1. Idle Pilot
Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Microsoft Teams availability from the cloud during saved Work Hours.
- Runs on
- Cloud. Set up once in desktop Chrome with the Idle Pilot extension
- Keeps Teams or Slack Available
- Yes: Slack or Microsoft Teams, one account at a time
- Laptop closed
- Yes: it runs in the cloud, so the laptop can be closed, asleep, or off
- Price
- $9 per month or $60 per year
Why it fits: Idle Pilot keeps Slack or Microsoft Teams Available from the cloud during saved Work Hours, so the laptop can be closed, asleep, or off. Connect once with its extension in desktop Chrome; it manages presence without moving your mouse.
Watch out: It costs $9 per month or $60 per year after a 3-day free trial without a card, and covers one Slack workspace or one Teams account at a time.
Idle Pilot pricing
2. NeverAwayTeams
Portable Windows app that sends a tiny mouse or key signal when you stop typing so Teams stays Available; Pro opens and closes Teams on a schedule.
- Runs on
- Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Keeps Teams or Slack Available
- Teams: yes, per the vendor, while the PC is on and awake. It says presence works whichever chat app you use; it does not name Slack.
- Laptop closed
- Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off.
- Price
- Free; Pro from €1 per month
Why it fits: For a Windows PC that stays awake, NeverAwayTeams explicitly names Teams and has a free plan for one device without a time limit. Its portable app needs no installer, admin rights, or account.
Watch out: The PC must stay on and awake, Slack is not named, and the weekly schedule requires Pro, from €1 per month.
NeverAwayTeams website
Idle Pilot vs NeverAwayTeams NeverAwayTeams alternatives
3. Green Dotter
Free Mac and Windows auto clicker and mouse jiggler that wiggles the mouse or clicks an area you choose, with a weekly scheduler in beta.
- Runs on
- macOS 11 or later (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
- Keeps Teams or Slack Available
- Its FAQ says yes for Slack and Teams while a session runs, depending on your Teams setup, and that mouse movement alone is often not enough for Slack.
- Laptop closed
- Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off.
- Price
- Free; optional Pro from $12.99 once
Why it fits: Green Dotter runs on Mac and Windows and makes every feature free, including its weekly scheduler in beta. Its FAQ describes Slack support through clicks in a chosen area and says Teams behavior depends on your setup.
Watch out: It requires an awake computer, pauses at screen lock or sleep, and needs a carefully chosen click target to avoid unintended actions.
Green Dotter website
Idle Pilot vs Green Dotter Green Dotter alternatives
4. Move Mouse
A free, open-source Windows app that simulates user activity with mouse moves, clicks and scrolls, with schedules and blackout windows.
- Runs on
- Windows 10 (version 14393 or later) and Windows 11; the GitHub build needs .NET Framework 4.7.2
- Keeps Teams or Slack Available
- Its README and wiki do not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available. In a 2022 GitHub issue, Teams showed Away while it ran, and the developer attributed that to Teams.
- Laptop closed
- Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off.
- Price
- Free
Why it fits: Move Mouse is a free, open-source Windows alternative with weekday and cron schedules, blackout windows, and actions including cursor movement, clicks, and scrolling. It also offers a portable zip.
Watch out: It needs an awake PC and cannot interact with apps in a locked session, and its README and wiki make no Teams or Slack availability claim.
Move Mouse website
Idle Pilot vs Move Mouse Move Mouse alternatives
5. Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler
Plug-and-play metal USB device that the computer sees as a regular mouse and that moves the cursor to keep the computer awake.
- Runs on
- USB port. Vaydeer lists Windows 7, 8, and 10, "iOS", and Linux; its Amazon listing lists Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
- Keeps Teams or Slack Available
- Its USB jiggler listing does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available. Vaydeer's separate mechanical mouse mover listing says it is useful for Microsoft Teams.
- Laptop closed
- Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off.
- Price
- $14.99 (vaydeer.com, Oct 2026)
Why it fits: The Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler replaces recurring software activations with a one-time hardware purchase and needs no driver or software. Its own store listed $14.99 on October 28, 2026; prices vary.
Watch out: It still needs an awake computer, adds a USB mouse that device management can log, and its USB listing does not mention Teams or Slack.
Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler website
Idle Pilot vs Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler alternatives