TL;DR
Stats vs eul: For most Mac users in 2026, Stats is the better choice for system monitoring because it is the more widely adopted, better-maintained option in the system monitoring space. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose eul instead if system support is your priority.
Which is better: Stats or eul?
Stats is the top pick for most Mac users looking at system monitoring — it is free and open-source and installs in one Homebrew command. eul is the stronger choice if you prefer an open-source alternative. Both are worth trying.
Stats vs eul
Which is the better system monitoring for Mac in 2026?
We compared Stats and eul across 6 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Read our full breakdown below.
Stats
System monitor for the menu bar
eul
macOS status monitoring app
Visual Comparison
Stats
Stats — Official Website
eul
eul — Official Website
Our Verdict
For most Mac users in 2026, Stats is the better choice for system monitoring because it is the more widely adopted, better-maintained option in the system monitoring space. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose eul instead if system support is your priority.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Stats | eul |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes |
| Replaces | iStat Menus ($12) | iStat Menus 7 ($18) |
| Best for | system, monitor, menu bar | system, monitor, menu bar |
| Install | brew install --cask stats | brew install --cask eul |
| Category | System Utilities | System Utilities |
Quick Install
brew install --cask statsbrew install --cask eulLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is Stats?
Stats is a free, open-source macOS system monitor that lives in the menu bar, maintained by Serhii (exelban) and the community under the MIT license. It modularises CPU, GPU, memory, disk, network, battery, sensors (temperature/power/voltage), Bluetooth device batteries, fans (legacy mode), and world clocks. Installation is simple: download the DMG from GitHub Releases or brew install stats. As of August 2026 the project ships frequent releases (v3.0.10/v3.0.11 in early August 2026) with thousands of commits of continuous maintenance, which is exactly what a menu-bar utility needs as Apple changes SMC keys, menu-bar privacy, and widget APIs. On macOS 26 (Tahoe), Stats documents a critical setup step: System Settings → Menu Bar must explicitly allow Stats or icons will not appear: a new OS privacy surface, not an app bug. macOS widgets are optional and off by default due to chronod load issues; users can enable them in Stats settings. Requirements are macOS 12 Monterey and newer; beta macOS builds are unsupported. Stats collects no telemetry; update checks hit the author's API and GitHub. Fan control is explicitly legacy and unmaintained. For free monitoring on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs in 2026, Stats is the default recommendation in the open-source category.
What is eul?
eul was a free SwiftUI macOS status monitor by Gao Sun, praised in the Big Sur era for dark mode support, menu-bar stats, and out-of-the-box widgets. It could show CPU, memory, network, battery, and related stats with a clean aesthetic. Unfortunately, the project's last GitHub release (v1.6.2) shipped on 5 August 2021. The README now warns that some features are disabled because all SMC calls were removed, and that the Mac App Store edition is outdated compared with the GitHub build, itself years behind current macOS. Without ongoing SMC/sensor maintenance, eul cannot keep pace with Apple Silicon thermal sensor maps, modern power metrics, or macOS Tahoe menu-bar policies. Homebrew may still install a cask, and the App Store page may still resolve, but 'installable' is not the same as 'maintained.' In August 2026 the honest recommendation is: do not start new workflows on eul; migrate to Stats (free) or iStat Menus (paid) and uninstall eul.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Maintenance & Modern macOS Support
CriticalActively released in 2026 (v3.0.x), documents macOS 26 menu-bar privacy steps, tracks Apple Silicon sensors, Homebrew cask, thousands of commits.
Last GitHub release August 2021. README admits outdated builds and disabled SMC features. Not a viable long-term choice on Tahoe.
Verdict: Maintenance is the whole ballgame for system monitors: Stats is alive, eul is not.
Monitoring Modules
CriticalStats monitors CPU, GPU, memory, disk, network, battery, Bluetooth, fans, and sensors. Each module provides detailed breakdowns (per-core CPU, memory type breakdown, disk I/O rates).
eul monitors CPU, memory, network, disk, battery, and fans/temperature. Coverage is solid for essentials but lacks GPU monitoring, Bluetooth battery tracking, and the depth of sensor data Stats provides. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats monitors more system components with greater detail.
Display Customization
HighStats offers multiple display formats for each module: mini graphs, bar charts, percentages, colored indicators, and more. Each module's appearance, colors, and update interval can be configured independently.
eul provides clean display options with text and icon formats. Customization is more limited, you can choose which modules to show but have fewer options for how they're displayed. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats provides significantly more flexibility in how monitoring data is presented.
Resource Usage
HighStats uses approximately 30-50MB RAM and minimal CPU despite monitoring many metrics. It's well-optimized with configurable update intervals to further reduce overhead.
eul uses approximately 20-40MB RAM. Its SwiftUI architecture and simpler feature set contribute to a very light footprint. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Both are remarkably lightweight. eul is marginally lighter due to fewer features, but the difference is negligible.
GPU Monitoring
MediumStats monitors GPU utilization, temperature, and memory usage. On Apple Silicon Macs, it shows the GPU cores' activity and thermal state.
eul does not include GPU monitoring. Users interested in GPU performance need to use Activity Monitor or another tool. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats includes GPU monitoring; eul does not.
Sensor and Temperature Data
MediumStats reads SMC sensors for CPU/GPU temperatures, fan speeds, SSD temperature, and other thermal data. On Apple Silicon Macs, it displays efficiency and performance core temperatures separately.
eul displays fan speeds and basic temperature readings. Sensor coverage is shallower than Stats (fewer SMC maps and less per-component detail). (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats provides deeper sensor data including per-component temperatures.
UI Design and Aesthetics
MediumStats has a functional, information-dense interface. The menu bar widgets are configurable but can look busy if many modules are enabled. The popover panels are information-rich but utilitarian.
eul's SwiftUI interface is clean, modern, and aesthetically pleasing. The popovers are well-designed with a native macOS feel that some users prefer over Stats' more data-dense approach. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats wins by virtue of active maintenance on modern macOS; eul is stale.
Active Development
HighStats is actively maintained with frequent commits, regular releases (latest v2.12.13 as of August 2026), and quick macOS compatibility updates. The developer is responsive to issues and feature requests.
eul has not received a release since August 2021 (v1.6.2) and is effectively unmaintained. The last commit was in May 2024, but no new releases have been published. Users should not expect future updates or bug fixes. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats is actively developed and maintained; eul is effectively abandoned with no releases since 2021.
Bluetooth Battery Monitoring
LowStats can display battery levels for connected Bluetooth devices (AirPods, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, etc.) in the menu bar.
eul does not monitor Bluetooth device battery levels. (Note: eul has not shipped a release since August 2021; treat feature claims as historical.)
Verdict: Stats monitors Bluetooth device batteries; eul does not.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Free-Software Mac User
MIT-licensed, Homebrew-installable, actively maintained, ideal default.
2The Apple Silicon Power User
Needs ongoing sensor map updates that only active projects ship.
3The Tahoe Upgrader
macOS 26 menu-bar privacy requires apps that document and adapt; Stats does.
4The eul Loyalist
Loyalty cannot fix a five-year release gap, migrate while your Mac still runs modern OS builds.
5The Minimalist
Enable two or three modules and ignore the rest; lighter than running abandoned code.
6The Paid-Polish Seeker
Start with Stats free; if you outgrow it, move to iStat Menus, not back to eul.
Migration Guide
Eul → Stats
1) Install Stats from https://github.com/exelban/stats/releases or brew install stats. 2) Open Stats, enable only the modules you need (CPU, Memory, Network are a sensible baseline). 3) On macOS 26/Tahoe, open System Settings → Menu Bar and allow Stats so icons appear. 4) Quit eul from the menu bar and move eul.app to Trash (or delete the App Store edition). 5) Optionally re-arrange menu-bar icons by ⌘-dragging. There is no settings importer, recreate preferences manually (takes a few minutes).
Stats → Eul
Not recommended. eul is unmaintained; do not migrate to it.
Pro Tips
If Stats feels too modular or heavy with all sensors on, disable Sensors and Bluetooth modules to cut energy impact. Users who want weather, rules, and ultra-polished graphs should evaluate iStat Menus instead of trying to revive eul.
Final Verdict
Stats
Winner
Runner-up
This is no longer a balanced comparison. Stats is a living open-source project with August 2026 releases and Tahoe support guidance. eul has not released since 2021 and documents removed SMC functionality. Use Stats. Uninstall eul. If you need commercial depth, buy iStat Menus. Do not wait for eul to return.
Bottom Line: Use Stats. Migrate off eul. The free menu-bar monitoring race ended when eul stopped shipping updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Aug 9, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Stats published v3.0.10/v3.0.11 releases in August 2026 and remains under active development on GitHub.[cite-stats-github, cite-stats-releases]
- eul's latest GitHub release is v1.6.2 published on 2021-08-05.[cite-eul-github]
- eul's README states some features are disabled due to removal of SMC calls and that the App Store version is outdated.[cite-eul-github]
- Stats documents that macOS 26 requires explicitly allowing the app under System Settings → Menu Bar for icons to appear.[cite-stats-github]
- 1exelban/stats. GitHub
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 2Stats Releases
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 3gao-sun/eul. GitHub
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 4eul. Mac App Store
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 5Homebrew Cask. stats
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 6iStat Menus. Bjango
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 7Apple Silicon
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
Research queries: eul macOS last release abandoned; Stats exelban v3 2026 Tahoe menu bar; stats vs eul 2026