The best KeepingYouAwake alternatives

People leave KeepingYouAwake when an open-lid sleep blocker is not enough: its README says it does not work on a MacBook with the lid closed, it has no weekday schedule, and its site does not say it keeps Slack or Teams Available. Amphetamine is the free pick for Closed-Display Mode and Triggers, and Jiggler for Mac the free open-source pick that sends input. Stay if an open, awake Mac is all you need.

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 KeepingYouAwake.

Why people switch from KeepingYouAwake

  • It does not work with the lid closed. Its README answers no and says it only prevents sleep on desktop Macs and laptops with an open lid, because of macOS limits and heat.
  • It does not say it keeps Slack or Teams Available. It runs Apple's caffeinate command and adds no mouse or keyboard activity. Slack sets desktop users to away after 10 minutes of inactivity, and Teams sets Away when the computer goes idle.
  • It has no weekday schedule. You pick a preset duration or leave it on until you turn it off, and it can stop on low battery. Nothing starts it at set hours or on set days.

At a glance

Checked October 2026 on each vendor's own site. Prices and features can change.
Tool Type Laptop closed Price
KeepingYouAwake Keep-awake app No. Its README says it only prevents sleep on desktop Macs and laptops with an open lid. Free
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
Caffeinated Keep-awake app Its September 2026 update added an option to stay awake with the lid closed; its older help page says it is not built for that. $3.99 once
Lungo Keep-awake app Only when the Mac is connected to a charger and an external display, which the vendor calls a macOS limitation. $4 once
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
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

The alternatives

1. 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 is free and adds scheduled keep-awake Triggers by time and day, plus conditions for apps, Wi-Fi, displays, power or idle time. Its Closed-Display Mode can keep a supported MacBook awake with the lid closed.

Watch out: Its last Mac App Store update was November 10, 2023; Power Protect addresses external-power changes on Apple Silicon, and closed-display sessions can work without it.

Amphetamine website Idle Pilot vs Amphetamine Amphetamine alternatives

2. Caffeinated

Paid Mac menu bar app that prevents sleep, screen dimming and the screensaver with one click or a timer.

Runs on
macOS 15 or later (Mac App Store)
Keeps Teams or Slack Available
Its site does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available; it lists video calls only as a reason to keep the screen on.
Laptop closed
Its September 2026 update added an option to stay awake with the lid closed; its older help page says it is not built for that.
Price
$3.99 once

Why it fits: Caffeinated added an option to stay awake with the lid closed in September 2026, and it comes from the Mac App Store with free updates.

Watch out: It costs $3.99 once, needs macOS 15 or later, and its older help page says it is not built for lid-closed use.

Caffeinated website Idle Pilot vs Caffeinated Caffeinated alternatives

3. Lungo

Paid Mac menu bar app that keeps the Mac awake and the screen on for a set time or until you turn it off.

Runs on
macOS 26 or later (Mac App Store); older versions for macOS 10.13 to 15 on its site
Keeps Teams or Slack Available
No. Its FAQ says keeping Slack or Microsoft Teams active is not the purpose of the app.
Laptop closed
Only when the Mac is connected to a charger and an external display, which the vendor calls a macOS limitation.
Price
$4 once

Why it fits: Lungo can stay awake with the lid closed when the Mac has a charger and an external display, and its developer points to Shortcuts automations for scheduled starts.

Watch out: It costs $4 once, the current version needs macOS 26, and its FAQ says keeping Slack or Teams active is not the purpose of the app.

Lungo website Idle Pilot vs Lungo Lungo alternatives

4. 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: If you kept the Mac awake so Slack or Teams stayed Available, Idle Pilot does that from the cloud during saved Work Hours, so the lid can be closed or the Mac asleep or off.

Watch out: It is not free: $9 per month or $60 per year after a 3-day free trial, for one Slack workspace or one Teams account at a time.

Idle Pilot pricing

5. Jiggler for Mac

Free, open-source Mac menu bar app that moves or clicks the mouse, or resets the idle timer, to keep a Mac awake.

Runs on
macOS. Its 1.10 release notes say it should run on macOS 13 (Ventura) and later
Keeps Teams or Slack Available
Its site does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available. It sends mouse input or resets the idle timer while the Mac is awake; Teams and Slack apply their own away rules.
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: Jiggler is free and open source like KeepingYouAwake, but it sends input: it moves or clicks the mouse, or resets the idle timer with Zen jiggle, and can run only after idle time or while a chosen app runs.

Watch out: Its site makes no Teams or Slack availability claim, lid-closed behavior is undocumented, and it requires an awake Mac; its README says it is not under active development.

Jiggler for Mac website Idle Pilot vs Jiggler for Mac Jiggler for Mac alternatives

When KeepingYouAwake is still the right choice

KeepingYouAwake is still the better choice if you want a free, open-source (MIT) app that uses Apple's own caffeinate tool and stops itself on low battery. It suits desktop Macs and laptops that stay open, and it installs from GitHub or Homebrew. If you never close the lid and do not need Slack or Teams kept Available, there is little reason to switch.

KeepingYouAwake sources

FAQ

What is the best KeepingYouAwake alternative?
For lid-closed use and automatic starts, Amphetamine: it is free, with Closed-Display Mode and Triggers, though its last App Store update is from November 2023. If you want to stay with open-source software but need input instead of a sleep block, Jiggler for Mac is free under the GNU GPL v3. For Slack or Teams with the laptop closed, Idle Pilot runs from the cloud during saved Work Hours.
Is there a free KeepingYouAwake alternative?
Yes. Caffeine for Mac is free and open source under the MIT license, Amphetamine is free with no ads or in-app purchases, per its developer, Jiggler for Mac is free under the GNU GPL v3, and Green Dotter is free with no account. Caffeinated ($3.99), Lungo ($4) and Theine ($8.99) are one-time purchases. Idle Pilot has a 3-day free trial, then costs $9 per month or $60 per year.
Which KeepingYouAwake alternative works with the laptop closed?
Amphetamine's Closed-Display Mode can keep a supported MacBook awake with the lid closed; Power Protect addresses external-power changes on Apple Silicon, and sessions can work without it. Caffeinated added a lid-closed option in September 2026, though its older help page disagrees. Lungo requires a charger and external display; Theine requires an external display. These apps require an awake Mac. Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Teams availability during saved Work Hours with the laptop closed, asleep, or off.
Can my employer see that I use KeepingYouAwake or an alternative?
Possibly. Device management can list installed apps and USB devices, and monitoring tools can record input, such as the mouse movement or clicks Jiggler sends. Slack and Teams admins can see sessions, devices and network origins, which covers the session Idle Pilot keeps. Availability is not proof of work, and no tool here can promise it stays hidden. Check your employer's rules first.

Related

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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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