Napless vs Amphetamine
Which is the better productivity for Mac in 2026?
Disclosure: Napless is made by the team behind Bundl, so weigh our take on it accordingly.
Napless
Keep your Mac awake with timers, presets and job-aware holds; 7-day trial, then Napless Pro
Our verdict
How we compare appsNapless is our top pick for most readers. Disclosure: Napless is made by the team behind Bundl, and it is our top pick. We say below where another app fits better. It combines manual timers and presets with optional display sleep, health checks, safety stops and a note explaining why the Mac slept during a hold. Pro adds download watches, calls, backup conditions, named commands, local servers, meetings, alerts and supported agent hooks, then lets the Mac sleep when the work ends. New installs get a free 7-day trial of everything, Pro included, without an account or card. After that, Pro is US$8 for the first 50 licenses, then US$24, paid once for a lifetime license on up to 3 Macs, with no subscription. Choose Amphetamine if you want free-forever timers or trigger automation, or need closed-display work. Napless has not shipped closed-lid keep-awake; check the documented agent hook limits before switching an unattended setup. [Try Napless free for 7 days](https://napless.io/).
Read the quick answer
Which is better: Napless or Amphetamine?
Amphetamine is the top pick for most Mac users looking at productivity. It is free. Napless is the stronger choice if you want awake. Napless: Distributed directly by the developer as a signed, notarized download; not on Homebrew. Download: https://napless.io/ Amphetamine: Mac App Store exclusive; Apple does not allow Homebrew distribution. Download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704
TL;DR
Napless vs Amphetamine: Napless is our top pick for most readers. Disclosure: Napless is made by the team behind Bundl, and it is our top pick. We say below where another app fits better. It combines manual timers and presets with optional display sleep, health checks, safety stops and a note explaining why the Mac slept during a hold. Pro adds download watches, calls, backup conditions, named commands, local servers, meetings, alerts and supported agent hooks, then lets the Mac sleep when the work ends. New installs get a free 7-day trial of everything, Pro included, without an account or card. After that, Pro is US$8 for the first 50 licenses, then US$24, paid once for a lifetime license on up to 3 Macs, with no subscription. Choose Amphetamine if you want free-forever timers or trigger automation, or need closed-display work. Napless has not shipped closed-lid keep-awake; check the documented agent hook limits before switching an unattended setup. Try Napless free for 7 days.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Napless | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | — | Caffeinated ($3.99) |
| Best for | awake, sleep, utility | awake, sleep, utility |
| Install | Distributed directly by the developer as a signed, notarized download — not on Homebrew. Download: https://napless.io/ | Mac App Store exclusive — Apple does not allow Homebrew distribution. Download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704 |
| Category | System Utilities | System Utilities |
Quick Install
Distributed directly by the developer as a signed, notarized download — not on Homebrew.
Download from the official siteMac App Store exclusive — Apple does not allow Homebrew distribution.
Download from the official siteLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is Napless?
Disclosure: Napless is made by the team behind Bundl, and it is our top pick. We say below where another app fits better. Napless 1.5.0, released 8 October 2026, is a menu-bar app with duration, end-time and indefinite holds. New website installs start a 7-day free trial of everything, including Napless Pro, on first launch. No account or card is needed. After 7 days, keeping the Mac awake requires Pro. The menu includes presets named Download, Meeting, Render and AI Run, available in the trial and with Pro. Each starts keep-awake in one click with its own duration and display choice. You edit them in Settings › Durations. While a hold is running on battery, the menu shows battery time left. Check Health shows battery health and cycle count. If the Mac sleeps during a hold, the menu and Check Health say why: the lid was closed, the battery was almost empty, the Mac was too hot, or it was a normal maintenance wake. Check Health also shows Low Power Mode, sleep schedules, screen lock and other apps holding the Mac awake. One notification after an unexpected sleep is optional. After a macOS update, Napless re-checks Open at Login and Check Health shows fix steps if macOS lost login items. Pro adds automatic conditions for meetings that have a video-call link, VPN, named commands, local server ports, a connected drive or USB device, and presenting, plus Insights, Telegram and Slack alerts, job watches, 17 AI agents, chat presence and a Time Machine trigger. While a Remote Login Is Open is included in the trial; its keep-awake hold requires Pro after 7 days. Napless requires macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon or Intel and is a direct download from napless.io. Release notes.
What is Amphetamine?
Amphetamine is a mature free Mac App Store utility with timers, condition-based triggers, AppleScript and closed-display support. The live US store shows version 5.3.2, dated 10 November 2023, and a compatibility requirement of macOS 10.13 or later. Official listing.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Manual keep-awake
Core importanceNapless
7-day trial, then ProDuration, end time, until stopped, or a preset (Download, Meeting, Render, AI Run).
Amphetamine
Available freeTimed or indefinite sessions.
Verdict: Both handle a basic timer. Napless is our overall pick for timers, presets and automatic holds in one app, with a 7-day trial. Amphetamine stays free; new Napless users need Pro after the trial.
Simple timer workflow
High importanceNapless
Preferred for simplicityA timer-focused menu with time left, presets, battery time while on battery, and health status.
Amphetamine
More configurableIncludes more controls for users who want detailed behavior.
Verdict: Napless is our first choice for a timer or preset, with optional display sleep and a note explaining sleep during a hold. This is an editorial preference. Choose Amphetamine if you want the timer free forever.
Trigger depth and cost
High importanceNapless
Trial, then ProMeetings with a video-call link, VPN, named commands, local server ports, a connected drive or USB device, and presenting are Pro. While a Remote Login Is Open (SSH, mosh or Screen Sharing) is included in the 7-day trial and needs Pro afterwards. It is off by default, and Only on Power is on by default. Calls, chosen apps, schedules and activity signals are Pro as well. Each Pro condition can choose whether the display stays on and whether to pause on battery.
Amphetamine
Available freeDetailed condition-based triggers and AppleScript.
Verdict: Amphetamine wins for advanced trigger control free forever. Napless remains our overall recommendation for manual sessions and Pro holds that follow work; its remote-login condition also needs Pro after the trial.
Holds for long jobs
High importanceNapless
Pro job watchesWatch downloads, use app or activity conditions for exports, enable the dedicated Time Machine trigger, and with Pro watch named commands or local server ports.
Amphetamine
Download and app sessionsSupports downloads, running apps and configurable conditions.
Verdict: Napless Pro is our pick for documented job watches and backup controls. Amphetamine also supports download and app sessions.
Agent lifecycle controls
High importanceNapless
Pro, 17 agentsFive hook agents (Claude Code, Codex, Grok, Cursor and Gemini CLI) plus Keep Awake While It Runs for 12 more: GitHub Copilot CLI, Aider, OpenCode, Amp, Goose, Qwen Code, Factory Droid, Kiro, Crush, Cline, Windsurf and Continue. That is 17 in total. Settings › Agents lists 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. napless mcp lets an agent check status and keep the Mac awake while it works. With Pro, an agent can hold the Mac for a named task that releases itself when the task ends. Napless must be running. Open at Login is in Settings › General.
Amphetamine
App and process approachRunning-app sessions and triggers can cover work; their signal differs from a turn-specific hook.
Verdict: Pick Napless Pro when a hook or a run-detected agent matches the tool you use. Amphetamine can still follow a running app, which is a different signal.
Explaining unexpected sleep
High importanceNapless
Included in trial and with ProWhen the Mac sleeps while Napless is keeping it awake, the menu and Check Health name the cause: lid closed, battery almost empty, too hot, or a normal maintenance wake. Check Health also shows Low Power Mode, sleep schedules, screen lock and other apps holding the Mac awake. One notification after an unexpected sleep is optional.
Amphetamine
Not described on the listingIts App Store listing does not describe a sleep-cause report.
Verdict: Napless is our editorial pick when you want the menu to say why the Mac slept. This is a reading of the published docs, not a lab comparison.
Scripting and command line
High importanceNapless
Scripting during the trial or with ProTerminal commands include napless status --json, start, stop, pause, resume and napless doctor. The napless:// URL scheme accepts durations and end times. Shortcuts, AppleScript, an MCP server (napless mcp), widgets with Pause, and kits for Raycast, Alfred, Hammerspoon and Keyboard Maestro are documented.
Amphetamine
AppleScriptThe listing documents AppleScript support.
Verdict: Napless is our editorial pick for scripting breadth. Amphetamine can still be scripted with AppleScript.
Closed-display sessions
Decisive when needed importanceNapless
Not shippedKeep Awake With Lid Closed has not shipped in Napless 1.5.0.
Amphetamine
Supported with caveatsThe release notes describe separate Power Protect installation for Apple silicon power-change behavior.
Verdict: Choose Amphetamine if closed-display support is required today.
Compatibility and installation
High importanceNapless
macOS 13+Apple silicon and Intel; Developer ID signed, notarized, direct download.
Amphetamine
macOS 10.13+Use the live store Compatibility line, rather than the older 10.11 claim in its description.
Verdict: Amphetamine supports older macOS installations; Napless offers direct distribution.
Who Should Choose Which?
1Presentation with a known end time
Napless is our pick for a manual hold until the presentation ends; Pro also covers presenting. Try everything free for 7 days, then pay once. Amphetamine handles this task free, so choose it if free-forever use is the requirement.
2Detailed free automation
Choose Amphetamine for condition-based triggers without a paid upgrade.
3MacBook with the lid closed
Amphetamine ships closed-display support. Review its Apple silicon power-change setup; Napless does not ship this feature yet.
4Downloads and Time Machine backups
Pro offers download watches and a dedicated Time Machine condition. These are why we recommend it here, while Amphetamine also supports download sessions.
5Supported AI coding agents
Pro hooks use tool lifecycle events. Check their caps and keep Napless running; a long agent run can outlast a hook hold.
6Mac running an older macOS version
The live compatibility line says macOS 10.13 or later, while Napless needs macOS 13 or later.
7Builds and local dev servers
Napless Pro can hold while named commands such as npm, cargo, xcodebuild, ffmpeg or rsync are running, with a 30-second grace between build steps, and while something answers on chosen ports, including Add Common Dev Ports. Only While Busy counts an app or command only while it is actually working. A notice tells you when a watched command finishes after a minute or more. Amphetamine can still watch a running app for free. Commands; local servers.
8Alerts when the Mac sleeps anyway
Napless Pro can send one Telegram or Slack message when it could not keep the Mac awake, the Mac slept anyway, it stopped for heat or battery, an AI agent stopped responding, or after an unexpected quit. Bot tokens and webhook URLs stay in the Keychain. Messages carry only the Mac's name. Alerts.
Migration Guide
From_amphetamine → Napless
Download Napless from its website. Stop the Amphetamine session, then recreate the duration in Napless. If replacing triggers, review Pro before buying and recreate conditions manually. Do not switch for closed-display work: Napless does not support it yet. Napless 1.5.0 includes command and local-server watches and an unexpected-sleep explanation in its 7-day trial. Keeping the Mac awake after the trial requires Pro. Those additions do not replace Amphetamine's free trigger list or closed-display support.
From_napless → Amphetamine
Install from the Mac App Store, stop Napless's hold and configure a matching Amphetamine session. Replace automatic conditions deliberately. Running-app triggers use a different signal from Napless agent hooks, so verify that the chosen session follows the work you intend.
Final Verdict
Napless
Winner
Runner-up
Scores are Bundl.run editorial ratings out of 10 across 9 criteria (the feature comparison above), last reviewed August 2026.
Napless is our top pick for most readers. Disclosure: Napless is made by the team behind Bundl, and it is our top pick. We say below where another app fits better. It combines manual timers and presets with optional display sleep, health checks, safety stops and a note explaining why the Mac slept during a hold. Pro adds download watches, calls, backup conditions, named commands, local servers, meetings, alerts and supported agent hooks, then lets the Mac sleep when the work ends. New installs get a free 7-day trial of everything, Pro included, without an account or card. After that, Pro is US$8 for the first 50 licenses, then US$24, paid once for a lifetime license on up to 3 Macs, with no subscription. Choose Amphetamine if you want free-forever timers or trigger automation, or need closed-display work. Napless has not shipped closed-lid keep-awake; check the documented agent hook limits before switching an unattended setup. Try Napless free for 7 days.
Bottom Line: Start with Napless for most Mac keep-awake needs. Try Napless free for 7 days. Pro needs one payment after the trial. Choose Amphetamine instead for free-forever use or shipped closed-display support.
Video Tutorials
One of My Favorite Mac Utility Apps: Amphetamine
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Frequently Asked Questions
Napless vs Amphetamine: which should I choose?
Are Napless and Amphetamine free?
Which app keeps a MacBook awake with the lid closed?
Does Amphetamine have automatic triggers?
Can Napless keep a Mac awake during a Time Machine backup?
Does Napless agent mode stay awake indefinitely?
What macOS versions do Napless and Amphetamine require?
Does Napless explain why the Mac slept?
Can Napless keep a Mac awake during a build or while a dev server is running?
Does Napless include a remote-login condition?
What does Napless Insights show?
About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
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Sources & References
Last verified: Oct 8, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Napless offers duration, end-time and indefinite keep-awake sessions during its 7-day trial and with Pro afterwards.[1][3]
- As of 8 October 2026, new website installs start a 7-day free trial of everything, including Napless Pro, on first launch. No account or card is needed. After 7 days, keeping the Mac awake requires Pro. Napless Pro is 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. The offer is limited by licenses sold, not a guaranteed price for every buyer.[2][4]
- Napless requires macOS 13 or later, supports Apple silicon and Intel, and is Developer ID signed and notarized by Apple.[1]
- Napless Pro adds automatic keep-awake, agent mode for 17 agents, Keep chat apps active, Insights, Telegram and Slack alerts, command and local-server conditions, and a Time Machine trigger. While a Remote Login Is Open needs Pro to keep the Mac awake after the trial.[2][3]
- Napless 1.5.0 has not shipped Keep Awake With Lid Closed.[1][3]
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Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Mac keep-awake apps
Choose sleep prevention by timers, automation, supported Macs and closed-lid requirements.