--- title: "Idle Pilot vs Caffeine for Windows: Teams and Slack" description: "Caffeine for Windows sends an F15 key press every 59 seconds. Compare it with Idle Pilot for Teams or Slack status, price and the laptop closed." canonical: "https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-windows/" updated: "2026-10-28" generated_by: "scripts/build-markdown-twins.mjs" --- > Markdown representation of https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-windows/ — the HTML page at that URL is canonical and carries the same content. # Idle Pilot vs Caffeine for Windows Pick Caffeine for Windows if your PC stays on and you want a free tool that simulates a key press: Zhorn Software says it sends F15 every 59 seconds. Pick Idle Pilot if Teams or Slack must show Available during Work Hours with the laptop closed, asleep or off. Caffeine's product page makes no Teams or Slack claim. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year; Caffeine is free. Disclosure: Idle Pilot wrote this page and makes one of the two products. Caffeine for Windows facts come from its own site, checked October 28, 2026. Idle Pilot is not affiliated with Caffeine for Windows. ## Quick Verdict Caffeine for Windows is a free way to keep a running Windows PC from going idle; Idle Pilot fits when Teams or Slack must stay Available with the laptop closed or off. Unlike keep-awake-only tools, Caffeine simulates a key press, which resets Windows idle detection while the PC is on. Its product page does not mention Teams or Slack; on its forum in 2022 the admin said it had worked for him but that some machines are different. Microsoft says Teams shows Away when the computer is locked and Offline when it sleeps. Idle Pilot runs your saved Work Hours from the cloud. ## Feature Comparison | Feature | Idle Pilot | Caffeine for Windows | | --- | --- | --- | | Purpose | Scheduled Slack or Teams availability | Stop a Windows PC from locking or sleeping | | Platforms | Slack or Microsoft Teams (one at a time) | Windows (x86 and x64 builds) | | Where it runs | Cloud | Your Windows PC | | How it keeps you active | Keeps presence from its servers during Work Hours | Simulated F15 key-up every 59 seconds | | Keeps Teams or Slack Available | Yes, during saved Work Hours | Not claimed on its product page | | Works with your laptop closed | Yes | Not documented; computer must stay on and awake | | Schedule | Per-day Work Hours, Lunch Break, Vacation Mode | Command-line active periods, such as 0900-1659 | | Monthly price | $9 | Free | | Yearly price | $60 | Free | | Free trial | 3-day free trial · No credit card; 7 days when linked within 3 hours of sign-up | Not needed; freeware | | Setup | Desktop Chrome and the Idle Pilot extension, once | Unzip and run; optional command-line switches | ## Detailed Comparison Caffeine for Windows is a small freeware tray app from Zhorn Software. By default it simulates an F15 key-up event every 59 seconds, so Windows does not lock the screen or start the screen saver. It is a different product from the Mac app called Caffeine. Idle Pilot is a cloud service that keeps one Slack workspace or one Microsoft Teams account Available or Active during the Work Hours you save. Caffeine sends simulated key input, which is different from tools that only block sleep. Zhorn says this makes the machine think you are still working at the keyboard. Its product page does not mention Teams or Slack. On its own forum in 2022, a user reported Teams turning Away; the admin replied that it had always worked for him but that some machines are different. With the -stes or -allowss switches, Caffeine only prevents sleep, and Zhorn says apps that track user input then see no activity. Zhorn also says F15 can cause issues in PuTTY, PowerPoint, Google Docs or Smartsheet. Idle Pilot does not press keys or move your mouse. Caffeine runs on your PC, so the PC must be on and awake. Microsoft says Teams presence becomes Away when the computer is locked and Offline when it sleeps. Idle Pilot keeps working with the laptop closed, asleep or off, after you link your account once. Caffeine is free, also for commercial use, with optional PayPal donations. You download a 306 KB zip, unzip it, and run the 32-bit or 64-bit program. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year (USD), with a 3-day free trial and no credit card. The trial starts at your first Slack or Teams connection, and it lasts 7 days if you connect within 3 hours of sign-up. You link once in desktop Google Chrome with the Idle Pilot extension and can remove the extension afterward. Caffeine has a command-line switch for active hours, such as 0900-1659, and switches to stop when the PC is locked or on battery. Idle Pilot has per-day Work Hours, a Lunch Break, and Vacation Mode, which pauses the schedule when you set a status you choose, such as Out of Office. Caffeine's latest release is v1.98 from November 2024. Your employer may be able to see either tool. Device management and monitoring software can log running processes and input patterns, including simulated key presses. Teams and Slack admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices and network origins, which applies to Idle Pilot. Idle Pilot manages presence only; it does not write status messages or read chats or files. Check your employer's rules before you use either. ### Idle Pilot Advantages - Keeps Teams or Slack Available without simulated key presses - Works with the laptop closed, asleep or off - Per-day Work Hours, Lunch Break and Vacation Mode - No key events that can affect other apps on your PC ### Caffeine for Windows Advantages - Free, also for commercial use - Simulated key press resets Windows idle detection while the PC is on - Active-hours switch (-activeperiods) and plugged-in-only switch (-onac) - Tiny download: a 306 KB zip - Acts on the computer’s idle/input state on the PC, not only chat ## Which Should You Choose? **If** you need Teams or Slack Available during set Work Hours Use: Idle Pilot **If** you close your laptop or turn it off when you step away Use: Idle Pilot **If** you need to stop the screen locking during a long task at your desk Use: Caffeine for Windows **If** you want a free tool with active hours on a PC that stays on Use: Caffeine for Windows **If** f15 key presses cause problems in apps you use Use: Idle Pilot ## What is Caffeine for Windows? This page compares Caffeine for Windows by Zhorn Software, not the Mac app at caffeine-app.net. It is freeware, also free for commercial use, and it simulates an F15 key-up event every 59 seconds so the PC does not lock or start the screen saver. The latest version, v1.98, is from November 2024. We checked its pages on October 28, 2026. ### Sources - [Zhorn Software: Caffeine](https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/caffeine/) - [Zhorn Software: home page (freeware terms)](https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/) - [Zhorn Software forum: Microsoft Teams user presence status](https://forum.zhornsoftware.co.uk/t631-microsoft-teams-user-presence-status) - [Microsoft Learn: User presence in Teams](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/presence-admins) - [Slack: Set your status and availability](https://slack.com/help/articles/201864558-Set-your-Slack-status-and-availability) ## Frequently Asked Questions Does Caffeine for Windows keep Teams green? Zhorn's product page does not say so. Caffeine simulates an F15 key press every 59 seconds, which resets Windows idle detection while the PC is on. On its forum in 2022, the admin said it had worked for him but that some machines are different. Microsoft says Teams still shows Away when the computer is locked. How much do Caffeine for Windows and Idle Pilot cost? Caffeine for Windows is freeware and also free for commercial use; Zhorn accepts PayPal donations. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year (USD), with a 3-day free trial and no credit card. The trial starts at your first Slack or Teams connection. We checked Zhorn's pages on October 28, 2026. Does Caffeine for Windows work with the laptop closed? Caffeine for Windows needs the computer on and awake. Its cited source does not document lid-closed operation, and it cannot continue while the computer is asleep or off. A supported external-display setup can differ from a sleeping laptop. Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Teams availability from its servers during saved Work Hours even with the computer off. Can my employer see that I use Caffeine or Idle Pilot? Possibly. Device management and monitoring software can log running processes and input patterns, including simulated key presses. Teams and Slack admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices and network origins, which applies to Idle Pilot. Check your employer's rules before you use either tool. Is this the same Caffeine as the Mac app? No. This page covers Caffeine for Windows by Zhorn Software. Zhorn's page says a separate Mac app also named Caffeine was written by Intelliscape Software, and we compare the Mac app at caffeine-app.net on another page. Apps with the same name can work differently, so check the publisher. ## Related resources [Comparison Does Caffeine Keep Slack Active? Idle Pilot wins for Slack presence; Caffeine is better for preventing system sle... ](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-app/)[Comparison Idle Pilot vs slack.green Idle Pilot fits Microsoft Teams users and Slack users who want Vacation Mode. sl... ](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-slack-green/) ## More options - [Ways to keep Slack active](https://idlepilot.com/keep-slack-active/) - [Ways to keep Microsoft Teams Available](https://idlepilot.com/keep-teams-active/) - [Caffeine for Windows alternatives](https://idlepilot.com/alternatives/caffeine-windows/) - [Every keep-awake app we compared](https://idlepilot.com/best-keep-awake-apps/) ## More Comparisons - [Does Caffeine Keep Slack Active?](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-app/) - [Idle Pilot vs slack.green](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-slack-green/) - [Idle Pilot vs Amphetamine](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-amphetamine/) - [Idle Pilot vs Auto Mouse Mover](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-automatic-mouse-mover/) - [Idle Pilot vs Caffeinated](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeinated/) - [Idle Pilot vs Don't Sleep](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-dont-sleep/) - [Idle Pilot vs Green Dotter](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-green-dotter/) - [Idle Pilot vs Jiggler for Mac](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-jiggler-mac/) - [Idle Pilot vs KeepingYouAwake](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-keepingyouawake/) - [Idle Pilot vs Lungo](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-lungo/) - [Idle Pilot vs Meatanty Mechanical Mouse Mover](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-meatanty/) - [Idle Pilot vs Mouse Jiggler for Windows](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-mouse-jiggler-app/) - [Idle Pilot vs Move Mouse](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-move-mouse/) - [Idle Pilot vs NeverAwayTeams](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-neverawayteams/) - [Idle Pilot vs PowerToys Awake](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-powertoys-awake/) - [Idle Pilot vs Stay Green On Teams](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-stay-green-on-teams/) - [Idle Pilot vs TECH8 USA Mouse Mover](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-tech8/) - [Idle Pilot vs Theine](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-theine/) - [Idle Pilot vs Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-vaydeer/) Last updated: October 28, 2026 Explore more resources [Presence Guide](https://idlepilot.com/slack-presence-guide/) [Comparisons](https://idlepilot.com/compare/) [Keep Slack Active](https://idlepilot.com/keep-slack-active/) ## Keep Teams or Slack Available without a running PC. [Try Idle Pilot free](https://app.idlepilot.com) 3-day free trial · No credit card ## 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](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/idle-pilot/nadppgjnachfgclfcgdbekniiiemepdp). 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.