Activity Monitor alternatives/Vitals vs MacPulse

Vitals vs MacPulse

Atta 🐬

Founder, Vitals

MacPulse checked

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Quick answer

Vitals is the better choice if you want to know which app is using your Mac. It lists every app with its helper processes counted in, keeps 30 days of history per app, and finds dev servers and the ports they hold. MacPulse is a history-first monitor with plain-English insights, fan control and CSV export, and a good pick if you want those or are on macOS 14.

VitalsMacPulse
What it is
VitalsAn Activity Monitor replacement with a menu bar item
MacPulseA system monitor that explains performance in plain English
List of what is running
VitalsEvery app, with its helper processes counted in
MacPulseTop 5 processes by CPU and memory, top 10 for network and disk
Helper processes counted under their app
VitalsYes
MacPulseNot stated
History
Vitals30 days for every metric, per app
MacPulse30 days, system-wide and per process (per process in the direct version only)
Alerts
VitalsWhen an app keeps the CPU busy, keeps growing in memory, or hammers the disk or network
MacPulseCPU, memory pressure, temperature, GPU, battery, fan failure and network changes
Temperatures and fans
VitalsTemperatures and fan speed, no fan control
MacPulseYes, with fan control (direct version)
Dev servers and open ports
VitalsGrouped by project, idle ones pointed out
MacPulseNot stated
Quit and force quit
VitalsAn app or a single process, after a confirmation
MacPulseNot stated
Export
VitalsA share card or dashboard image
MacPulseCSV
Mac App Store version
VitalsNot on the Mac App Store; one full version, sold direct
MacPulseLeaves out sensors, fan control and top processes
Price
Vitals$5 during the launch, $29 after, once
MacPulse€14.99 once for 1 Mac, €49.99 for 5
Trial
VitalsNone, a 14-day refund
MacPulse14 days
Requirements
VitalsmacOS 15 or later
MacPulsemacOS 14 or later

Choose Vitals if

  • You want every app on the Mac listed, not only the top five processes
  • You want the helpers of Chrome or Xcode counted under the app
  • You run dev servers and lose track of what is holding a port
  • You want to quit an app or a stuck process from the same window
Get Vitals for $5

Choose MacPulse if

  • You want plain-English explanations of how your Mac has been
  • You want fan control or CSV export
  • You are on macOS 14
  • You want to try it before you pay
MacPulse website

How we compared

The MacPulse column comes from its maker's own site on September 22, 2026. Where the site does not say whether it does something, the cell says "Not stated". If a cell is out of date, email us and we will fix it.

More comparisons

Wondering why apps show so many rows in Activity Monitor? Read about helper processes.