Idle Pilot vs Green Dotter

Green Dotter is free on Mac and Windows, with an optional Pro license from $12.99 once. It simulates input on an awake computer; its FAQ recommends targeted clicks for Slack and qualifies Teams behavior by setup and policy. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year for cloud Slack or Teams availability during Work Hours, including when the computer sleeps or turns off.

Disclosure: Idle Pilot wrote this page and makes one of the two products. Green Dotter facts come from its own site, checked October 28, 2026. Idle Pilot is not affiliated with Green Dotter.

Quick Verdict

Green Dotter is the free choice for a computer that stays on and signed in; Idle Pilot fits people whose laptop closes, sleeps, or turns off during work hours.

Green Dotter runs on your computer and creates mouse movement or clicks, so it works only while the computer is on, awake, and signed in, and it pauses when the screen locks. Idle Pilot runs your saved Work Hours on its servers and does not move your mouse. Green Dotter is free on Mac and Windows. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year.

Feature Comparison

Competitor sources checked: October 28, 2026. Prices and features can change.
Feature	Idle Pilot	Green Dotter
Platforms	Slack or Microsoft Teams (one at a time)	Mac and Windows; Slack, Teams, and other apps per its FAQ
Where it runs	Cloud	Your computer
Works with your laptop closed	Yes	Not documented; computer must stay on and awake
Keeps Teams or Slack Available	Slack or Teams, during your Work Hours	Vendor claims Teams support subject to setup/policy; Slack uses targeted clicks
How it works	Cloud presence; does not move your mouse	Mouse movement or clicks at random intervals; optional keep-awake
Monthly price	$9	Free
Yearly price	$60	Free; optional Pro from $12.99 once
Free trial	3-day free trial · No credit card; 7 days when linked within 3 hours of sign-up	Free app, no account
Setup	Desktop Chrome and the Idle Pilot extension, once	Download the app; Accessibility permission on a Mac
Schedule	Per-day Work Hours, Lunch Break, Vacation Mode	Scheduler (beta): days, hours, lunch break, random drift

Detailed Comparison

Green Dotter is a local app for macOS 11 or later and Windows 10 or later. It has two modes: Wiggle moves the mouse in a small drift, and Click areas clicks one spot or random points inside a box you draw. It pauses when you touch the mouse. Idle Pilot is a cloud service for one Slack workspace or one Microsoft Teams account at a time, and you can switch platforms.

Teams and Slack set you to Away when your computer is idle. Microsoft says a user on a computer becomes Away after a few minutes of inactivity or when the computer is locked, and Slack says desktop users become away after 10 minutes of inactivity. Green Dotter creates input so the computer is not idle, and its keep-awake option stops sleep while a session runs. Its FAQ notes that mouse movement alone is often not enough for Slack and suggests clicking in a safe area. Idle Pilot keeps presence from its servers and does not move your mouse.

The laptop is the main difference. Green Dotter says the computer must be on and signed in with the app open; it can't wake a sleeping computer, and it pauses when the screen locks or the laptop sleeps. Idle Pilot keeps running with the laptop closed, asleep, or off.

Green Dotter is free, with no account. An optional Pro license costs from $12.99 once for up to 3 computers, and its site says Pro unlocks nothing extra today. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year. Its offer is a 3-day free trial · No credit card, or 7 days if you connect within 3 hours of sign-up.

Both have schedules. Green Dotter's Scheduler, in beta since version 2.10, sets days, start and stop times, a lunch break, and optional random drift of up to 30 minutes. Idle Pilot schedules per-day Work Hours, a Lunch Break, and Vacation Mode, which pauses when you set a status you choose, such as Out of Office. Green Dotter also covers other apps: its FAQ says yes for Webex, Zoom, and Discord.

Neither tool hides you from your employer. Green Dotter runs on your computer and creates clicks or mouse movement, and device management and monitoring software can log processes and input patterns. Its site asks you to check your employer's and IT policies first. With Idle Pilot, admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices, and network origins. Check your workplace rules before you use either.

Idle Pilot Advantages

Keeps running with your laptop closed, asleep, or off
Does not move your mouse or click on your screen
Vacation Mode pauses the schedule when you set a status you choose, such as Out of Office
Nothing needs to keep running on your computer after linking

Green Dotter Advantages

Free, with no account
Runs on Mac and Windows
Works with more chat apps: its FAQ says yes for Slack, Teams, Webex, Zoom, and Discord
Doubles as an auto clicker for repetitive tasks
Scheduler can vary start and stop times by up to 30 minutes

Which Should You Choose?

If your laptop closes or sleeps during work hours

Use: Idle Pilot

If you want the schedule to pause when you set an away status, such as Out of Office

Use: Idle Pilot

If you do not want anything clicking or moving on your screen

Use: Idle Pilot

If your computer stays on all day and you want a free tool

Use: Green Dotter

If you also need Webex, Zoom, or Discord to stay active

Use: Green Dotter

If you need an auto clicker for repetitive work

Use: Green Dotter

What is Green Dotter?

Green Dotter is a desktop auto clicker and mouse jiggler for Mac and Windows, made by Peter Murtagh, an independent developer in the UK trading as ENineApps. It moves the mouse or clicks at random points in an area you choose, can keep the computer awake, and has a weekly scheduler in beta. Every feature is free, and an optional Pro license costs from $12.99 once. We checked its website on October 28, 2026.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Green Dotter and Idle Pilot cost?

Green Dotter is free, with no account, on Mac and Windows. An optional Pro license costs from $12.99 once for up to 3 computers, and its site says Pro adds nothing extra today. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year, with a 3-day free trial · No credit card. We checked Green Dotter on October 28, 2026.

Does Green Dotter work with my laptop closed?

Green Dotter 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.

Does Green Dotter keep Slack and Teams Available?

Its FAQ says yes for both while a session runs, depending on your Teams setup and workplace policies. It also says mouse movement alone is often not enough for Slack and suggests clicking inside a safe area, such as an already-read channel. Idle Pilot keeps Slack or Teams presence from the cloud and does not move your mouse.

Does Green Dotter keep my computer awake?

Yes, while a session runs, if you turn that option on. Keeping a computer awake is separate from Teams or Slack presence, which also depends on input, so Green Dotter adds clicks or mouse movement. Idle Pilot does not need your computer awake, because it runs your schedule on its servers.

Can my employer see that I use one of these tools?

Possibly. Green Dotter runs on your computer and creates clicks or mouse movement, and device management and monitoring software can log processes and input patterns. With Idle Pilot, admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices, and network origins. Both Green Dotter and Idle Pilot tell you to check your employer's rules first.

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Last updated: October 28, 2026

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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.