The short answer
Choose AlDente if…
- you want to choose exactly where charging stops, including below 80% on Apple silicon;
- you want to run from the battery while plugged in (discharge), or schedule a calibration cycle;
- you want heat protection that pauses charging, not just a warning;
- your Mac is older than macOS 26.4, or has an Intel chip.
Choose Tend if…
- you're not sure a charge limit helps the way you work, and want an answer from your own data;
- you're on macOS 26.4 or later and are happy with Apple's built-in 80–100% limit;
- you'd rather not install a privileged helper that changes charging;
- you also want to see which apps drain your battery, your temperatures, cleanup and updates.
They also work together. Tend only reads the battery; it never changes charging, so it doesn't conflict with AlDente.
Where AlDente is stronger
- It actually controls charging. AlDente's charge limiter holds the battery at a level you choose, and it's in AlDente's free version. Tend never stops or starts charging; on macOS 26.4 or later it relies on Apple's Charge Limit, which only goes from 80% to 100%.
- More charging tools. Discharge while plugged in, automatic discharge, Sailing Mode, Calibration Mode, Top Up, heat protection that pauses charging, MagSafe LED control, schedules and Apple Shortcuts support. Tend has none of these.
- Older Macs and macOS versions. AlDente supports Intel MacBooks as well as Apple silicon. Tend needs Apple silicon and macOS 15 or later, and Apple's Charge Limit needs macOS 26.4.
- A longer track record as a dedicated battery tool.
Where Tend is different
- Advice, not just controls. Tend's Battery Coach logs how you charge for up to 60 days, on your Mac, and tells you whether a limit helps you: hours a day sitting near 100%, time on power, time spent warm and how much you use the battery. For people who use their battery every day, the answer is often that a limit would mostly cost runtime.
- No charging helper. Controlling the charger needs a privileged helper that changes low-level power settings. Tend doesn't install one, and uses Apple's own Charge Limit where it exists.
- The whole Mac. Which apps use the most power, in watts, with 30 days of history; every temperature sensor and fan; alerts for heat and runaway apps; cleanup; and macOS, App Store and Homebrew updates in one list.
Side by side
| Feature | Tend | AlDente |
|---|---|---|
| Charge limit | Shows macOS's Charge Limit (80–100%, macOS 26.4+) and opens the setting (Pro); unplug reminders on earlier macOS (Pro) | Holds any level you choose (Free) |
| Discharge while plugged in | No | Yes (Free); automatic discharge (Pro) |
| Heat | Warning when the battery is warm while charging (Pro) | Heat protection pauses charging (Pro) |
| Sailing, Calibration, Top Up, schedules | No | Yes (Pro) |
| MagSafe LED control, Shortcuts | No | Yes (Pro) |
| Battery health, cycles and hardware detail | Health and cycles (Free); cell voltages and daily health record (Pro) | Hardware battery percentage (Pro) |
| Per-app energy use | Live watts (Free); 7 and 30-day history (Pro) | Not its focus |
| Temperatures and fans, cleanup, updates | Yes (thermals and cleanup actions in Pro) | Not its focus |
| Charging helper | None | A privileged helper that controls charging |
| Macs | Apple silicon, macOS 15 or later | Apple silicon and Intel MacBooks |
| Price | Free; Pro $4.99/month, $19.99/year or $39.99 once, on 3 Macs. Free during the beta. | Free; Pro €11.49/year or €23.99 once, on up to 3 Macs or user accounts; or via Setapp |
What about Apple's own Charge Limit?
Since macOS 26.4, Macs with Apple silicon can stop charging at a level you pick between 80% and 100%, in System Settings › Battery. Apple says the Mac charges to within a few percent of the limit, resumes if it drops more than 5% while plugged in, and still charges to 100% occasionally to keep its estimates accurate (Apple). AlDente's developer has written about this change, noting that Apple aims for simplicity while AlDente aims for control. For many people Apple's limit is enough; if you want a limit below 80%, discharge or calibration control, AlDente still goes further.
Not sure you need a limit at all? Should I use a charge limit? walks through the evidence.
Sources
- AppHouseKitchen, AlDente pricing and AlDente features, checked 11 October 2026.
- AppHouseKitchen, We got Sherlocked — or did we?
- AlDente's public README: requirements (Apple silicon or Intel MacBook), limits below 80% on Apple silicon, and its use of low-level system functions to control charging.
- Apple, About Optimized Battery Charging and Charge Limit on Mac.
- Tend's features are from the current app; see pricing and the changelog.
See where your battery goes
Tend is free to download, and every Pro feature is free during the beta.