Track OpenAI Token Usage from Your Mac Menu Bar
Keep supported ChatGPT usage and OpenAI API spend signals visible while you work, with clear separation between subscription and API billing.
How OpenAI usage limits work
- ChatGPT limits vary by plan, feature, model, and current service conditions.
- Flexible usage credits apply only to eligible ChatGPT features and are separate from API credit.
- OpenAI API usage is billed separately and reported by organization, project, model, user, API key, and capability where available.
What AIUsageBar shows you
- Supported ChatGPT usage and reset signals
- API token usage by current model
- Estimated daily and monthly API cost
- Spend alerts before you hit your budget cap
OpenAI Usage Comes from Separate Products
ChatGPT subscriptions, flexible usage credits, and OpenAI API billing are distinct. A ChatGPT subscription does not include API calls, and the API Usage Dashboard does not show ordinary ChatGPT conversations. Start by identifying which product generated the activity.
Third-party tools that offer OpenAI models are generally billed and metered by that tool. Their activity does not automatically appear as personal OpenAI API usage.
How to Check ChatGPT Usage and Credits
ChatGPT limits vary by plan, feature, model, and current service conditions. OpenAI does not promise one permanent message count for every Plus or Pro feature. When a model or feature exposes a reset, use the value shown in ChatGPT rather than an old fixed limit from a blog post.
For supported agentic features, eligible users can open Codex Settings → Usage Dashboard on ChatGPT web to review their credit balance and recent usage. Optional credits are consumed after included plan usage and work only with supported features; they are not general OpenAI API credits.
How to Check OpenAI API Usage
Open the Usage page on the OpenAI Platform. Organization owners and users with the Usage Dashboard permission can review token activity and cost by date, project, model, API key, user, capability, or service tier where supported. Clear the project filter to inspect the whole organization.
Usage timestamps are displayed in UTC. One-minute granularity can help investigate tokens-per-minute behavior, while the export flow supports deeper activity and cost reconciliation. API responses also include per-request token usage for application-level telemetry.
Read the official API Usage Dashboard guide for current permissions, filters, and reporting behavior.
Why Keep OpenAI Usage in the Menu Bar?
AIUsageBar keeps supported OpenAI usage and spend signals visible beside Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and the rest of your stack. The OpenAI Platform remains the official source for API invoices; the menu bar view reduces dashboard switching while you work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ChatGPT Plus have a fixed message limit?
Limits can vary by model, feature, plan, and system conditions. Use the limit and reset displayed in ChatGPT for the current account.
Where can I see OpenAI API token usage?
Use the OpenAI Platform Usage page for organization and project reporting. API responses also include token usage for individual requests.
What's the difference between ChatGPT Plus and the OpenAI API?
ChatGPT is a subscription product. The API is a separate developer platform with separate billing, permissions, rate limits, and usage reporting.
Are ChatGPT usage credits the same as API credits?
No. Flexible ChatGPT credits apply only to eligible supported features. API billing and prepaid API credits are managed separately on the OpenAI Platform.