Still wondering whether you should update your Mac from macOS Monterey to Ventura? The newer version of Apple’s desktop operating system comes with new features and welcome improvements, but is upgrading really the right move for your Mac?
In this guide, I’ll look at macOS Monterey vs Ventura to find out how they compare in terms of compatibility, performance, design, and more.
Before we begin:
macOS updates are usually large packages, so you may find that you need to free up space to download them. With MacKeeper Safe Cleanup, you can quickly clear unnecessary junk from your Mac and create plenty of space in just a few clicks. Here’s how:
- Download and install MacKeeper.
- Select Safe Cleanup in the MacKeeper sidebar.
- Click Start Scan to find all unnecessary files on your Mac.
- Select the data you want to delete, then click Clean Junk Files.
In this article you will find the following:
Monterey and Ventura overview
As the successor to macOS Big Sur, Monterey is Apple’s desktop OS's version 12 release. When it made its public debut in October 2021, Monterey introduced new apps like Shortcuts and TestFlight, features like Live Text and Low Power Mode, and enhancements to system security.
Released a year later as macOS version 13, Ventura is the successor to Monterey. It’s not quite as significant as Monterey was in terms of new content, but it does bring Stage Manager—Apple’s new multitasking UI—and native Clock, Freeform, and Weather apps.
Ventura also makes notable improvements to many existing features, all of which we’ll take a closer look at later. In the meantime, if you’re still running macOS 12, you’re probably wondering whether you should upgrade to version 13.
Let’s check out the difference between macOS Monterey and Ventura:
- macOS Ventura vs Monterey: Compatibility
- macOS Monterey vs Ventura: Performance
- Monterey vs Ventura: Interface and design
- macOS 12 vs 13: Security
macOS Ventura vs Monterey: Compatibility
Before you can really choose macOS Monterey or Ventura, you’ll need to establish whether your machine is compatible with the latter. Not all Mac models that were supported by Monterey can run a newer macOS update. Here’s the complete Ventura compatibility list:
- Mac mini 2018 and later
- iMac 2017 and later
- iMac Pro
- Mac Studio
- Mac Pro 2019 and later
- MacBook 2017 and later
- MacBook Air 2018 and later
- MacBook Pro 2017 and later
Once you’ve confirmed your Mac is compatible with Ventura, your next step is to ensure you have enough space to download the 12GB installer. If you need to free up storage on macOS Monterey, we recommend using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup to quickly clear system junk.
Our Safe Cleanup has the ability to find and delete old logs and caches, forgotten trash files, unused language packs, and other unnecessary files you don’t need to hold onto. If you’ve never cleared this kind of data from your Mac, it could quickly free up gigabytes of space. Try this:
- Open MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup.
- Click Start Scan.
- Once the scan is complete, select all the files you want to remove.
- Finally, select Clean Junk Files to remove the chosen data from your Mac.
macOS Monterey vs Ventura: Performance
One of the most important differences to consider before you update to macOS Ventura is its impact on performance. Fortunately, because the update isn’t hugely different from Monterey, you shouldn’t experience any significant downsides. In fact, Ventura is better in many ways:
1. Speed
As is often the case with software updates, speed can be hit or miss. While Ventura is optimized to run faster than Monterey overall and adds the Metal 3 graphics framework for better gaming, its additional features—especially those that rely on more resources—may make it feel slower on older hardware.
For general computing tasks on most Macs, you should find that Ventura is as fast, if not slightly faster, than Monterey. For gaming on machines that support the Metal 3 graphics framework, you’ll enjoy quicker rendering of high-resolution visuals in compatible titles.
2. Battery life
If you’re a MacBook user, you’ll be pleased to know that macOS Ventura is also kind on battery life. Much like speed, battery life is roughly the same, if not slightly better, when compared to Monterey. That’s assuming your MacBook’s battery is healthy and that you were able to get decent battery life before.
3. RAM usage
When it comes to RAM usage, Ventura requires twice as much RAM (8GB) as Monterey, which only needs 4GB at the bare minimum. This suggests that the OS generally uses more, and most users find that to be the case overall. However, you shouldn’t see a significant increase in RAM usage.
A note from our experts:
A key thing you should consider regarding performance is that a lot of background processing happens for some time after you install a new macOS update. If your Mac instantly feels slower, give Ventura a little more time to settle in, and look at other ways to make Mac run faster before you consider downgrading.
Performance differences in Ventura:
- Improved efficiency and support for the Metal 3 graphics framework
- Slightly improved battery life over Monterey
- Increased minimum RAM requirements (8GB vs. 4GB).
Monterey vs Ventura: Interface and design
If you’ve been clinging onto macOS Monterey because you like its design, we’ve got good news for you: Ventura is almost identical in every way. In fact, at first glance, you probably won’t notice that the update has been installed, as windows, icons, and other UI elements remain unchanged in this version.
However, Ventura does bring a new System Settings window that’s very similar to the one seen in iPadOS, as well as some new widgets for Notes and Photos. Its biggest design change is the introduction of Stage Manager, which offers a whole new way to multitask for those who are interested.
UI and design changes in Ventura:
- Revamped Settings app that resembles the iPad version
- New widgets for Notes and Photos
- New Stage Manager multitasking interface.
macOS 12 vs 13: Security
Apple software has famously good security as standard, so it’s no surprise that macOS 13 comes with some notable security enhancements over version 12. In addition to greater protection against malware, Ventura offers better tools for identifying threats to your system and its data.
What’s more, Ventura packs some new security features, including passkeys that offer a more secure alternative to passwords, Lockdown Mode, and Rapid Security Response, which allows Apple to quickly patch security vulnerabilities as they’re discovered without having to roll out a full system update.
Security improvements in Ventura:
- Enhanced protection against malware threats
- Improved tracking protection in Safari
- Integrated VPN settings
- Military-grade encryption for iCloud data backups
- Passkeys support in Safari
- Lockdown Mode
- Rapid Security Response
New features in Ventura compared to Monterey
Although the differences between macOS Monterey and Ventura aren’t as significant as those between Ventura vs Sonoma, that doesn’t mean the upgrade isn’t worth it. You’ll see improvements to many existing apps and features, as well as some new additions, including:
1. Spotlight
As well as richer search results, Spotlight in Ventura integrates Apple’s fantastic Live Text feature, which means it will return images alongside other file types that contain your queried text. For instance, if you have a picture of a Harry Potter book in your Photos library, searching “Harry Potter” should find the photo.
2. Stage Manager
Stage Manager is a new interface for multitasking that puts the app you’re using front and center while arranging other active programs down the left side of your screen for fast access. If you need to use more than one app simultaneously, Stage Manager lets you combine them together in an app group.
3. Mail and Messages
Mail and Messages both get some welcome life improvements in Ventura, most of which are focused on helping you fix mistakes. In Mail, you can quickly undo an email you’ve sent to stop it in its tracks, while in Messages, you can edit and unsend iMessages. Mail also lets you schedule emails to send later.
4. Safari
In addition to passkeys that let you log into supported sites without a password, Safari gets a redesigned sidebar and supports the AVIF image format in macOS Monterey. However, its biggest enhancement is support for tab groups, which finally lets you organize all your open tabs.
5. System Settings
Ventura brings a redesign to System Settings that closely resembles the Settings app on iPad. A new sidebar lets you quickly navigate all its menus, while the main section of the window on the right is where all your preferences can be changed.
6. Continuity Camera
If you do a lot of video calling on a Mac, you’ll likely find the Continuity Camera to be one of Ventura’s most exciting features. This allows you to use the high-end camera hardware in your iPhone (iPhone XR or later) as your Mac’s webcam for significantly improved video quality in every scenario.
New and improved features in Ventura:
- Enhanced Spotlight search with Live Text integration
- Stage Manager multitasking UI
- Undo sent messages in Mail
- Edit and undo sent messages in iMessage
- Passkeys and AVIF support for Safari
- Revamped Settings app
- Continuity Camera
Is Ventura better than Monterey?
If you’re unsure whether you should upgrade from macOS 12 to 13, this comparison of both releases should help you decide. The main difference between Monterey and Ventura is Stage Manager and the enhancements made to many key features, so for most Mac users, updating is the better option.
If your macOS Ventura upgrade is being held back by a lack of free storage, you can quickly make space for the installer using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup. This powerful tool wipes all redundant system junk from your Mac in just a few clicks, quickly giving you room for things you really need.
