Best apps to keep your Mac awake in 2026: Napless is our pick

Napless  is our pick for most people who want to keep a Mac awake in 2026. Its manual timers cover a duration, a clock time or a hold you stop yourself. Napless Pro can follow a download, an app or a Terminal job and let the Mac sleep when the work finishes. Napless 1.5.0 was released on 8 October 2026. New installs get a 7-day free trial of everything, Pro included, without an account or card. After the trial, keep-awake requires Pro. Try Napless free for 7 days . Release notes .

Keeping the Mac awake and keeping the display on are separate choices. Apple’s caffeinate manual  separates those requests with -i for idle system sleep and -d for display sleep. Choose the behavior before choosing an app.

Quick picks

• Our pick for most readers: Napless , for manual timers and Pro holds that follow downloads, apps, Terminal jobs and AI agents. Try Napless free for 7 days .
• Free forever or closed-display use: Amphetamine, with the maintenance and Apple silicon caveats below.
• Free forever with a one-click screen-on toggle: Caffeine by domzilla.
• Free forever with optional display sleep: KeepingYouAwake.
• Free with no install: caffeinate and System Settings.
• Keep Awake alongside desktop focus tools: Theine.
• A small paid toggle with Shortcuts: Lungo.

Comparison table

Dollar prices below are USD. App Store prices refer to the U.S. listings in the research. “Optional” means the app can keep the computer awake while allowing its display to sleep. Closed-lid support means the computer keeps working, not that its built-in screen stays lit.

1. Napless: our pick for most Mac keep-awake needs

Best for: most readers, from manual timers to automatic holds for long jobs.

Napless 1.5.0, released 8 October 2026, is a menu-bar app with a 7-day free trial of everything, including Pro. New website installs start the trial on first launch without an account or card. Manual sessions keep your Mac awake for a duration, until a specific time, until you stop it, or from a preset. After 7 days, keeping the Mac awake requires Pro. The developer site  states macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel support, and Apple notarization. It is a direct download, with no Homebrew cask or Mac App Store release. Release notes .

Napless includes manual sessions in its trial and paid license, so you can start with a timer before using automatic holds. KeepingYouAwake is the alternative if you want those manual sessions free forever with optional display sleep. Presets named Download, Meeting, Render and AI Run start a hold in one click, each with its own duration and display choice. Its Allow Display to Sleep setting  is on by default; turn it off when you also need the screen awake. If the Mac sleeps during a hold, the menu and Check Health say why: lid closed, battery almost empty, too hot, or a normal maintenance wake. While a Remote Login Is Open (SSH, mosh or Screen Sharing) is off by default. Its keep-awake hold is included in the trial and needs Pro afterwards.

Napless Pro  adds automatic keep-awake during downloads, calls, exports, backups, meetings, VPN, connected drives, presenting, named commands, local servers and AI agent runs, plus Insights, Telegram and Slack alerts, chat-app support and a Time Machine trigger. The first 50 licenses cost $8, then the price is $24. One payment buys a lifetime license for up to 3 Macs, with no subscription. Macs that installed Napless before 1.5.0 keep the free timers, Keep Awake Until, presets and sleep-cause note they already had; Pro features still need Pro.

For Agent Mode, read the documented hold limits  and the AI agents page . Hooks cover Claude Code, Codex, Grok, Cursor and Gemini CLI. Keep Awake While It Runs covers 12 more, 17 agents in total. Settings › Agents shows only agents installed on the Mac. Claude Code, Codex and Grok stay awake while a turn runs, for up to 10 minutes after the last prompt, even if the turn is still running. Cursor stays awake while a turn runs, for up to 60 minutes after the last prompt. Gemini CLI stays awake while Gemini CLI is open. A hook is not an unlimited guarantee that a long agent run stays awake. Named commands such as npm or xcodebuild get a 30-second grace between steps. Commands .

The limitation is clear: closed-lid keep-awake has not shipped. Amphetamine is the stronger choice for that feature and for free trigger depth, and Caffeine or KeepingYouAwake makes more sense if you only want a free toggle. We recommend Napless first because it covers manual sessions and holds that follow the work in one app. The trial lets you check that fit before paying once. See Napless versus Amphetamine.

Pros:

• Manual menu-bar sessions for a duration, until a specific time, or until you stop them, included in the trial and with Pro.
• Napless Pro adds automatic keep-awake during downloads, exports, backups, builds, local servers and AI agent runs.
• Direct download with Apple notarization and no Homebrew cask or Mac App Store release required.

Cons:

• Closed-lid keep-awake has not shipped.
• Claude Code, Codex and Grok end the hold 10 minutes after the last prompt even if the turn is still running. Cursor’s hold lasts up to 60 minutes after the last prompt. Gemini CLI stays awake while Gemini CLI is open.
• Amphetamine is the stronger choice if you need shipped closed-display support.

Install: Try Napless free for 7 days .

2. Amphetamine: complex triggers and closed-display sessions

Best for: complex automation and closed-display use.

Amphetamine earns the automation pick because its trigger list is unusually specific. It can keep the Mac awake while an app runs, a download continues, an external display is connected, or a particular Wi-Fi network is in use. Battery state and CPU activity also appear in its App Store description .

Manual sessions can run indefinitely, for a duration, or until a time. You can allow display sleep separately, so keeping a download alive does not have to mean lighting the screen throughout it. The app is free without ads, in-app purchases or a paid Pro tier.

The important limitation is age: the latest verified store release is 5.3.2, dated November 10, 2023 . The compatibility line says macOS 10.13 or later. That is a minimum requirement, not proof of testing on each subsequent macOS release.

Closed-display mode is documented, but Apple silicon laptops can have trouble after connecting or disconnecting power. The developer supplies Power Protect  separately for that problem. It is different from Amphetamine Enhancer, the older companion helper.

Amphetamine beats Napless today for shipped closed-display support and a broad free trigger set. Napless 1.5.0, released 8 October 2026, still has not shipped closed-lid keep-awake. Amphetamine’s older release date is the tradeoff. See Amphetamine versus Caffeine for the simpler toggle alternative.

Pros:

• Unusually specific triggers, including while an app runs, a download continues, or a particular Wi-Fi network is in use.
• Free without ads, in-app purchases or a paid Pro tier.
• Documented closed-display mode and a broad free trigger set.

Cons:

• Latest verified store release is from November 2023, so recent macOS testing is not established here.
• Apple silicon laptops can have trouble after connecting or disconnecting power in closed-display mode.
• Power Protect is a separate install for that Apple silicon power-change problem.

Install: Get Amphetamine on the Mac App Store .

3. Caffeine: a free coffee-cup toggle for an awake screen

Best for: a one-click screen-on toggle.

The Caffeine we recommend here is Dominic Rodemer’s domzilla project. A full menu-bar cup means it prevents automatic sleep, screen dimming and the screen saver. Its developer site  describes the app as free and open source under the MIT license.

Click the cup for the basic toggle. Timeout choices, activation at launch and a default duration cover the common case of keeping a screen visible for a limited session.

The verified release is 1.6.4 from April 20, 2026 . Compatibility information conflicts: the site FAQ says macOS 11, its current download metadata says macOS 26.0+, and the Homebrew cask  requires macOS 14 or later. Use the developer’s OS-specific download selector rather than treating the FAQ as a universal minimum.

The research found no documented setting to let the display sleep while keeping the system awake, and no documented closed-lid mode. KeepingYouAwake is the better fit if a dark display matters.

Pros:

• Free and open source under the MIT license.
• Full menu-bar cup prevents automatic sleep, screen dimming and the screen saver.
• Timeout choices, activation at launch and a default duration cover limited screen-on sessions.

Cons:

• No documented setting to let the display sleep while keeping the system awake.
• No documented closed-lid mode.
• Compatibility information conflicts across the site FAQ, download metadata and Homebrew cask.

Install the correct cask. Homebrew’s caffeine token points to a separate IntelliScape app, not this project; the two casks conflict.

brew install --cask domzilla-caffeine

4. KeepingYouAwake: a free timer that can let the screen sleep

Best for: a free toggle with optional display sleep.

KeepingYouAwake  puts Apple’s caffeinate behind a menu-bar switch. Its README  describes timed or indefinite activation and an MIT license.

The standout detail is its display preference. By default it uses caffeinate -di; allowing display sleep changes that to -i, as shown in the timer implementation .

There is more than a manual switch: the changelog  documents activation when an external display connects, low-battery and Low Power Mode preferences, and a URL scheme for timed activation.

The shipping release is 1.6.8, dated September 12, 2025 . Its website  states macOS 10.13 and newer. The repository has August 2026 activity , so the older release date does not mean the project is abandoned.

It explicitly does not prevent sleep with a portable Mac’s lid closed. Choose it for an open-lid laptop or desktop, not as a replacement for a documented closed-display tool.

Pros:

• Puts Apple’s caffeinate behind a menu-bar switch with timed or indefinite activation.
• Can allow display sleep by changing from caffeinate -di to -i.
• Changelog documents activation when an external display connects and URL scheme timed activation.

Cons:

• Does not prevent sleep with a portable Mac’s lid closed.
• Not a replacement for a documented closed-display tool.
• Shipping release is dated September 12, 2025 even though the repository has recent activity.

brew install --cask keepingyouawake

5. caffeinate and System Settings (built in): temporary holds without another app

Best for: no install.

Start here if your need is occasional. caffeinate ships with macOS, and its Apple manual  supports a timeout, a process to wait for, or a command whose execution determines the hold’s lifetime.

For a one-hour session that prevents display sleep and idle system sleep, run:

caffeinate -di -t 3600

The timeout is in seconds. If the screen may go dark, use -i instead of -di. With no assertion flags, caffeinate prevents idle system sleep; it does not automatically request display sleep prevention.

Command-bound sessions are useful for a specific Terminal job. A timeout or process-wait flag is ignored when you supply a utility, so avoid combining those approaches and expecting the timer to win.

System Settings is the alternative for changing your normal behavior. Apple documents separate display inactivity controls  and automatic system sleep controls . The exact labels are below.

The limitation is scope. These are idle-sleep tools, not a verified standalone closed-lid solution. They lack graphical menus and automatic job detection.

Pros:

• caffeinate ships with macOS with timeout, process-wait and command-bound session options.
• System Settings can change normal display inactivity and automatic system sleep behavior.
• Nothing to download for occasional holds.

Cons:

• Not a verified standalone closed-lid solution.
• Lack graphical menus and automatic job detection.
• A timeout or process-wait flag is ignored when you supply a utility on the command line.

Install: nothing to download. Open Terminal for the command, or follow Apple’s System Settings instructions .

6. Theine: keep-awake plus desktop focus tools

Best for: Keep Awake alongside desktop focus tools.

Theine combines Keep Awake with Hide Desktop and Focus Dim. If those extra tools suit your working day, it can cover more than the single sleep toggle. Its App Store listing  describes preventing sleep, dimming and the screen saver for a set time or indefinitely.

The U.S. price is $8.99. The listing also shows a separate $4.99 upgrade purchase for version 3 owners; that is not the price a new buyer should use for comparison. The current store release is 4.3, dated October 1, 2026, and requires macOS 15.6 or later.

A global hot key and macOS Shortcuts support  make activation convenient without reaching for the menu bar. The latest store release adds a left-click menu of timer durations.

Theine cannot prevent sleep on a closed MacBook without an additional display. Try the free options first if you do not need its desktop tools.

Pros:

• Combines Keep Awake with Hide Desktop and Focus Dim in one app.
• Global hot key and macOS Shortcuts support for convenient activation.
• Prevents sleep, dimming and the screen saver for a set time or indefinitely.

Cons:

• U.S. price is $8.99, with a separate upgrade path for version 3 owners.
• Requires macOS 15.6 or later on the current store release.
• Cannot prevent sleep on a closed MacBook without an additional display.

Install: Get Theine on the Mac App Store .

7. Lungo: a paid toggle with Shortcuts and optional display sleep

Best for: a small paid toggle with Shortcuts.

Lungo is Sindre Sorhus’s small menu-bar utility for keeping the computer awake and preventing screen dimming. Its App Store listing  also offers the option to let the display sleep while the computer continues working.

The U.S. price is $4.00. The verified store release is 2.8.3 from September 15, 2026, and the current build requires macOS 26.0 or later. The developer page  links older builds for older macOS versions; check the matching download rather than assuming the current store build works there.

Shortcuts support, a keyboard shortcut and a URL scheme are its useful extras. There is no built-in trigger that activates when a particular app opens; the developer points users toward Shortcuts automation instead. Pick it when you prefer that arrangement to Amphetamine’s trigger list.

Lungo does not provide standalone lid-closed keep-awake. The developer describes the charger-and-external-display case separately. It also does not override scheduled sleep.

Pros:

• Small menu-bar utility with optional display sleep while the computer keeps working.
• Shortcuts support, a keyboard shortcut and a URL scheme.
• U.S. price is $4.00 with older builds linked for older macOS versions.

Cons:

• No built-in trigger that activates when a particular app opens.
• Does not provide standalone lid-closed keep-awake.
• Does not override scheduled sleep.

Install: Get Lungo on the Mac App Store .

Keep the display on vs keep the Mac awake

For Terminal, the distinction is caffeinate -d versus caffeinate -i. The former requests prevention of display sleep; the latter prevents idle system sleep. Combine them as -di when you need both, and add -t with a duration in seconds for a timed hold. Keeping the screen powered does not promise a visible desktop or control every screen-saver setting.

In macOS Tahoe 26  and macOS Sequoia 15 , System Settings → Lock Screen contains “Turn display off on battery when inactive” and “Turn display off on power adapter when inactive.” These change display inactivity timing. The cited Apple pages do not enumerate the menu choices, so we are not promising a “Never” choice on every Mac.

For background work on a laptop, System Settings → Battery → Options has “Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off.” On a desktop, System Settings → Energy has “Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off.” Apple documents those labels for Tahoe 26  and Sequoia 15 . Hardware affects which options appear.

Avoid treating pmset as a casual timed toggle. Its changes are persistent and system-wide. Apple’s source  defines sudo pmset -a disablesleep 1 as disabling sleep and sudo pmset -a disablesleep 0 as enabling it again. Contemporary closed-lid behavior was not independently verified in this research.

An awake laptop in a closed bag risks heat buildup. That is an inference from Apple’s ventilation guidance , not a claim that Apple recommends disablesleep. Keep an awake laptop on a ventilated work surface.

Apps to skip in 2026

• Jolt of Caffeine : its latest listed update is from October 2018, with no modern macOS update established in the research.
• NoSleep : its own README says it is no longer maintained; this is an old lid-sleep kernel extension.
• InsomniaX : the author calls it abandonware and says no further updates or binaries will be supplied.
• Enable Caffeinate for Raycast : this optional script’s last commit is from June 2021; it is not a built-in Raycast command , and the script  does not request display prevention with -d.

How we picked

Napless leads because it combines manual timers, optional display sleep and Pro holds that end with the work. We prefer that combination for most readers, even though it requires a purchase after the trial. Free-forever tools and shipped closed-display support remain valid reasons to choose another app.

• Prioritize release or repository activity in the last year. Amphetamine is an explicit exception for its free trigger set and documented closed-display feature, with its older release disclosed.
• Use primary sources: developer pages, repositories, Apple documentation, App Store listings and Homebrew cask metadata.
• State developer compatibility requirements and current-macOS support where documented; expose conflicting requirements instead of guessing.
• State the price, purchase model and distribution route. A download link does not imply a Homebrew cask.

This is a source-based comparison, not a lab test. We did not run benchmarks or measure battery consumption.

FAQ

How do I keep my Mac screen on without an app?

Run caffeinate -di -t 3600 for one hour of display and idle-system sleep prevention. For your normal display timeout, use System Settings → Lock Screen and adjust the battery or power-adapter inactivity control. The Battery sleep-prevention switch alone does not keep the display lit.

Does Amphetamine keep the display on?

Yes, optionally. Its sessions can keep the Mac and display awake, or allow the display to sleep while the computer stays awake. Set the session’s display behavior to match your task.

How do I keep my MacBook awake with the lid closed?

Amphetamine documents closed-display mode, with a separate Power Protect installation for Apple silicon power-change issues. KeepingYouAwake does not support it, and Napless 1.5.0 has not shipped it. Ordinary idle-sleep prevention is not a lid override: Apple distinguishes lid closure as forced sleep .

Is Caffeine still maintained?

The domzilla project has a verified April 2026 release and repository activity. IntelliScape’s separate Caffeine is also marked maintained in the research, but its latest release  is from September 2025. Use the developer name to distinguish them; this article’s install command selects domzilla.

Is there a free alternative to Amphetamine?

Yes. Caffeine and KeepingYouAwake are free graphical options, and caffeinate is included with macOS. KeepingYouAwake covers manual timers with optional display sleep; a timed Terminal command may cover the whole task. Napless 1.5.0 includes presets and a menu note when the Mac sleeps during a hold, but new users get a 7-day free trial, then need Pro to keep the Mac awake.

Can my Mac stay awake with its screen off?

Yes. Use caffeinate -i, an app’s allow-display-sleep setting, or Apple’s automatic-sleep-prevention setting while on power. This separates keeping a background task running from keeping the display visible. It does not promise that a closed lid will behave like an open one.

For most readers, start with Napless and choose a timer or an automatic hold to match the task. Pro costs US$8 for the first 50 licenses, then US$24, paid once for a lifetime license on up to 3 Macs. There is no subscription. Choose Amphetamine if you need shipped closed-display support, or one of the free options if you want keep-awake free forever. Try Napless free for 7 days .

Install the Homebrew picks in one command with Bundl’s builder, and use the store or direct-download links for the others.