diff --git a/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/AppStore.swift b/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/AppStore.swift
index db3e2da..572146a 100644
--- a/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/AppStore.swift
+++ b/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/AppStore.swift
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import Foundation
 import Observation
 
-private let cacheTTLSeconds: TimeInterval = 300
+private let cacheTTLSeconds: TimeInterval = 30
 
 struct CachedPayload {
     let payload: MenubarPayload
@@ -52,17 +52,15 @@ final class AppStore {
         payload.optimize.findingCount
     }
 
-    /// Switch to a period. Uses cached payload if fresh; otherwise fetches.
+    /// Switch to a period. Always fetches fresh data so the user never sees stale numbers.
     func switchTo(period: Period) async {
         selectedPeriod = period
-        if let cached = cache[currentKey], cached.isFresh { return }
         await refresh(includeOptimize: true)
     }
 
-    /// Switch to a provider filter. Uses cached payload if fresh; otherwise fetches.
+    /// Switch to a provider filter. Always fetches fresh data so the user never sees stale numbers.
     func switchTo(provider: ProviderFilter) async {
         selectedProvider = provider
-        if let cached = cache[currentKey], cached.isFresh { return }
         await refresh(includeOptimize: true)
     }
 
diff --git a/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift b/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift
index a97c76c..095b4df 100644
--- a/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift
+++ b/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import SwiftUI
 import AppKit
 import Observation
 
-private let refreshIntervalSeconds: UInt64 = 60
+private let refreshIntervalSeconds: UInt64 = 15
 private let nanosPerSecond: UInt64 = 1_000_000_000
 private let refreshIntervalNanos: UInt64 = refreshIntervalSeconds * nanosPerSecond
 /// Fixed so the popover's anchor point doesn't shift each time today's cost changes.
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index f2f3c22..0164f42 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ program
   .option('--format <format>', 'Output format: tui, json', 'tui')
   .option('--project <name>', 'Show only projects matching name (repeatable)', collect, [])
   .option('--exclude <name>', 'Exclude projects matching name (repeatable)', collect, [])
-  .option('--refresh <seconds>', 'Auto-refresh interval in seconds', parseInt)
+  .option('--refresh <seconds>', 'Auto-refresh interval in seconds (0 to disable)', parseInt, 30)
   .action(async (opts) => {
     let customRange: DateRange | null = null
     try {
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ program
   .option('--format <format>', 'Output format: tui, json', 'tui')
   .option('--project <name>', 'Show only projects matching name (repeatable)', collect, [])
   .option('--exclude <name>', 'Exclude projects matching name (repeatable)', collect, [])
-  .option('--refresh <seconds>', 'Auto-refresh interval in seconds', parseInt)
+  .option('--refresh <seconds>', 'Auto-refresh interval in seconds (0 to disable)', parseInt, 30)
   .action(async (opts) => {
     if (opts.format === 'json') {
       await runJsonReport('today', opts.provider, opts.project, opts.exclude)
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ program
   .option('--format <format>', 'Output format: tui, json', 'tui')
   .option('--project <name>', 'Show only projects matching name (repeatable)', collect, [])
   .option('--exclude <name>', 'Exclude projects matching name (repeatable)', collect, [])
-  .option('--refresh <seconds>', 'Auto-refresh interval in seconds', parseInt)
+  .option('--refresh <seconds>', 'Auto-refresh interval in seconds (0 to disable)', parseInt, 30)
   .action(async (opts) => {
     if (opts.format === 'json') {
       await runJsonReport('month', opts.provider, opts.project, opts.exclude)