These 5 apps do different jobs. 2 set a charge limit of their own, 1 runs the limit built into macOS, and 2 read and report on the battery. They are listed in alphabetical order, and this page does not score them. Pick by what you need.
Amply is our app. Facts about the others come from their own sites, read on November 8, 2026.
At a glance
| App | What it is for | Sets a charge limit | Needs | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlDente | Charge control | Its own | Apple silicon or Intel, macOS 12 to 27 | Free, or Pro yearly or lifetime |
| Amply | Charge limit, explained | The one built into macOS | Apple silicon, macOS 26.4 or later | $9.50 once (50% off $19), 14-day free trial |
| Battery Toolkit | Charge control | Its own | Apple silicon | Free, open source |
| coconutBattery | Battery health readings | Not listed | macOS 12 or later | Free, or Plus once |
| iStat Menus | System monitor | Not listed | macOS 13.5 or later | Paid license, 14-day trial |
AlDente
Sets its own charge limit. AlDente Free has the Charge Limiter and Discharge. Pro adds Sailing Mode, Heat Protection, Calibration Mode, a charging Schedule and more.
Needs a MacBook with Apple silicon, or most Intel MacBooks from 2013, on macOS 12 Monterey through macOS 27. Free, or Pro as a yearly or lifetime license, or through Setapp. Amply vs AlDente goes deeper.
Amply
Runs the Charge Limit built into macOS 26.4, checks that it holds, and says in plain words why the Mac is or is not charging. Battery health history, a 1‑page PDF report, a charger report card and time left in words.
Needs a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26.4 or later. $9.50 once (50% off $19) after a 14-day free trial, 3 Macs per key.
Battery Toolkit
Free and open source (BSD-3-Clause). Sets an upper and a lower limit, can turn the power adapter off, and works through a privileged daemon. It is not notarized by Apple, and its GitHub repository is archived.
Needs a Mac with Apple silicon. Free. Amply vs Battery Toolkit goes deeper.
coconutBattery
Reads battery health for your Mac, and for an iPhone or iPad. It shows live battery details and saves health readings. The features it lists are about reading the battery, and a charge limit is not among them. coconutBattery Plus adds notifications, a lifetime analyzer and more.
Needs macOS 12 Monterey or later. Free, or coconutBattery Plus as a one-time purchase.
iStat Menus
A system monitor for the menu bar: CPU, GPU, memory, disks, network, sensors, battery and weather. Its battery item shows the current state, and its rules can notify you about battery and power events. A charge limit is not on its feature list.
Needs macOS 13.5 or later. A paid single or family license after a 14-day free trial, or through Setapp.
Which kind you need
- To cap the charge on Apple silicon with macOS 26.4 or later: the setting in System Settings, Amply on top of it, or AlDente or Battery Toolkit with limits of their own.
- To cap the charge on an Intel MacBook or an older macOS: AlDente.
- To read battery health without changing how it charges: coconutBattery, or iStat Menus if you want the rest of the system in the menu bar too.
Use 1 app that sets a limit at a time. AlDente’s FAQ and Battery Toolkit’s README both ask you to keep the macOS charging features from getting in the way.