The best Jiggler for Mac alternatives

People leave Jiggler for Mac because it requires an awake Mac, does not claim Teams or Slack availability, and is not under active development. Its lid-closed behavior is undocumented. For Teams or Slack while the Mac sleeps or is off, Idle Pilot runs from the cloud during saved Work Hours. For a free local app, Green Dotter describes Slack clicks and setup-dependent Teams behavior. Stay with Jiggler if free, open-source Mac idle control is enough.

Disclosure: Idle Pilot wrote this page and makes one of the tools on it. Vendor facts come from each vendor's own site, checked October 2026. Idle Pilot is not affiliated with Jiggler for Mac.

Why people switch from Jiggler for Mac

  • It stops when the Mac sleeps. Jiggler requires the Mac on and awake with the app running; lid-closed operation is not documented. It cannot operate while the Mac is asleep or off.
  • It does not mention Teams or Slack. Its site does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available, and it has no weekday schedule. Teams and Slack apply their own away rules.
  • It is not under active development. Its README says so, although version 1.10 in December 2025 fixed Zen jiggle on macOS 26 (Tahoe).

At a glance

Checked October 2026 on each vendor's own site. Prices and features can change.
Tool Type Laptop closed Price
Jiggler for Mac Software mouse jiggler Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off. Free
Idle Pilot Cloud presence tool Yes: it runs in the cloud, so the laptop can be closed, asleep, or off $9 per month or $60 per year
Green Dotter Software mouse jiggler Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off. Free; optional Pro from $12.99 once
Amphetamine Keep-awake app Its Closed-Display Mode can keep a supported MacBook awake with the lid closed. Power Protect addresses external-power changes on Apple Silicon; the Mac must remain on. Free
KeepingYouAwake Keep-awake app No. Its README says it only prevents sleep on desktop Macs and laptops with an open lid. Free
Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler Hardware mouse jiggler Lid-closed operation is not documented; the computer must stay on and awake. It cannot work while asleep or off. $14.99 (vaydeer.com, Oct 2026)

The alternatives

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 Mac can be closed, asleep, or off. It is presence only and does not move your mouse.

Watch out: Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year after its free trial, and it covers one Slack workspace or one Teams account at a time.

Idle Pilot pricing

2. 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 is free and has a weekly scheduler in beta with selected days, start and stop times, and a lunch break. Its FAQ describes Slack support through chosen click areas and qualifies Teams behavior by setup and workplace policy.

Watch out: The Mac must stay on, awake, and signed in, and Green Dotter pauses when the screen locks.

Green Dotter website Idle Pilot vs Green Dotter Green Dotter alternatives

3. Amphetamine

Free Mac App Store utility that keeps a Mac and its displays awake, with timers, Triggers, Closed-Display Mode and optional cursor movement.

Runs on
macOS 10.13 or later (Mac App Store)
Keeps Teams or Slack Available
Not claimed. Its listing offers periodic cursor movement but does not mention Teams or Slack, so its site does not say whether it keeps Teams Available.
Laptop closed
Its Closed-Display Mode can keep a supported MacBook awake with the lid closed. Power Protect addresses external-power changes on Apple Silicon; the Mac must remain on.
Price
Free

Why it fits: Amphetamine offers Closed-Display Mode for a supported MacBook and optional periodic cursor movement. It is free, with scheduled keep-awake Triggers by time and day and conditions for apps, Wi-Fi, displays, power or idle time.

Watch out: Its last App Store update was November 10, 2023, and Teams or Slack availability is not claimed; Power Protect addresses Apple Silicon external-power changes, and closed-display sessions can work without it.

Amphetamine website Idle Pilot vs Amphetamine Amphetamine alternatives

4. KeepingYouAwake

Free, open-source Mac menu bar app that stops the Mac from sleeping by running Apple's caffeinate tool, for a set time or until turned off.

Runs on
macOS 10.13 or later (release 1.6.8); download from GitHub or Homebrew
Keeps Teams or Slack Available
Its site does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available. It prevents sleep only and adds no mouse or keyboard activity.
Laptop closed
No. Its README says it only prevents sleep on desktop Macs and laptops with an open lid.
Price
Free

Why it fits: If you used Jiggler only to keep the Mac awake, KeepingYouAwake is free and open source under the MIT license, uses Apple's own caffeinate tool, and still gets maintenance, with commits in August 2026.

Watch out: It prevents sleep only and adds no mouse or keyboard activity, so Teams and Slack still apply their away rules, and its README says it does not work with the lid closed.

KeepingYouAwake website Idle Pilot vs KeepingYouAwake KeepingYouAwake 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: If you would rather not depend on an app that is no longer under active development, this USB jiggler registers as a regular mouse with no driver or software to install, and its Amazon listing includes Mac OS.

Watch out: It requires an awake Mac, lid-closed behavior is undocumented, and device management can log the additional USB mouse.

Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler website Idle Pilot vs Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler alternatives

When Jiggler for Mac is still the right choice

Jiggler still fits if your Mac stays on and awake and you want a free, open-source tool under the GNU GPL v3. Its Zen jiggle resets the idle timer without moving the cursor, and its conditions can limit jiggling to idle time, a running app, or a busy CPU.

Jiggler for Mac sources

FAQ

What is the best Jiggler for Mac alternative?
For Slack or Teams while the Mac is asleep or off, Idle Pilot runs from the cloud during saved Work Hours for $9 per month or $60 per year. If the Mac stays awake, Green Dotter is free and describes Slack support through chosen click areas; its Teams behavior depends on setup and workplace policy. Amphetamine is another free choice for local keep-awake control.
Is there a free alternative to Jiggler for Mac?
Yes. Green Dotter is free with no account, Amphetamine is free on the Mac App Store, and KeepingYouAwake is free and open source. All three need the Mac on and awake. Idle Pilot is paid after a 3-day free trial without a credit card, or 7 days if you connect within 3 hours of sign-up.
Which alternative works with the MacBook lid closed?
Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Teams availability during saved Work Hours with the MacBook closed, asleep, or off. Amphetamine offers Closed-Display Mode on an awake Mac; Power Protect addresses Apple Silicon external-power changes, and sessions can work without it. It does not claim Teams or Slack availability. KeepingYouAwake explicitly rejects closed-lid use. Jiggler, Green Dotter, and Vaydeer's USB jiggler require an awake Mac, but their lid-closed behavior is undocumented.
Can my employer see that I use one of these tools?
It can. Device management can list installed apps and USB devices, and monitoring tools can record input, including simulated mouse movement or clicks. With a cloud tool such as Idle Pilot, Slack and Teams admins can see sessions, devices, and network origins. No tool on this page is approved by your employer by default, so check your employer's rules before you use any of them.

Related

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Keep Slack or Teams Available with your laptop closed.

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Idle Pilot facts

Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Microsoft Teams availability from the cloud during saved Work Hours.

Who it is for
For people who want availability to follow work hours when the laptop is closed, asleep, or off.
Connected account
One Slack workspace or one Microsoft Teams account at a time. You can switch platforms.
Price
Freedom Pass costs $9 per month or $60 per year.
Trial
3-day free trial · No credit card. The trial starts at the first Slack or Teams connection. 7 days if you connect within 3 hours of sign-up.
First setup
Connect once in desktop Google Chrome with the Idle Pilot extension. You can remove the extension after linking. Mobile-only linking is not supported. View the extension.
Limits
Presence only: it does not write custom status messages or read chats and files. It is not a mouse jiggler. Your employer’s rules still apply; availability is not proof of work.
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