Create your Hitsteps account
Create a free account and add the website you want to watch.
If you already use Hitsteps, stay on that account. Do not open a second account just for the Mac app. Use the site you want in the menu bar.
Mac App Store · Menubar Overview setup
Set up Menubar Overview so your first website hit shows in the menu bar
See where visitors come from and what they do next.
The Mac menu bar app shows live Hitsteps activity after your website is tracked. Create a free account, install the tracker once, paste your site API code into the app, then confirm the first hit.
Create a free Hitsteps account
View on the App Store Install tracking (JavaScript / any site)
WordPress plugin
Compare plans
The Menubar app is free.Live visitors work on Free.Heatmaps need Growth+.Live chat needs a paid plan.Paid Hitsteps plans start from $4.99.
Before you start
Hitsteps Menubar Overview does not track your site by itself. It needs a Hitsteps account, tracking on the website, and that website's API code in the app settings. Follow the five steps below. When they are done, you should see a real visit in the dashboard and in the menu bar.
Get your first website hit into the menu bar
Install the tracker on your site
Install once per site. Do not stack the WordPress plugin with a manual JavaScript snippet and Google Tag Manager. Multiple installs can double-count visits.
Primary: JavaScript snippet (any site)
- Open the HTML / custom site install guide.
- In Hitsteps, open your website and copy the full tracking snippet.
- Paste it once before the closing body tag in your shared footer, layout, or usual script location.
- Save, publish, and clear your site or CDN cache if you use one.
Alternate: WordPress plugin
- Open the WordPress plugin install guide.
- Install and activate Hitsteps on your self-hosted WordPress site.
- Paste the matching website API code into the plugin settings and save.
WordPress plugin install guide
Other platforms have their own Hitsteps install guides. Still pick one tracking path for each site.
Copy your website API code
In Hitsteps, open that website and copy its API code. The plugin may call it an API key.
Paste the code only into Hitsteps plugin settings and Menubar app settings. Keep it out of public URLs, UTM links, ads, and shared sheets.
Connect Menubar Overview
Use the same Hitsteps account and website API code that you used for the tracked site.
- Open Hitsteps Menubar Overview on your Mac.
- Open app settings and sign in with the same Hitsteps account.
- Paste the website API code from step 3 and save.
Chat presence and notifications are optional. Site counts still need tracking installed on the website.
Confirm the first hit
Check one real visit in both places before you consider setup done.
- Load a public page on your website.
- In the Hitsteps web dashboard, open Live visitors or Online for that site and confirm your visit.
- Check the Menubar count or popover for the same site.
You are done when one real page visit shows in the dashboard and the menu bar reflects live activity for that site.
If nothing appears, confirm you used one install path, check that the website and Menubar settings use the same API code, then refresh the site or try a private window if admin exclusion is on.
After your first hit
When hits are flowing, open License once to see what Free includes. Check top pages or referrers for one clear answer this week. Heatmaps need Growth+. Chat needs a paid plan, with paid Hitsteps plans starting from $4.99.
Menubar Overview setup FAQ
Does the Mac app replace Hitsteps tracking?
No. The app is a menu bar companion. Your site still needs the Hitsteps tracker and the website API code in the app.
Is the Mac app free?
Yes. The Menubar app is free, and Hitsteps accounts start free. Live visitors work on Free. Heatmaps need Growth+, and live chat needs a paid plan. Paid Hitsteps plans start from $4.99.
I already use Hitsteps. Do I need a new account?
No. Sign in with your existing account and paste the API code for the site you want in the menu bar.
Should I use JavaScript or WordPress?
Use the JavaScript snippet on any site. If you run WordPress, you can use the official plugin instead. Choose one tracking path per site.
Where is the API code?
Open your website in Hitsteps and find its API code in the website settings. The WordPress plugin may call it an API key. Never put it in a public URL.
Setup help and related pages
Ready to see your first hit?
Create a free account, install one tracking path on your website, and connect its API code in Menubar Overview. Check the dashboard and menu bar for the same visit.