Per-app watt readings
Shows app power use in watts instead of Activity Monitor’s unitless Energy Impact score. Helper processes are grouped with the app that started them, while system daemons are kept out of the app ranking.
WattMate
Freemium
A macOS battery diagnostic tool that shows which apps use power and what quitting them may save.
What is WattMate?
WattMate is a battery diagnostics app for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. It identifies app-level power use in watts, estimates the battery minutes associated with quitting an app, and checks the estimate with a follow-up measurement. Measurements and calculations are performed locally on the Mac. The app also covers battery health, overnight wake activity, charge sessions, and power use while plugged in.
What can WattMate do?
Quit receipts
Estimates the minutes associated with quitting an app, then measures the Mac again about two minutes later on battery. If the effect cannot be isolated from other changes, WattMate reports that no result can be claimed.
Battery and chip measurement
Reads battery current and voltage on battery, and chip energy counters for processor, graphics, Neural Engine, and other hardware blocks. It uses board power and adapter output when the Mac is plugged in.
Starred-app monitoring
Keeps one selected app visible in a dedicated menu-bar item with its icon and watts. A last-hour verdict compares the app with its recent usual level, and a notification can trigger once when it remains above a user-set threshold.
Plugged-in power accounting
Shows delivered, consumed, stored, and spare adapter power, including the watt shortfall drawn from the battery when the Mac needs more than the adapter supplies.
Battery history and health
Provides capacity, cycle count, and temperature readings, along with overnight wake records and charge-session summaries. Detailed data is retained for two days, while session summaries remain until erased in Settings.
Use Cases
“Find a battery-draining app”
Use the live app list to identify which open app is consuming power, then compare the projected minutes with the result of quitting it.
“Check a suspected background process”
Star an app that may be active when it should be idle. Its menu-bar reading, last-hour verdict, and threshold notification can help identify sustained background use.
“Validate a battery-saving action”
Quit an app while on battery and review the follow-up receipt approximately two minutes later to see what changed, without taking credit for unrelated load changes.
“Investigate overnight drain”
Review wake-up names, wake frequency, and time held awake, then use charge-session summaries to see where a previous battery session went.
“Diagnose charging shortfalls”
When a connected Mac continues losing charge, inspect adapter output and the Mac’s demand to determine whether the battery is supplying the watt difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Macs and operating systems does WattMate support?
It requires an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later. The app does not support Intel Macs because the per-process energy counter it relies on returns zero there.
Does WattMate send per-app measurements off the Mac?
No. Per-app measurements and local storage stay on the Mac, and the app does not require an account, password prompt, or helper installation. Anonymous usage statistics and crash reports are enabled by default but can be turned off in Settings.
How long does it take to show battery-minute estimates?
The app list appears within seconds, but minutes require a measurement window while the battery is actually losing charge. The first figure arrives within about three minutes about half the time and can take longer, especially after unplugging, at full charge, or after waking from sleep.
What remains available after the trial?
The trial lasts 10 days and starts when the app is first opened; no card or account is required. Afterward, the app list, watt readings, battery health, last run, and most recent night remain free. Minute estimates, deeper run history, night archives, and totals require a license costing $9.99 per year or $29 once.
Are all watts assigned to individual apps?
No. Graphics has a measured total but no authoritative per-app owner, and Neural Engine work is not assigned to apps. Screen, memory, storage, radios, idle activity, and other unowned work appear outside app attribution, so app readings do not necessarily add up to the Mac’s total power use.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Battery diagnostics
- Platform
- Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later
- Measurement location
- Local to the Mac
- Trial
- 10 days; no card or account required
- License
- $9.99 per year or $29 once
- Installation
- Direct download or Mac App Store; Homebrew cask is also available
WattMate Traffic Analysis
Traffic data is for reference only.
- Domain Rating
- 1
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