Getting started

Install the Kilobat app and the free CLI, set up shell completion and try the first commands.

Install

The CLI is free and open source. Install it with Homebrew:

brew install seifip/kilobat/kilobat

This installs kilobat and kb, a short alias. Every example below works with either.

Or download the Mac app, which also includes the CLI at Kilobat.app/Contents/Helpers/kilobat.

Download for Mac ↓Download the free CLI ↓

Kilobat Lite on the Mac App Store

Kilobat Lite is a free edition for the Mac App Store, coming soon. It runs in Apple’s App Sandbox and keeps what works there: the health checks, the speed test, the Wi-Fi radar and nearby networks, “Why can’t it connect?” and keep awake. Per-app traffic, rules and the network filter, DNS changes, the lid-closed helper and the CLI need permissions the sandbox doesn’t allow, so they are only in the Kilobat app from this site. The two install side by side.

Turn on tab completion for your shell:

# zsh
echo 'source <(kilobat completion zsh)' >> ~/.zshrc
# fish
kilobat completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/kilobat.fish

Quick start

Run kilobat on its own for an interactive menu: arrow keys or j/k to move, Enter to open, a number to jump, q to quit.

kilobat status --watch     # live traffic by app; q quit, s sort, f filter, / search
kilobat diagnose           # what is slowing your connection
kilobat speedtest          # speed and latency under load
kilobat profile travel     # switch to the Travel profile
kilobat block com.example.App

Run kilobat <command> --help for help with any command.

The Mac app

  1. Download the disk image, drag Kilobat into Applications and open it from there.
  2. Live traffic, the Wi-Fi picker, speed tests, spotting Wi-Fi sign-in pages, keep awake and Why can’t it connect? are free, and so is the whole CLI. Pro adds rules and Ask, budgets, Wi-Fi health, the connection map, radar and history in the app. To unlock Pro, start the 7-day trial or paste your license into Settings.
  3. Choose your menu-bar items in Settings. Hold Command while dragging a menu-bar item to move it.

Allow Location access when asked so Kilobat can show Wi-Fi names and scan nearby networks. Your location is not sent anywhere.