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TL;DR

Caffeinate vs Amphetamine: Split by interface. Amphetamine for free GUI keep-awake with Triggers and lid/drive features (App Store 5.3.2, $0 this run). Caffeinate for free, preinstalled Terminal control of sleep assertions. Do not confuse caffeinate with Caffeine.app.

PublishedUpdated

Which is better: Caffeinate or Amphetamine?

Caffeinate and Amphetamine are both utilities on a Mac, so the pick depends on workflow. Use Amphetamine on the Mac you sit at. Use caffeinate in the scripts you schedule. As of September 2026, both install with brew install caffeinate and brew install --cask amphetamine.

Caffeinate vs Amphetamine

Which is the better utilities for Mac in 2026?

We compared Caffeinate and Amphetamine across 6 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Read our full breakdown below.

Caffeinate icon

Caffeinate

Apple's built-in macOS CLI at /usr/bin/caffeinate that creates power assertions so the Mac does not idle-sleep while a process runs or until you stop it.

Free
Amphetamine icon

Amphetamine

Keep your Mac awake

Free

Visual Comparison

Amphetamine

Amphetamine screenshot

Credit: William Gustafson

Our Verdict

Split by interface. Amphetamine for free GUI keep-awake with Triggers and lid/drive features (App Store 5.3.2, $0 this run). Caffeinate for free, preinstalled Terminal control of sleep assertions. Do not confuse caffeinate with Caffeine.app.

Feature Comparison

Feature comparison between Caffeinate and Amphetamine
FeatureCaffeinateAmphetamine
PriceFreeFree
Open SourceNoNo
ReplacesAmphetamine for scripted or headless keep-awakeCaffeinated ($3.99)
Best forawake, sleep, cliawake, sleep, utility
Installcaffeinate -i <command>Open https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704
CategorySystem UtilitiesSystem Utilities

Quick Install

Caffeinate
caffeinate -i <command>
Amphetamine
Open https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704

Learn More

Caffeinate
Caffeinate Details
Full review, features, and FAQs
Amphetamine
Amphetamine Details
Full review, features, and FAQs

In-Depth Overview

What is caffeinate?

caffeinate is Apple's command-line tool that creates assertions to change sleep behavior. Location: /usr/bin/caffeinate. With no flags it prevents idle sleep. With a utility argument it holds assertions for the life of that child process. Examples from the man page lineage: caffeinate -i make runs make under an idle-sleep assertion; caffeinate -u -t 3600 declares user activity for one hour. Flags documented in caffeinate(8): -d display, -i idle system sleep, -m disk idle, -s system sleep on AC, -u user active, -t timeout seconds, -w wait for PID. There is no menu bar, no Triggers UI, and no App Store listing: if Terminal is available, the binary is already there on a normal macOS install. Price (accessed 2026-09-30): Free with macOS.

What is Amphetamine?

Amphetamine is a free macOS keep-awake utility by William Gustafson (seller name on the App Store). The App Store description (accessed 2026-09-30) highlights on/off sessions, optional display sleep control, closed-display stay-awake, Drive Alive for external volumes, AppleScript, custom menu icons, and a large Trigger set (external display, mirroring, USB/Bluetooth, app running/frontmost, battery/charging, power adapter, IP, Wi-Fi SSID, Cisco AnyConnect, DNS, audio output, mounted volume, CPU threshold, idle time). Sessions can run indefinitely, for a duration, until a clock time, while a download runs, or while an app runs. Version 5.3.2 appears in the iTunes Lookup API this run (currentVersionReleaseDate 2023-11-10); price 0.0 USD / formatted Free; minimum macOS 10.13. Listing states no ads, no in-app purchases, no Pro unlock, no tracking. Release notes for the 5.3.x line describe Power Protect for Apple Silicon closed-display power events. Homebrew cask not listed on formulae.brew.sh this run (HTTP 404 for /api/cask/amphetamine.json on 2026-09-30).

Detailed Feature Comparison

Basic keep-awake

Critical
CaffeinateExcellent

One process holds the assertion until exit or timeout. Ideal when a command defines the session lifetime (caffeinate -i <command>).

AmphetamineExcellent

Menu bar toggle, timed sessions, and per-session display/screensaver/lid options without writing flags.

Verdict: Caffeinate for automation; Amphetamine for interactive control. Both handle the core job.

Automation

High
CaffeinateGood

Limited to process lifetime and flags. You encode policy in shell (&&, wrappers, launchd). No GUI Trigger list.

AmphetamineExcellent

Fifteen-plus Trigger conditions from the App Store feature list cover desks, networks, apps, and power state without a script.

Verdict: Amphetamine for condition-based automation; caffeinate when the trigger is simply while this command runs.

Closed lid / clamshell

High
CaffeinateGood

System sleep assertions depend on flags and power state (-s is documented as valid on AC power). You still manage display and lid behavior yourself.

AmphetamineExcellent

Closed-display session options and Power Protect notes in 5.3.x release notes target lid-closed Apple Silicon quirks.

Verdict: Amphetamine for lid-closed laptop setups; caffeinate when a docked script owns the session.

Drive / download sessions

Medium
CaffeinateGood

Indirect: wrap the transfer tool or use -w on its PID so sleep waits on the process.

AmphetamineExcellent

Drive Alive and while-a-file-is-downloading style sessions are first-class in the App Store description.

Verdict: Amphetamine when drives unmount overnight; caffeinate when the downloader is already a shell job.

Price and install friction

Critical
CaffeinateExcellent

$0, preinstalled at /usr/bin/caffeinate. No Homebrew package required.

AmphetamineExcellent

$0 on the App Store this run (version 5.3.2); one App Store install. No Homebrew cask listed on formulae.brew.sh this run.

Verdict: Tie on price. Caffeinate wins on install friction (already there). Amphetamine wins on discoverability for non-Terminal users.

Menu bar / human UI

High
CaffeinateNone

Terminal only. No menu bar, no session UI, no Triggers panel.

AmphetamineExcellent

Menu-bar sessions, custom icons, hot keys, and a large preferences surface for Triggers and Power Protect.

Verdict: Amphetamine owns interactive keep-awake. Caffeinate is not a GUI product.

Scripts / CI / agents

High
CaffeinateExcellent

Wrap builds and agents: caffeinate -i ./run.sh or caffeinate -w $PID. Fits headless Mac minis and overnight agent loops.

AmphetamineGood

AppleScript and Triggers help, but a human-oriented menu bar is not required for headless CI. Prefer when a person needs the menu.

Verdict: Caffeinate for headless scripts and CI; Amphetamine when a desk user still wants the menu bar overnight.

Who Should Choose Which?

1Script, CI, or overnight agent on a Mac mini

Caffeinate

Wrap the job: caffeinate -i ./run.sh or caffeinate -w $PID. No menu bar required.

2Menu-bar toggle during meetings and downloads

Amphetamine

Start a timed or indefinite session from the menu without opening Terminal.

3Lid-closed laptop on an external display

Amphetamine

Closed-display controls and Power Protect-related 5.3.x fixes target this setup.

4Comparing GUI keep-awake apps only

Amphetamine

Use Amphetamine vs Caffeine for GUI cups; this page stays on CLI vs Amphetamine. Amphetamine remains the free Triggers pick.

5Free Caffeinated.app shoppers

Amphetamine

See free alternative to Caffeinated. Amphetamine remains Free on the App Store this run; caffeinate is the built-in CLI alternative.

Migration Guide

Caffeinate → Amphetamine

1. Install Amphetamine from the App Store listing (ID 937984704). 2. Recreate common shells as sessions or Triggers (app running, external display, AC power). 3. Keep a caffeinate alias in scripts for headless jobs Amphetamine should not own.

Amphetamine → Caffeinate

1. Note which Triggers you actually use (app, display, schedule). 2. Replace with shell wrappers: caffeinate -i <command>, caffeinate -u -t <seconds>, or caffeinate -w <pid>. 3. Uninstall Amphetamine from Launchpad / Applications if you no longer need the menu bar.

Pro Tips

caffeinate with no utility holds assertions until you Ctrl-C. Prefer -i for builds; add -d only when the display must stay on. Do not confuse caffeinate (CLI) with Caffeine.app (GUI). Do not paste brew install --cask amphetamine until formulae.brew.sh lists that cask again.

Final Verdict

Overall Winner

Tie — depends on interface (CLI vs GUI)

9.2/10

Score

Caffeinate

9.0/10

Score

Amphetamine

Scores are Bundl.run editorial ratings out of 10 across 7 criteria (the feature comparison above), last reviewed August 2026.

Split by interface. Amphetamine for free GUI keep-awake with Triggers and lid/drive features (App Store 5.3.2, $0 this run). Caffeinate for free, preinstalled Terminal control of sleep assertions. Do not confuse caffeinate with Caffeine.app.

Bottom Line: Use Amphetamine on the Mac you sit at. Use caffeinate in the scripts you schedule.

Video Tutorials

One of My Favorite Mac Utility Apps: Amphetamine

Timothy Bramlett • 3.1K views

How to keep your Mac awake 🚀 #shorts

9to5Mac • 22.0K views

How to keep your Mac awake all the time ? #short #mactips

Minimal Nerd • 5.7K views

Stay Awake, Stay Productive: Unlock the Power of Amphetamine for macOS!

How To Make • 826 views

Frequently Asked Questions

Caffeinate or Amphetamine for Mac in 2026?
Caffeinate for scripts and CI. Amphetamine for menu-bar sessions and Triggers. Both are free this run.
Caffeinate vs Amphetamine vs Caffeine.app?
Caffeine.app is another GUI cup utility. Compare GUIs in Amphetamine vs Caffeine. Caffeinate is the built-in CLI, not an App Store cup icon.
Is Amphetamine free in 2026?
Yes on the US App Store this run: iTunes Lookup reports price 0.0 and formattedPrice Free for version 5.3.2 (ID 937984704), accessed 2026-09-30.
Can I brew install Amphetamine?
Not via a listed Homebrew cask this run: https://formulae.brew.sh/api/cask/amphetamine.json returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-30. Install from the Mac App Store instead.
Does caffeinate need Homebrew?
No. caffeinate is preinstalled at /usr/bin/caffeinate on macOS and does not need a Homebrew formula or cask.
Amphetamine vs caffeinate for Claude Code or Cursor overnight?
Interactive overnight desks often prefer Amphetamine sessions or Triggers. Headless agent loops fit caffeinate -i (or -w) around the process. Choose based on whether a human needs the menu bar.
What Amphetamine version is current this run?
App Store / iTunes Lookup: 5.3.2 (accessed 2026-09-30).
Which is better for closed-lid MacBook desks?
Amphetamine for closed-display session options and Power Protect-related 5.3.x notes. Use caffeinate only if you already manage assertions in a launch agent.
How do I keep a Mac awake only while a build runs?
Use caffeinate -i around the build (for example caffeinate -i make) or caffeinate -w <pid> so assertions end when the process exits.
Is this the same as Amphetamine vs Caffeine on Bundl?
No. Amphetamine vs Caffeine covers Caffeine.app (GUI). This page is specifically caffeinate (CLI) vs Amphetamine (app).

About the Author

Jordan Kim

Productivity & Workflow Analyst

Productivity ApplicationsNote-Taking & Knowledge ManagementTask & Project Management
8+ years in operations management · PMP certified
TwitterLinkedIn

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Expert Insights

Homebrew had no amphetamine cask listed on formulae.brew.sh this run, so App Store install is the reliable path until that cask returns.

official-sourcehigh confidence

Bundl's Amphetamine vs Caffeine page covers Caffeine.app; readers searching caffeinate vs amphetamine need the CLI vs menu-bar framing on this page.

documentationhigh confidence

Sources & References

Fact-Checked

Last verified: Sep 30, 2026

Key Verified Facts

  • Amphetamine is Free ($0.00) on the US App Store at version 5.3.2 with no IAP in the iTunes Lookup payload (accessed 2026-09-30).[cite-amph-appstore, cite-amph-lookup]
  • caffeinate is preinstalled at /usr/bin/caffeinate on macOS and needs no Homebrew package.[cite-caffeinate-man, cite-caffeinate-ss64]
  • Homebrew cask API for amphetamine returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-30; no listed cask this run.[cite-amph-brew-404]
  • Amphetamine Triggers cover displays, devices, apps, battery/power, Wi-Fi, VPN, audio, volumes, CPU, and idle time per the App Store listing this run.[cite-amph-appstore]
  1. 1
    Amphetamine on the Mac App Store

    Accessed Sep 30, 2026

    "Free / $0.00 offer; William Gustafson; keep-awake sessions and Triggers."

  2. 2
    iTunes Lookup API id=937984704

    Accessed Sep 30, 2026

    "version 5.3.2, price 0.0, formattedPrice Free, screenshots."

  3. 3
    caffeinate(8) man page (manpagez)

    Accessed Sep 30, 2026

    "Power assertion flags and utility-argument behavior."

  4. 4
    SS64 macOS caffeinate

    Accessed Sep 30, 2026

    "Flags and examples for caffeinate on macOS."

  5. 5
    Homebrew cask API amphetamine

    Accessed Sep 30, 2026

    "HTTP 404 this run; no listed amphetamine cask."

Research queries: caffeinate vs amphetamine mac 2026; amphetamine app store 5.3.2 free; homebrew cask amphetamine 404; caffeinate man page flags

Related Technologies & Concepts

CaffeinateAmphetamineWilliam GustafsonmacOS power assertionsMac App StoreTriggersDrive AlivePower ProtectCaffeine.appHomebrew cask
Caffeinate (Built-in macOS CLI keep-awake utility at /usr/bin/caffeinate), Amphetamine (Free Mac App Store menu-bar keep-awake app with Triggers), William Gustafson (Developer / seller of Amphetamine on the App Store), macOS power assertions (Mechanism caffeinate uses to change sleep behavior), Mac App Store (Amphetamine distribution platform (ID 937984704)), Triggers (Amphetamine automation conditions for keep-awake sessions), Drive Alive (Amphetamine feature to keep external volumes from sleeping), Power Protect (Amphetamine 5.3.x Apple Silicon closed-display power handling), Caffeine.app (Separate GUI cup utility; compared on Amphetamine vs Caffeine, not this page), Homebrew cask (amphetamine cask returned HTTP 404 on formulae.brew.sh this run)

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