Stats monitors macOS system activity from the menu bar, with installation instructions provided in its repository.
Open source
24 alternativesWhatcable
WhatCable reports what USB-C cables can do from a macOS menu bar app, according to its repository description.
About Whatcable
WhatCable is a macOS menu bar app that reports what each USB-C cable plugged into a Mac can do, in plain English. It reads information macOS exposes through IOKit and shows a menu bar popover with per-port status, charging and data-speed diagnostics, cable e-marker details, charger voltage profiles, and connected device identity. The app also matches a cable's USB-IF certificate ID against a list bundled with the app rather than looking it up over the network.
A cable trust-signal card appears when e-marker values look unusual against the USB-PD spec; the wording is hedged, and a USB-IF certification line reports the ID and manufacturer from the bundled list rather than guaranteeing authenticity. The app groups connected devices by what they are plugged into and hides hubs by default. It is macOS-only, and pricing is not stated in the source.
Key features
- Per-port headline: Thunderbolt/USB4, USB device, display, charging only, slow cable
- Charging banner identifies bottleneck: cable below charger, Mac asking less, or matched
- Data-speed diagnostic says whether Mac port, cable, or device limits link
- Cable e-marker shows rated speed, current, and chip vendor
- USB-IF certificate ID matched to bundled list; raw XID in JSON
- Mid-session fault warnings read port fault counters for overcurrent or drops
Best for: Mac users who want to know what a USB-C cable can do and why charging or data transfer may be slow.
Good for
- Gives plain-English charging and data-speed bottleneck diagnoses.
- Matches USB-IF certificate IDs against a bundled list without network lookup.
- Groups connected devices by what they are plugged into and hides hubs by default.
Watch out for
- Runs only on macOS.
- USB-IF certification and trust signals are not verdicts on cable authenticity.
- Pricing is not stated in the source.
Whatcable at a glance
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Mac Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- macOS
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Whatcable FAQ
Does WhatCable look up cable certification online?
No. It reads the cable's certificate ID and matches it against a list bundled with the app; nothing is looked up over the network.
Does a USB-IF certification line mean the cable is guaranteed authentic?
No. The line reports the ID and manufacturer from the bundled list; certification is voluntary, and an "unlisted" result is neutral, not a verdict on the cable.
What platform does WhatCable run on?
It is a macOS menu bar app; no other platforms are mentioned.
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