Idle Pilot vs Mouse Jiggler for Windows

Mouse Jiggler is a free Windows app from Arkane Systems. Its only job is to fake mouse input and jiggle the pointer so screen savers and other idle-triggered actions do not start. 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. Idle Pilot is not a mouse jiggler and does not move your mouse.

Mouse Jiggler sends simulated mouse input every 60 seconds by default, in Normal, Zen, Circle or Linear mode. In Zen mode the pointer does not visibly move, and the README warns that this may not work with apps that run their own idle detection. The README does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available. Microsoft says Teams presence on a computer becomes Away after a few minutes of inactivity, and Slack says desktop users are set to away after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Mouse Jiggler 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. Version 3.1.0 added an option to pause jiggling while the PC is locked. Idle Pilot keeps working with the laptop closed, asleep or off, after you link your account once.

Mouse Jiggler is free, without warranty or support. You install it with winget or Chocolatey, or download a zip; the mainline build needs the .NET 10 Desktop runtime, and a larger portable build does not. Its modified Microsoft Public License restricts use by and for the US government. 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.

Mouse Jiggler has no built-in schedule; its README suggests Windows Task Scheduler with the --stop-jiggling option. 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.

Mouse Jiggler's developer is direct about detection: the README says it is not a tool for sneaking past your IT department and that any decent monitoring software can easily detect it. Idle Pilot can be seen too: Teams and Slack admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices and network origins. 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.