Mojo Pulse monitors system security posture, network health, and hardware status from the Mac menu bar using a single color-coded dot that changes when something needs attention. The app provides 18 built-in tools across 25+ problem categories with no persistent background daemons installed. (Free, open-source)
Security monitoring covers FileVault encryption, Gatekeeper enforcement, macOS Firewall status, and System Integrity Protection. A process explorer checks running processes against code-signing records to flag unsigned or unverified software. Network diagnostics include Wi-Fi safety checks for DNS hijacking and ARP spoofing, network speed testing with per-hop latency measurements, and a live connection map showing which apps are actively communicating with external addresses.
Hardware monitoring includes disk usage visualization via an interactive treemap and battery health metrics with capacity data. A Bluetooth sonar feature lists nearby Bluetooth devices within range, useful for identifying unknown devices on shared networks or public locations. Alert cards surface specific findings within the expandable popover.
All processing is local with no telemetry or data collection enabled by default. Map lookups and location-based features are strictly opt-in. Optional permissions for Location, Bluetooth, and Local Network access enable the corresponding features.
System requirements: macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later. Runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Download size is 9.5 MB. Apple-notarized.
Pricing: Free. Open source under the Apache 2.0 license.
Limitations: Requires macOS 15 or later. No persistent background daemon — monitoring is only active while the app is open. Some features require optional permissions that privacy-conscious users may prefer not to grant.
Alternatives: Little Snitch monitors outbound network connections with persistent background enforcement and greater granularity. iStatMenus provides detailed hardware performance monitoring. Lulu (free, open-source) provides dedicated outbound firewall control without the broader security audit features.
Suitable for users who want a lightweight, free overview of system security and network health without installing persistent background services or subscribing to a monitoring service.
