviews
Best Reviews > Best Mac Optimization Software Reviews > Best Mac System Monitoring Apps

Best Reviews may receive compensation for its content through paid collaborations and/or affiliate links. Learn more about how we sustain our work and review products.

Best Mac System Monitoring Apps

By Ines P. Verified by Mary P.
Last updated: October 30, 2020

Mac health monitoring

Your computer is equipped with a lot of sensors so that the system can keep an eye on the health of the hardware. macOS has a built-in system monitoring utility called Activity Monitor, which may be unfamiliar to most casual Mac users. And even fewer understand how to properly use Activity Monitor to manage memory usage, fix slow apps, and troubleshoot various many other issues.

Activity Monitor's advantage over all third party Mac monitoring apps is its ability to inspect and even kill a process that requires too many hardware resources. This is something no third party app has the permission to do, despite having access to all the sensor information data and displaying it in an easy-to-read design.

iStat Menus

iStat Menus

Available as a separate purchase or via Setapp, Bjango's iStat Menus is one of the best Mac monitoring apps available. You may already be familiar with the iStat Pro widget from the same developer, which displays the same data in the dashboard. One of the best things about iStat Menus is that there is a quick view for the essential data right in the menu bar. If you want more data and visuals, just click on the desired item. Customize the data by turning on the monitoring only for what you want it to keep an eye on. That's a nice advantage over the competing apps, even Bjango's own iStat widget which only displays all the information in one window.

iStat Menus main window

iStat Menus, however, lets you monitor only the CPU, GPU, memory, disks, network, sensors, battery, power, time, or any combinations of these. Bjango's iStat Menus can be trialed for 14 days for free, but after that you'll need to purchase a license for $18 or upgrade for $9.99 if you already happen to own version 3 or 4. The Family Pack allows iStat Menus to be used on up to five Macs within the same household.

iStat Menus disks

TG Pro

TG Pro temperatures

Short for Temperature Gauge Pro, this tool could become a Mac monitoring utility that you become attached to. While iStat Menus only displays information, TG Pro goes one step further and offers an option to control your Mac's fans, along with offering an overview of the sensor data that macOS gives access to. That's a very important feature if you want the computer to deliver optimal performance. In addition, TG Pro offers a color-coded visual explanation of what is happening with the computer's internals: green means that you can relax, orange that the hardware is approaching its limits, and red represents that it is very close to the thermal limit.

TG Pro palm rest

What TG Pro does is provide control over the fan speed to cool down your Mac's hardware, which is especially useful on hot summer days when Macs tend to overheat. This Mac monitoring app will display quick temperature info in the menu bar, but to gain access to all the information available you’ll need to either click on the TG Pro item to see a quick overview of the data or launch the app and get visual information for the targeted segment. While the TG Pro trial gives 10 days of free testing, it unfortunately limits the data it displays and therefore pushes users to purchase a license for $18.

XRG

XRG main screenAvailable as an open-source system monitor for Macs, XRG allows you to monitor CPU and GPU activity, memory usage, battery status, machine temperature, network activity, disk I/O, current weather, and stock market data. Just like the iStat Pro widget, it gives users a helpful overview of what is happening on your Mac, peppered with some handy visuals. In terms of the graphical user interface, XRG’s cannot be compared to that of iStat Menus or TG Pro but if you want a free app to have access to such data then XRG is a good option to choose.

Any one of these above apps will be useful to you if you are looking to optimize your Mac's performance. They each allow you to see – at a glance – the resource hogs that can be eliminated as well as all the data that your Mac’s sensors are collecting. That, combined with the use of Mac optimization apps such as CleanMyMac, CCleaner or MacKeeper, will create a computer that works optimally to perform all the tasks it is given.

Best Mac Optimization Software of 2023

RankCompanyInfoVisit
1
CleanMyMac
4.5/5
  • Fast scans and cleaning
  • Full customization
  • Extensive free version
  • 30-day money back guarantee
  • Full review…
Visit CleanMyMacFree Download
2
MacKeeper
4/5
  • Personalized, remote assistance
  • Unique optimization tools
  • Anti-theft tracking
  • Built-in antivirus
  • Full review…
Visit
3
MacBooster
3.5/5
  • Fast scanning
  • User-friendly UI
  • Virus and malware scan
  • Great cleaning features
  • Full review…
Visit

Get the Best Deals on Mac Optimization Software

Stay up to date on the latest tech news and discounts on Mac optimization software with our monthly newsletter.

Thank you for subscribing please check your email account for confirmation email!
By subscribing to our newsletter you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.
Tab title

Recent Articles

  • How To Check Your Mac’s CPU and RAM Usage
  • What To Do When Your MacBook Isn’t Charging
  • What To Do When Your MacBook Won’t Turn On

Recent Articles

  • How To Check Your Mac’s CPU and RAM Usage
  • What To Do When Your MacBook Isn’t Charging
  • What To Do When Your MacBook Won’t Turn On
  • MacCleaner Pro Coupons
  • MacCleaner Pro Free Trial

More Info

  • Best Free Mac Cleaner Software
  • Best Practices for Cleaning MacBooks
  • Best Virtual Machine Software for Mac
  • Best VPNs for Mac
  • Mac RAM Upgrade Guide

Best Reviews

Best Reviews may receive compensation for its content through paid collaborations and/or affiliate links. Learn more about how we sustain our work and review products.

Best Reviews © 2023 · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact Us