MacStatsBarSee what is moving across your connection.
A nearby traffic reading can give a download, call or sync a little context.
Watch current upload and download rates
MacStatsBar displays bytes per second for one public default-route interface. That keeps the overview focused on the route your Mac is currently using. It does not add a VPN interface and its physical transport together.
Look at recent traffic
Use the graph and 5, 15 or 60-minute history view to see a recent pattern. A quiet reading can be normal when an app is waiting or has finished transferring. The graph shows observed traffic, not your plan's maximum speed.
A network monitor and a speed test do different jobs
A monitor watches the traffic that is already moving. A speed test creates transfers to estimate available throughput to a test service. MacStatsBar does not run speed tests or guarantee the quality of an internet connection.
A changed route needs a new baseline
Switching networks, connecting a VPN, sleep, counter resets or long sampling gaps can interrupt a rate reading. The app starts a fresh baseline rather than treating the change as a burst of traffic. Check the interface name in the live card when a reading looks unexpected.
Read more from Apple
Apple: view network activity ↗
MacStatsBar's reading definitions follow its current app. Apple's guide explains the related system information. These guides do not claim a performance or battery-life improvement.
Questions you might have
Does this show my internet plan speed?
It shows observed upload and download traffic, in bytes per second, on the current default-route interface. It is not an internet speed test or a measurement of the maximum speed in your plan.
Why is network usage temporarily blank?
The app needs a fresh interval to calculate a rate. A route change, counter reset, sleep or a longer gap can require a new baseline.