Overview
HowlAlert monitors your Claude Code usage and sends push notifications when you approach limits.
TL;DR — HowlAlert is a native Apple app suite (macOS menu bar + iOS + watchOS) that reads Claude Code's local journal files and fires push notifications before you hit usage limits.
What is HowlAlert?
HowlAlert bridges Claude Code's local usage data with your Apple devices. It watches the JSONL journal files that Claude Code writes, aggregates token and cost metrics, and delivers real-time push notifications to your iPhone and Apple Watch.
How it works
- The macOS menu bar app monitors Claude Code's journal directory via FSEvents
- Usage events are parsed and aggregated locally in real time
- When thresholds are approached, the Mac app sends events to the Cloudflare Worker
- The Worker persists history in D1 and delivers APNs push notifications to registered devices
- Your iPhone and Apple Watch receive instant alerts
Key features
- Real-time monitoring — FSEvents-based file watching with sub-second latency
- Cross-device alerts — Native push to iOS and watchOS via APNs
- Privacy-first — Usage data is processed locally; only aggregated events leave your Mac
- Complication support — Current daily cost on your Apple Watch face
- Demo mode — Try the UI without a Claude Code installation