Online Check monitors actual internet connectivity rather than just Wi-Fi connection status. The app sends HEAD requests to apple.com and cloudflare.com every 20 seconds, verifying genuine internet access. The menu bar icon turns red when offline and remains neutral when connectivity is working.
This approach addresses a common limitation of standard connection indicators. Wi-Fi connection status shows as connected even when routers have issues or ISPs experience outages. Online Check verifies the ability to reach external servers, providing accurate online/offline status. A fallback system tries cloudflare.com if apple.com fails before declaring offline status.
Features include optional notifications alerting when connectivity drops, useful when stepping away from the desk. Shortcuts integration enables automations based on connectivity state, such as pausing backups when internet drops and resuming when connectivity returns.
Performance impact is minimal at approximately 0.5% CPU during checks and around 50MB memory. The app runs quietly in the background, becoming visible only when problems occur. The contacted domains (apple.com, cloudflare.com) are disclosed for transparency.
Requirements include macOS 15 or later for the current version, with version 1.3.0 supporting macOS 14. Online Check is completely free. The developer is Sindre Sorhus, known for high-quality Mac utilities.
Limitations include behavior with captive portals. Environments requiring authentication pages (hotel Wi-Fi, corporate networks) show offline status until authentication completes. This accurately reflects inability to reach the internet but may cause initial confusion. The app cannot distinguish between different types of connectivity failures.
Alternatives include native macOS Network preferences for basic connection status and third-party network monitors like Bandwidth+ for detailed traffic analysis.
Suitable for users who work remotely, experience unreliable internet connections, or need accurate connectivity status for workflow automation rather than basic Wi-Fi connection indicators.
