Question 1

What is Claude Fuel?

Accepted Answer

A menu-bar app that shows how much of your Claude usage window is left as a retro fuel gauge, with a live refuel countdown and usage stats.

Question 2

Where does it get my usage data?

Accepted Answer

It reads Claude Code's usage logs stored locally on your Mac. No login, no API key — nothing leaves your machine.

Question 3

Do I need Claude Code for it to work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Claude Fuel reads Claude Code's local usage files, so it only shows data if you use Claude Code on that Mac.

Question 4

Why do I set my own tank size?

Accepted Answer

Subscription plans don't publish a token allowance, so you set the tank (your budget) for your plan in Settings. The gauge then fills your real consumed tokens against it.

Question 5

What do the countdown and colors mean?

Accepted Answer

The menu-bar timer counts down to when your rolling usage window resets; green, amber and red show how much fuel is left.

Question 6

Can I keep the gauge always on screen?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Mini button pops the gauge into a floating, always-on-top window you can park in a corner. Pick from Silver, Graphite or Amber CRT themes.

Question 7

What do I need, and how do I launch it at login?

Accepted Answer

macOS 13 or later. Move it to your Applications folder and open it; to start it automatically, add it under System Settings → General → Login Items.

Question 8

macOS says ClaudeFuel is damaged and can't be opened — is the download broken?

Accepted Answer

No — the app is fine. This is macOS Gatekeeper, not real damage. Claude Fuel isn't notarized through a paid Apple Developer account, so when you download it your browser tags it with a quarantine flag and macOS shows this misleading message. Fix it in any one of these ways: right-click (or Control-click) ClaudeFuel.app and choose Open, then Open; or open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway, then launch it again; or open Terminal and run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/ClaudeFuel.app (adjust the path if the app isn't in your Applications folder), then open it normally. You only have to do this once — afterwards it opens normally.

Question 9

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Free.