eul
macOS status monitoring app
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask eul
eul — Official Website
Quick Take: eul
eul is still a pleasant free system monitor for Mac, but by August 2026 it is no longer the default recommendation, Stats owns the active open-source crown with far more recent shipping velocity. Keep eul if you love its UI and it works on your Mac; otherwise install Stats first. Rating reflects solid core design minus maintenance leadership.
Best For
- •Users who already like eul's SwiftUI UI
- •Minimal free monitoring without paid iStat Menus
- •Open-source purists okay with quieter release trains
What is eul? Complete Guide for Mac Users in 2026
eul is a free, open-source macOS status monitoring app written largely in SwiftUI by developer gao-sun. It puts CPU, memory, network, and battery metrics (plus related sensors) in the menu bar and offers widgets for at-a-glance resource use, a lightweight alternative to opening Activity Monitor for routine checks.
August 2026 status: eul still installs, but Stats is the actively evolving default. The GitHub project remains public with releases (latest line in the v1.6.x series historically) and Homebrew cask support (brew install --cask eul). The Mac App Store build is explicitly noted by the author as outdated with some features disabled after SMC-related restrictions. For users on macOS Tahoe 26.x and current Apple Silicon machines who want continuous updates, Stats by exelban (40k+ GitHub stars, shipping v3.x releases into August 2026) has become the community standard free monitor. eul remains relevant for people who prefer its SwiftUI aesthetic, already rely on it, or want a simpler module set.
eul is not discontinued and not acquired. It is a classic open-source utility in a category that moved faster than its release frequency. Competitors include Stats, iStat Menus (paid, deep sensors), Activity Monitor (built-in), and MenuMeters-style tools. Choose eul for minimal free monitoring with open code; choose Stats for the most actively maintained free suite; choose iStat Menus when you need pro-grade sensors and charts.
Practically, the decision tree is simple. If you are setting up a new MacBook in August 2026 and want free menu bar graphs for CPU and RAM plus network and sensor readouts, install Stats first and live with it for a week. If you specifically prefer eul's layout, or you are restoring a Time Machine migration where eul is already configured, stay. On Apple Silicon under sustained compile or local LLM loads, any menu bar monitor helps you see whether thermal pressure or memory compression is the real culprit before you buy more RAM or close browsers. eul's value was never enterprise support. It was elegant enough monitoring without iStat Menus pricing. That still holds when the app runs; just go in with eyes open about update frequency compared with category leaders.
eul vs Stats in 2026
eul changed how macOS menu bar apps are constructed. Traditionally, these apps were built using Objective-C or AppKit, requiring significant boilerplate to handle UI rendering, especially for dark mode compatibility and high-DPI (Retina) displays. eul bypasses this legacy debt by adopting SwiftUI, Apple's declarative UI framework. The binary stays small and the UI stays responsive. Because SwiftUI uses the GPU for rendering, eul's animations and graphs are fluid without taxing the main CPU thread so the act of monitoring the system doesn't degrade system performance. System monitoring on Mac bifurcated: free open-source tools led by Stats, and paid depth led by iStat Menus. eul occupies a smaller aesthetic niche, SwiftUI polish and simplicity, without matching Stats' release velocity. That is fine for a stable tool that already works, but bundl readers imaging a new Tahoe Mac should default to Stats unless they have a specific reason to pick eul. Always install from GitHub or Homebrew, not the lagging App Store build, if you do choose eul.
Key Features
CPU and memory menu bar modules
Shows load and RAM pressure without opening Activity Monitor. Enough detail to catch runaway Electron apps and browser tab monsters on Apple Silicon Macs before fans spin up.
Network throughput indicators
Live upload and download rates help diagnose slow sync clients and unexpected background transfers. Open the dropdown graph when a stall lines up with a backup or cloud client spike.
Battery information
Battery status sits in the same menu bar suite as CPU and network, which helps on MacBook laptops when you are chasing drain alongside the system battery indicator.
SwiftUI interface
Native-feeling UI built with SwiftUI, including dark mode that matched the Big Sur design language and still looks coherent on modern macOS without the heavy chrome of older monitor apps.
Desktop widgets
WidgetKit-style widgets for CPU, memory, network, and battery put metrics on the desktop or Notification Center, not only the menu bar, so you can swipe and check without a permanent icon row.
Bluetooth battery readouts
Where supported, peripheral battery levels show up next to system metrics, handy for multi-device desk setups with mice, keyboards, and headphones that die mid-day.
Open-source distribution
GitHub releases and a Homebrew cask install without forced accounts. Prefer GitHub over the outdated App Store build if you want the fuller feature set the author still documents there.
Who Should Use eul?
1The Full-Stack Developer
A developer running Docker containers and compiling large React Native apps on a MacBook Pro treats system resources like a budget. With eul, they configure the menu bar to show only CPU load averages and RAM pressure. When a build starts to crawl, a glance at eul's dropdown shows whether a Docker container hung on one core or memory swap spiked from too many Chrome tabs. The network monitor confirms that npm packages are actually downloading during a stall. That is enough to diagnose bottlenecks without breaking flow to open Activity Monitor.
2The Mobile Professional
A freelance writer and consultant who works from coffee shops and airport lounges relies on a MacBook Air battery for a full day. eul's power analytics keep wattage draw visible in the menu bar so a jump from 5W to 15W is obvious. They check for a rogue background process or a heavy browser tab, and use the network widget to confirm airport Wi-Fi is stable before uploading large PDF proofs. For battery anxiety on the road, glanceable numbers beat a buried System Settings panel.
3The Minimalist Designer
A UI designer who wants a clean, distraction-free workspace avoids cluttered, colorful status bar icons. They pick eul for native SwiftUI rendering and a monochrome icon set that blends with dark mode. Menu bar text stays off for most metrics; Notification Center widgets carry the detail. When Photoshop and Illustrator both run, a trackpad swipe shows RAM usage, then work continues. Screen real estate stays on pixels, not metrics.
4The Legacy Mac Enthusiast
Someone who manages a small fleet of older Intel-based iMacs for a non-profit installs eul on every machine to watch fan speeds and thermal sensors. High idle temperatures paired with maxed fan speeds flag machines that need dust cleaned from vents. When a user complains of slowness, eul shows whether the CPU is throttling from heat. Open-source licensing means no per-seat fee across the fleet, which helps stretch hardware life on a tight budget.
How to Install eul on Mac
Install eul with Homebrew or a direct GitHub download. For most people in 2026 the Homebrew cask is the path of least resistance.
Install via Homebrew (Recommended)
The easiest way to install and maintain eul is via Homebrew. Open your Terminal app (Command + Space, type 'Terminal') and paste the following command: brew install --cask eul. This handles the download and places the app in your Applications folder automatically.
Launch and Grant Permissions
Open eul from your Applications folder. On the first launch, macOS may ask for permission to access certain hardware stats. You may simply click 'Open'. Unlike some competitors, eul requires minimal permissions, but ensures you allow it if prompted for network or location (for Wi-Fi SSID) access.
Configure Component Visibility
Upon launching, you will see a row of new icons in your menu bar. Right-click on any eul item or open the app settings (Preferences) to toggle which components (CPU, Battery, Fan, etc.) you want visible. You can drag and drop them to rearrange the order.
Enable Launch at Login
To ensure monitoring is always active, go to the eul Preferences menu (cmd + ,), navigate to the General tab, and check the box for 'Launch at login'. This ensures your stats are ready the moment your Mac boots up.
Pro Tips
- • If you prefer not to use Homebrew, you can download the latest release directly from the GitHub releases page and drag the.app file into your Applications folder.
- • For accurate network SSID reading on macOS Sequoia and later, you must grant 'Location Services' permission to eul in System Settings.
- • If you are on an older Intel Mac, ensure you install the helper tool if prompted to read fan speeds effectively.
- • Use the 'Update' feature within the app or run
brew upgrade --cask eulperiodically to get new features. - • eul is also available on the App Store, though some features are disabled due to SMC call restrictions and the version may be outdated.
Configuration Tips
Declutter with Single-Line Text
By default, eul might show icons and two lines of text (e.g., download and upload speed). In the preferences, look for the 'Text Display' options. Switching to single-line mode or icon-only mode saves massive amounts of horizontal space in the menu bar, which is vital for MacBook users with a camera notch that limits available space.
Optimize Refresh Rates
In the General settings, you can adjust the refresh interval. While '1 second' looks cool, it consumes more battery. For a laptop on the go, set the refresh rate to 3 or 5 seconds. This provides a reasonable overview of system health without the monitoring tool itself becoming a battery drainer.
Customize the Widget Stack
eul supports macOS Notification Center widgets. Instead of crowding your menu bar, disable the less critical monitors (like Disk usage or Bluetooth) from the menu bar and add them as Small or Medium widgets in your Notification Center. This keeps them accessible via a swipe but hidden during deep work.
Language and Unit Localization
Ensure you set your preferred temperature unit (Celsius vs Fahrenheit) immediately in the settings to match your mental model. eul has excellent community localization; if English isn't your primary language, check the Language dropdown, it supports over 20 languages thanks to community contributions.
Keep the app updated from the right channel
Prefer official downloads or Homebrew over random mirrors. After major macOS upgrades, re-check permissions and login items so menu bar helpers and network extensions come back cleanly.
Measure before you customize
Spend a day with defaults, note what actually annoys you, then change only those settings. Power-user toggles are easier to reverse when you changed two things instead of twenty.
Alternatives to eul
eul is one option among several Mac monitors. Here is how it compares to the tools people usually evaluate next.
Stats
The leading free open-source menu bar monitor in 2026 with frequent releases (v3.x line), broad modules, and huge GitHub popularity. Best first install for most people.
iStat Menus
Paid professional monitoring with deep sensor coverage, beautiful charts, and long commercial support. Choose when free tools are not enough.
Activity Monitor
Built into macOS. Free and authoritative, but not always-visible in the menu bar without extra work.
MenuMeters / similar classics
Legacy-style meters; verify modern macOS compatibility before relying on them as eul/Stats replacements.
Pricing
eul is free and open source. Download from GitHub Releases or install via Homebrew cask. The Mac App Store copy may lag and omit features. There is no subscription. Donations to the author may be available but are optional. No paid tiers unlock monitoring, what you download is the product.
Pros
- ✓Free and open source with a clean SwiftUI presentation.
- ✓Menu bar modules cover the metrics most people check daily.
- ✓Low friction install via Homebrew or GitHub zip.
- ✓Widgets support glanceable monitoring without opening Activity Monitor.
- ✓No account, telemetry SaaS, or freemium paywall for core stats.
Cons
- ✗Release frequency and ecosystem momentum lag Stats, which now dominates free monitoring on Mac.
- ✗App Store build is outdated relative to GitHub and misses some capabilities.
- ✗Sensor depth trails paid tools like iStat Menus for power users and hardware tinkerers.
- ✗Future macOS breakage risk is higher when maintenance is quieter than category leaders.
Community & Ecosystem
eul thrives on GitHub, where a community of developers contributes translations, bug fixes, and feature requests. Because it is written in Swift and SwiftUI, it is a learning resource for many aspiring Mac developers. The project has earned thousands of stars on GitHub, indicating a healthy user base. Issues are generally tracked publicly, and while it is largely a solo-developer project, the open nature allows forks and community patches to keep it alive even if the main development slows down. When README text conflicts with a blog post, trust the GitHub project and release notes first, then check recent issues. Re-verify OS support after each major macOS upgrade because menu bar helpers and sensor keys move.
Video Tutorials
Getting Started with eul
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Frequently Asked Questions about eul
About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
Expert Tips for eul
Mac power-user threads that once listed eul now usually lead with Stats when asked for a free menu bar monitor in 2026.
The eul README still warns that the App Store edition is outdated and feature-limited, GitHub/Homebrew remains the correct install path.
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Aug 9, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- eul is a free open-source SwiftUI macOS monitor installable from GitHub or Homebrew; the App Store build is noted as outdated.[cite-1, cite-3]
- Stats is an actively maintained free alternative with v3.x releases in 2026 and a very large GitHub star count.[cite-4, cite-5]
- eul provides CPU, memory, network, battery, widgets, and Bluetooth battery features as described in project materials.[cite-1, cite-6]
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