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 during saved Work Hours from the cloud, so the laptop can be closed, asleep, or off without a USB jiggler. Link once with its extension in desktop Chrome; it manages presence and does not move your mouse.
Watch out: It costs $9 per month or $60 per year after a 3-day free trial without a card, and supports 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 Windows users who want local Teams input without USB hardware, NeverAwayTeams has a free plan for one device and a keyboard mode that leaves the pointer still. Pro adds weekly opening and closing of Teams and Zoom, waiting if Teams looks busy.
Watch out: The PC must stay on and awake, Windows shows an unknown-publisher warning on first run, and scheduling needs 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 replaces manual hardware switching with a free weekly scheduler and lunch break in beta on Mac and Windows. It can move the mouse or click a chosen area, and its FAQ describes Slack support and setup-dependent Teams behavior.
Watch out: It requires the computer on, awake, and signed in, 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: For Windows schedules without buying hardware, Move Mouse is free and open source with weekday and cron schedules plus blackout windows. Its local actions include mouse movement, clicks, scrolling, and app activation.
Watch out: It needs an awake PC, cannot interact with apps in a locked session, and its README and wiki do not claim Teams or Slack availability.
Move Mouse website
Idle Pilot vs Move Mouse Move Mouse alternatives
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: For Mac users who want local idle control without an extra USB mouse, Jiggler is free and open source. Its Zen mode resets the system idle time without moving the cursor, and other modes move or click the mouse.
Watch out: It requires an awake Mac with undocumented lid-closed behavior, has no weekday schedule or Teams or Slack claim, and its README says it is not under active development.
Jiggler for Mac website
Idle Pilot vs Jiggler for Mac Jiggler for Mac alternatives