SKILLKEEPER
Claude Code usage tools compared
We make SkillKeeper, so read these with that in mind. Everything about other tools comes from their own READMEs and the Claude Code docs, checked on 2026-10-14, and each page says where a tool is the better choice.
The three comparisons
- SkillKeeper vs ccusage. A terminal CLI that prints reports from your logs, against a menu bar app. History and cost estimates against a live breakdown by source.
- SkillKeeper vs the built-in /usage command. What Claude Code already tells you for free, and what a separate monitor adds.
- SkillKeeper vs other menu bar monitors. CodexBar and Claude Usage Tracker, which are free and open source, against SkillKeeper.
Which tool answers which question
| Question | Best start |
|---|---|
| How close am I to my limit, and when does it reset? | /usage or a free menu bar gauge |
| What did I spend per day or per month, as a table? | ccusage |
| Which skill, MCP server or memory file took the tokens? | /usage for a quick look, SkillKeeper for every source and a longer window |
| Which skills never run? | SkillKeeper, or /skill-doctor |
They overlap, and a common setup is more than one of them.
See also the usage guide and the Mac monitor page.