Quick answer
ccusage is a free CLI that prints daily, monthly, session, and five-hour block reports from local logs. UsageAtlas is a free desktop app that adds the plan limits your account reports, alerts, Cursor, and charts. Many people keep ccusage for scripts and use UsageAtlas to watch limits.
What each one does
| ccusage | UsageAtlas | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Terminal, JSON output | Desktop window, tray, or menu bar |
| Remaining plan limit | No | Yes, for Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor |
| Alerts | No | One per window per reset |
| Cursor and credit-based tools | No | Yes |
| Status line | Yes | No |
| History | As long as local logs exist | Daily totals kept after logs are deleted |
| License | MIT | MIT |
When a desktop app helps
ccusage works out five-hour blocks from your logs. It cannot see the quota Anthropic or OpenAI reports for your account, so usage from claude.ai or another computer is invisible to it. UsageAtlas reads that quota from your existing sign-in.
The other gap is time. Claude Code deletes session files after 30 days by default, and a log reader loses those days with them. UsageAtlas seals each finished day, so last month stays on record.
Using both
Both tools only read local files, so they do not get in each other's way. Keep ccusage in scripts and status lines. Install UsageAtlas for the window you glance at between tasks.
Questions, answered
Is there a GUI for ccusage?
ccusage itself runs in the terminal. UsageAtlas reads the same Claude Code and Codex logs and shows them in a desktop window, with live plan limits added.
Does ccusage show my remaining Claude limit?
No. It estimates five-hour blocks from local logs. UsageAtlas shows the five-hour and weekly percentages Anthropic reports for your account.
Can I run ccusage and UsageAtlas together?
Yes. Both read local files without changing them, so they do not interfere.