PopLight: The internet indicator that doesn't lie.

You're at a café. Or an airport. Or a co-working space. The Wi-Fi icon says you're connected, but are you really?

You could open a browser to check, but why should you have to?

Enter PopLight. It's a simple menu bar app that does one thing: it tells you if you're actually connected to the internet.

No bells. No whistles. No bullshit.

Just a little dot in your menu bar. 🟢 Green means you're online. 🔴 Red means you're not. That's it.

Key Features:

- A dot. Green or red. That’s it.

- Lives in your menu bar, not your dock.

- Uses barely any memory. You won’t even know it’s there.

- Starts up with your Mac. Because who wants to launch an internet checker?

- BONUS: Displays your current internet speed with fun commentary. No need to visit speed test sites or run a separate app.

Perfect for:

- Digital nomads working from cafes, hotels, trains, or co-working spaces.

- Travelers dealing with unreliable Wi-Fi in airports or on flights.

- Remote workers who need to quickly verify their connection before important calls.

- Anyone frustrated by misleading Wi-Fi indicators or opening a browser just to see if they’re online.

It’s for people who are tired of:

- Wondering if they’re really online.

- Opening a browser tab just to check.

- Fiddling with overcomplicated networking apps.

- Trusting misleading Wi-Fi indicators.

- And now, running a separate app or website just to check their speed.

Privacy:

PopLight doesn’t send data anywhere. It doesn’t track you. It doesn’t even know who you are. It just checks your connection locally and shows you the result. No accounts, no logins, no bullshit.

Lightweight:

PopLight is small, fast, and stays out of your way. It sits in your menu bar, uses barely any resources, and doesn’t clutter your dock.

PopLight isn’t a multi-tool. It’s not trying to be your Swiss Army knife of internet utilities. It does one job, and it does it well. And now it also shows your speed, with a bit of fun commentary to keep things light.

If you've ever asked yourself, "Am I connected?" — PopLight is for you.

Get PopLight. Know your status. Move on with your day.

Questions or suggestions?

I'd love to hear from you! Contact: hello@ajot.me or @amit on X/Twitter.

FAQs

How does PopLight check if I am online?
PopLight uses a network monitoring tool that checks your current network connection. It verifies connectivity by trying to reach a reliable website (like apple.com). If it gets a response, you’ll see a green dot. If not, it shows a red dot, indicating there’s no internet access. It doesn’t collect or send any of your data—just a simple check to see if the internet is reachable.

Can it handle captive portals at hotels, airports, etc.?
Yes, PopLight can detect captive portals (those login pages you often see in hotels or airports). It checks if your connection is secure. If it notices that you need to sign in before fully accessing the internet, it will show a red dot, so you know there’s more to do before you're truly online.

How does it check the internet speed?
PopLight runs a speed test by using your Mac’s networkQuality tool, which measures how fast your internet can download data. The app doesn’t send any of your data; it just tests the connection and gives you the result. Plus, it adds a fun commentary based on how fast (or slow) your internet is, so you know what to expect!

Does it send data anywhere?
No, PopLight does not send any data anywhere. It doesn’t track you, collect personal information, or communicate with external servers. It simply checks your connection status and speed locally on your machine, then shows you the result. No accounts, no logins, and absolutely no data sharing.