MacPipAnswer
Does Clacky slow down my Mac or drain the battery?
No, Clacky is light: in our own check it used about 1 to 3% of one CPU core over a minute in the background (29 October 2026, Clacky 2.7.13, an M5 Pro MacBook Pro on macOS 26.7.1).
We haven’t measured battery life, so we won’t promise a number. You can check both on your own Mac in Activity Monitor in about a minute.
What we measured, and what we didn’t
| What | Result |
|---|---|
| CPU, running in the background | About 1 to 3% of one core over a minute (29 Oct 2026, Clacky 2.7.13, M5 Pro, macOS 26.7.1) |
| Battery life | Not measured yet |
| Sound latency | Not measured |
| Intel Macs | Not measured |
| Recording, editing and export | Not measured. These do real work while they run, so expect more then |
Check it yourself in Activity Monitor
- Open Activity Monitor (in Applications → Utilities, or press ⌘Space and type Activity Monitor).
- Click the CPU tab and type Clacky in the search field at the top right.
- Click and type for a minute and watch the % CPU column. 100% means one full core, so 2% is a fiftieth of one core.
- Click the Energy tab to see Energy Impact. On a laptop, 12 hr Power shows the average over the last 12 hours.
- Compare it with apps you already run, like your browser.
Why it stays light
- Clacky only listens to clicks and keys. It can’t change, delay or block them, so a busy Clacky can never slow down your typing or clicking.
- Each sound is made once and kept in memory, so a click only plays a sound that’s already there.
- The ripple layers are invisible while no ripple is showing.
- Switch Clacky off with the menu-bar switch and the listener is switched off at the system level: no clicks or keys reach Clacky at all.
- Clacky only listens for keys while Keyboard sounds is on.
If Clacky ever looks busy
Quit Clacky from its menu-bar menu and open it again. If the number stays high, tell us what you saw in Activity Monitor: write to hello@clacky.app or use Boop Support inside Clacky, and Justinas answers.
Want to turn it off for a while? See how to pause or turn off Clacky quickly.
Questions
How much memory does Clacky use?
We haven’t published a memory number. Activity Monitor’s Memory tab shows exactly what it uses on your Mac.
Does Clacky slow down typing?
No. It only listens, so every key reaches your app whether or not Clacky plays a sound.
Does Clacky use the internet all the time?
No. It goes online to check for updates and your licence, for a once-a-day anonymous check-in, and for Friends and the Bazaar only if you use them. The privacy page lists every request.
Facts checked on 5 November 2026.
Related
- How do I pause or turn off Clacky quickly?Click Clacky in the menu bar and flip the switch at the top. Or set an on/off shortcut, mute one sound type, or let Quiet during calls do it for you.
- Is Clacky safe to install?Yes. Clacky is signed and notarized by Apple, needs one permission for its sounds, and never records, stores or sends which keys you type.
- What does Clacky send over the internet?A daily anonymous check-in, update and licence checks, a one-time trial ID and, only if you agree, anonymous usage stats. Never your keys or screen.
- Does Clacky work on Intel Macs and Apple silicon?Yes. Clacky is one universal app for Apple silicon and Intel Macs. What you get depends on your macOS version, not your chip.
- Do Clacky’s sounds work in games?Yes. Clacky’s sounds play in any app, games included, and the ripple shows over full-screen games. It goes quiet during Discord and other calls.
- PrivacyWhat Clacky does and never does, and every request it makes.
Make something on your Mac today.
3 days free, every feature. Then $4.99 once.