For journalists, YouTubers, and newsletter writers.
Everything you need to cover Cavemode. If anything's missing, email support@cavemode.app and you'll have it the same day.
One-paragraph pitch
Cavemode is a macOS menu bar app that visualizes your Claude AI usage as reverse evolution. At 0% you get a smug robot. At 100% you get a funeral and a shareable death certificate. In between, six character stages, real usage data, macOS notifications, and a Slap-Attack minigame for the rate-limit wait. $3.99 one-time via Polar.sh (cavemode.app build) or the Mac App Store. Built by a small indie studio in Bangkok.
Assets
Download the full press kit ZIP — includes logo PNGs at 1×/2×/3×, character lineup poster, six app screenshots, and the OG image.
Key facts
- ProductCavemode
- CategorymacOS menu bar app
- Launch2026
- Price$3.99 one-time
- PlatformmacOS 14+ (universal binary)
- Works withClaude Pro / Max / Team / Enterprise
- DistributionPolar.sh (cavemode.app) + Mac App Store (in review)
- Sitecavemode.app
- Contactsupport@cavemode.app
Character lineup
Six pixel-art characters cover the full devolution arc. Right-click to save individual sprites.
The story
Claude rate limits are the loudest complaint on r/ClaudeCode and r/Anthropic right now. People paying $100–200/month are watching a spinner for four hours at a time. Cavemode is a comedy-first response: if you're going to get locked out, at least the lock-out should be cinematic. The app ships the same usage-tracking data other trackers do, but frames it as reverse evolution — a character in your menu bar that devolves as you burn through tokens, complete with stage-specific quotes and a funeral at zero tokens left.
The app is a love letter to SlapMac — a $5 novelty Mac app that made your laptop "moan" and racked up 2,000+ licenses in three days via screenshot-driven virality. Cavemode follows the same playbook: one person, one week, one visceral joke, one shareable moment per rate-limit.
What ships in v1.0.0
Full feature list, grouped by area. Marketing copy, app description, and Mac App Store listing all derive from this same table.
Tracking
- Live Claude usage Session % + weekly % + reset countdown polled every 60s
- Six-stage devolution Menu-bar character regresses from CLAUDE-9000 to UGH
- Stage transition alerts macOS notifications + stage-specific sound effects
Death
- Funeral sequence 8–10s animated death scene at 100% usage
- Death certificate PNG Shareable cert with time alive, stage reached, cost per minute
Minigame
- Slap Attack 60s minigame with crack meter, combo ladder, jackpot windows
- Slap Receipt End-of-run share card with score, combo peak, rank
Progression
- CavemanRank ladder Hominid → Cave Apprentice → Certified Caveman → Ooga Veteran → Paleolithic Legend
- XP + level system Levels 1–20+ with daily quest XP rewards
- Daily quests Single rotating quest per day with streak tracking
- Streak tracking 7-day streak with milestone XP bonuses
- Share-card tiers Bronze → Silver → Gold → Foil unlocks at Lv 5 / 10 / 20
Reports
- Weekly devolution report Per-week summary screen + share template
Customization
- Sound packs System / Retro 8-bit (Lv 5) / Silent
- Menu-bar display modes Six modes from icon-only to full stats
- Refresh interval 30s–300s, settable in Preferences
Accessibility
- Light + dark mode System-aware with manual override
- Reduce motion + VoiceOver Honors macOS reduce-motion + announces stage changes
Privacy
- On-device data Session key in Keychain. Usage history in Application Support. No servers.
- Opt-in diagnostics Anonymous crash reports (Sentry EU) + product analytics (PostHog EU) — off by default
Distribution
- Universal binary Apple Silicon + Intel, macOS 14+
- One-time purchase $3.99 via Polar.sh (cavemode.app) or Mac App Store
Disclaimer
Cavemode is an independent third-party tool. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by Anthropic PBC. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic.