Best Mac AirPods Battery Apps in 2026 (3 Compared)
AirBuddy, ToothFairy and Notchy compared for AirPods battery and one-tap connect on macOS — per-bud readouts, case charge, price, and the free way to get it.
By Vishva Variya · Published
On iPhone the AirPods battery is a glance. On a Mac it is a menu, a hover, and a squint — and the case charge often is not there at all. Three apps fix it, and they are solving noticeably different problems underneath the same headline.
1. Notchy — battery in the notch (free)
Notchy shows per-bud battery, the case charge and connection status from the MacBook notch, without opening Bluetooth settings and without another menu bar icon. It is the readout only — it does not replace the pairing flow. Free, macOS 13 Ventura and up, and the connection event surfaces as a live activity alongside what is playing.
2. AirBuddy — the iPhone popover, on your Mac ($9.99)
AirBuddy is $9.99 one-time and needs macOS 10.14.6 or later on a Mac with Bluetooth Low Energy. It recreates the iPhone experience properly: open the case near the Mac and the familiar card slides in, with per-device battery for AirPods, Magic Mouse, keyboards and trackpads. If you own several Apple accessories rather than just AirPods, this is the one built for that.
3. ToothFairy — connection first, battery second
ToothFairy exists so one keystroke connects your AirPods, with battery shown as a supporting detail. It runs on macOS 10.13 all the way through macOS 27, the widest support window here by a long way, and c-command does not list its price on the product page. Pick it if the pain is switching audio devices rather than reading a percentage.
The comparison
| Notchy | AirBuddy | ToothFairy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $9.99 one-time | Paid, price not listed |
| Minimum macOS | 13 Ventura | 10.14.6 | 10.13 |
| Per-bud battery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Case battery | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| One-key connect | No | Yes | Yes |
| Other Apple accessories | No | Yes | Bluetooth devices |
| Also gets you | Music, clipboard, timers, HUDs | — | — |
Bottom line
Several Apple accessories and the full iPhone-style popover: AirBuddy, and it is worth the $9.99. Constant device switching: ToothFairy. If all you actually wanted was to see the number without opening a menu, Notchy puts it in the notch for free.
Mac AirPods battery FAQs
How do I see AirPods battery on a Mac?
With the AirPods connected, the Bluetooth menu in the menu bar shows a battery figure when you hover the device. It is accurate but slow to reach and it does not always break out the case. The apps below surface the same information without the detour.
Is there a free AirBuddy alternative?
Notchy is free and shows per-bud and case battery plus connection status from the notch. AirBuddy is $9.99 one-time and does considerably more around the connection flow — the free option is not a full replacement for the pairing popover, just for the battery readout.
Why does my Mac not show AirPods case battery?
The case only reports its charge while at least one bud is inside it and the lid interaction has woken it. If both buds are in your ears, there is no case figure to read, and no app can invent one.
Does ToothFairy show battery?
Its main job is one-click connect via a menu bar icon or hotkey, with battery as a secondary readout. c-command.com does not list its price on the product page, and it runs on macOS 10.13 through macOS 27 with a Bluetooth device.
Do these apps drain battery themselves?
Bluetooth polling is cheap, but an app that redraws a live indicator constantly is not free. Check the app's own idle CPU in Activity Monitor after a few minutes with the AirPods connected and nothing playing.