Charge Limiter Free
Set a maximum anywhere from 20% to 100% with the slider or by typing the number. Charging stops right there.
Free MacBook charge limiter v1.39.4
AlDente Mac Stops Charging Exactly Where You Want
Pick a limit like 80% and AlDente holds your MacBook there, even when it stays plugged in all day. Less heat at the top of the tank means a battery that ages slower.
$0Free version, no time limit
9.2KStars on GitHub
700K+Downloads worldwide
12+Minimum macOS version
Everything AlDente Does for Your Battery
Keeping a MacBook at 100% all day wears the cells faster. AlDente for Mac caps the charge, cools things down and shows what your battery is doing from the menu bar.
Discharge on Power Free
Run fully on battery while the cable stays in. Bring the level down to a healthier number without unplugging anything.
Sailing Mode Pro
Choose a range like 75 to 80%. Your MacBook drifts down to the low mark before it charges again, so it skips tiny top-up cycles.
Schedule and Shortcuts Pro
Plan tasks ahead, like a full charge on Friday morning before travel. Templates speed up setup and the Shortcuts app can trigger actions too.
Menu Bar Stats
See charge, health and power draw at a glance. Pro adds Power Flow, temperature, maximum capacity and an energy-hungry apps widget.
Heat Protection and Calibration Pro
Charging pauses when the battery runs hot. A monthly calibration cycle keeps the percentage reading honest.
Terminal installation
Advanced users can install AlDente with a single Homebrew command.
brew install --cask aldente
How to open Terminal on Mac
- Press ⌘ + Space to bring up Spotlight.
- Type Terminal into the search field.
- Hit Return and a Terminal window opens.
Installation via Terminal command
- Copy the command above with the Copy button.
- Paste it into Terminal with ⌘ + V and press Return.
- AlDente lands in Applications. Launch it and approve the helper tool.
No Homebrew? Install it from brew.sh, or grab the installer from GitHub.
Download InstallerHow AlDente Works on Your Mac
Three minutes of setup, then it runs quietly in the menu bar.
01
Approve the helper
On first launch AlDente asks for permission to install a small helper. That tool talks to the charging controller inside your MacBook.
02
Pick your limit
Open the menu bar popover and drag the slider. Most desk setups land between 70% and 80%.
03
Work plugged in
Your Mac runs on wall power while the battery rests at your number. Heading out? Raise it to 100% for the day.
Try the al dente sweet spot
Lithium-ion cells wear fastest when they sit full and warm. Drag the slider to see where AlDente parks your battery and how Sailing Mode lets it drift.
The yellow line marks your limit. The striped band shows the Sailing Mode range where charging stays off.
Since v1.39, limits under 80% on Apple Silicon need a toggle in Charge Settings. Intel MacBooks get them without the extra switch.
CHARGE LIMIT
80%
SAILING
75–80%
The classic desk setting. Plenty of power for meetings and less stress on the cells.
Battery level
Your limit
Sailing range
AlDente Free vs AlDente Pro
The free app covers the core job. Pro adds automation, heat control and deeper battery stats.
| Feature | AlDente Free | AlDente Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Charge LimiterCap charging from 20% to 100% | ✓ | ✓ |
| DischargeRun on battery while plugged in | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heat ProtectionPause charging when the battery runs hot | – | ✓ |
| Sailing ModeLet the level drift inside a range | – | ✓ |
| Calibration ModeFull cycle that keeps readings accurate | – | ✓ |
| Schedule and ShortcutsAutomate limits and top-ups | – | ✓ |
| Stats and Power FlowHealth, temperature and live power draw | – | ✓ |
| Price | $0 | Paid license |
One Pro license activates on up to three macOS user accounts. Prices live on the official pricing page.
What MacBook Owners Say About AlDente
Rated 4.8 out of 5 by people who keep their laptops plugged in for hours.
I searched aldente mac after my old MacBook dropped to 82% health in two years. On the new one it sits at 80% on the dock all week and the menu bar shows exactly what it's doing.Jonas W.
Setup took two minutes. Install the helper, drag the slider to 80 and you're done. I forget AlDente is running until I glance at the menu bar.Priya S.
Upgraded to AlDente Pro for Heat Protection. Long video exports used to heat my battery while it charged. Now charging pauses as soon as temps climb.Marco T.
Does what it promises. Once after a long sleep it went a few percent past my limit, so I adjusted the sleep setting and it has behaved since.Hannah L.
Sailing Mode is the reason I bought aldente pro. My MacBook floats between 70 and 80 instead of topping up every few minutes.Ethan R.
Typed aidente into Google at first and still landed on the right app. Discharge lets me drain to 60% without pulling the cable.Sofia M.
One Homebrew command and it was running. Our team calls it the al dente mac trick and every new hire installs it on day one.Kenji A.
Calibration Mode runs once a month on a schedule. My battery percentage finally matches reality again.Laura B.
The free version covers the charge limiter and Discharge, which is all most people need. Clean design, regular updates and it still supports my Intel MacBook.Omar F.
AlDente Mac FAQ
Straight answers about the free app, AlDente Pro and setup.
Is AlDente free to use?
Yes. The free version includes Charge Limiter and Discharge with no trial period. AlDente Pro is an optional paid upgrade that adds Heat Protection, Sailing Mode, Calibration Mode, Stats and Schedule.
Which Macs and macOS versions does AlDente support?
AlDente needs macOS 12 Monterey or later. It runs on Apple Silicon and Intel MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and MacBook models, including the M5 lineup and MacBook Neo.
Is aidente the same app as AlDente?
Yes. "Aidente" is a common typo because a lowercase l looks like an i. The real name is AlDente, after the Italian pasta term, and AppHouseKitchen in Vienna builds it.
How do I install AlDente with Terminal?
Run
brew install --cask aldente in Terminal. You can also download the latest release from the GitHub releases page and drag the app into Applications.Can I set a charge limit below 80%?
Yes. On Apple Silicon, version 1.39 moved limits under 80% behind a toggle in Charge Settings to match Apple's newer charge control. Intel MacBooks have those lower limits without the toggle since 1.39.2.
What extra features does AlDente Pro add?
Pro brings Heat Protection, Sailing Mode, Calibration Mode, scheduled tasks, Shortcuts support and detailed stats such as temperature, maximum capacity and Power Flow. One license covers up to three macOS user accounts.
How do I remove AlDente cleanly?
Set the limit back to 100% first, then uninstall the helper from inside AlDente. After that, drag the app to the Trash and your MacBook charges normally again.
Who makes AlDente?
David Wernhart and Matthias Kerbl run AppHouseKitchen in Vienna. Their AlDente repo has 9,200+ stars on GitHub and the app has passed 700,000 downloads.
Give Your MacBook Battery a Longer Life
Install AlDente once, set your limit and let it handle charging from here on.