Idle Pilot vs Slack DND Schedule

Compare Idle Pilot presence scheduling to Slack's native Do Not Disturb. Understand the difference between controlling presence and controlling notifications.

Quick Verdict

Different purposes: Idle Pilot controls presence (green dot); Slack DND controls notifications. Use both for complete control.

Slack's DND schedule pauses notifications but doesn't affect your presence status. You can be 'away' with DND on, or 'active' with DND off. Idle Pilot controls whether you appear active or away. They solve different problems and work well together.

Feature Comparison

FeatureIdle PilotSlack Do Not Disturb Schedule
Controls presence status Yes No
Controls notifications No Yes
Built into SlackNo (cloud service) Yes
Works when laptop closed YesN/A (different function)
Schedule support Yes Yes
Cost$4/monthFree (included)

Idle Pilot Advantages

  • Controls presence (active/away status)
  • Keeps green dot active during work hours
  • Works when laptop is closed
  • Prevents 'are you there?' messages
  • Signals availability to teammates

Slack Do Not Disturb Schedule Advantages

  • Built into Slack (no third-party needed)
  • Free with all Slack plans
  • Controls notification interruptions
  • Protects focus time and off-hours
  • Teammates can still override for urgent messages

Which Should You Choose?

If you want to appear available during work hours

Use: Idle Pilot

If you want to block notifications after hours

Use: Slack DND

If you want complete control over presence and notifications

Use: Use both

If you need presence to stay green during meetings

Use: Idle Pilot

What is Slack Do Not Disturb Schedule?

Slack's built-in feature that lets you schedule notification pauses during specific hours, like evenings and weekends.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Slack DND keep me active?
No. DND only affects notifications. Your presence status (active/away) continues to change based on your device activity regardless of DND settings. They're completely separate features.
Can I use Idle Pilot and Slack DND together?
Yes, and it's often a good combination. Use Idle Pilot to maintain active presence during work hours, and use Slack DND to pause notifications during focus time or after hours. You get presence control and notification control.
Why doesn't Slack let me schedule my presence?
Slack's presence is designed to reflect actual device activity, not scheduled availability. Slack provides DND for notification control but leaves presence as an automatic signal. Third-party tools like Idle Pilot fill this gap.

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