KeepingYouAwake
Menu bar utility that stops a Mac from going to sleep
KeepingYouAwake report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for keeping a Mac awake with one click
KeepingYouAwake stops your Mac from dozing off. Click the menu bar icon and it stays awake, for a set time or until you switch it off. It's free, open source and about as simple as software gets. The one thing it won't do is keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed.
Who KeepingYouAwake is for
- Great if a long download or a slideshow keeps getting cut off by sleep
- Handy when you used Caffeine and want a replacement that's still looked after
- Good for anyone who wants a tiny free utility that does one job
Who KeepingYouAwake is not for
- Skip it if you want a MacBook to stay awake with the lid closed, which it doesn't do
- Not for you if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
Why KeepingYouAwake gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source under the MIT licence. Its pages show no price, no purchase step and no paid edition.
- AFree plan and trialThe complete utility, every setting included, is a free download with no account or licence key. You can install it with Homebrew too.
- BFeaturesIt only stops sleep, and it's small on purpose: one click, timed durations you can edit, switching itself off on low battery, and turning on when an external display is connected. Scripts can flip it through a URL scheme. The gap is that it won't hold a MacBook awake with the lid shut.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. Click the menu bar icon and that's it. The rest is a handful of settings you may never open.
- DPlatforms and integrationsMac only. Version 1.6.8 supports macOS 10.13 and newer, and the changelog says 1.6.9 will raise that to macOS 12. No integrations are listed beyond its own URL scheme.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from KeepingYouAwake's own pages on 9 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make KeepingYouAwake? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/keepingyouawake#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/keepingyouawake.svg" alt="KeepingYouAwake: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is KeepingYouAwake?
KeepingYouAwake is a small open-source menu bar utility that prevents a Mac from entering sleep mode, either for a preset duration or for as long as it is switched on. It is a wrapper around caffeinate, the command line tool Apple ships with macOS, and it can turn itself off when the battery level is low. Its developer, Marcel Dierkes, built it in 2014 as a replacement for the Caffeine app and publishes it under the MIT license.
KeepingYouAwake is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Mac users who need the computer to stay awake for a set time
- People who used Caffeine and want a maintained replacement
- Anyone who wants a small single-purpose utility at no cost
Worth knowing
- macOS only. Version 1.6.8 supports macOS 10.13 and newer, and the changelog says the next release, 1.6.9, raises the minimum to macOS 12.
- It does not keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed: it works on desktop Macs and on portable Macs with an open lid.
- It only prevents sleep, by wrapping Apple's caffeinate tool; the developer says it is provided with no guarantee and used at your own risk.
Key features
- One-click activation
- One click on the menu bar icon stops the Mac from going to sleep, and it stays that way until the app is deactivated or a chosen duration ends.
- Activation durations
- Sleep can be blocked for a pre-defined length of time instead of indefinitely, and the list of durations can be customized in the settings.
- Battery safeguards
- The app can deactivate itself when the battery level is low, and its Battery settings support Low Power Mode on compatible Macs.
- Automatic activation rules
- Advanced settings activate it when an external display is connected, deactivate it while another user account is active, or quit the app when a duration ends.
- URL scheme
- Links such as keepingyouawake:///activate and keepingyouawake:///toggle switch it on or off from scripts and other apps.
- Display sleep and notifications
- An option lets the display sleep while the Mac itself stays awake, and on macOS 11 or newer the app can post notifications.
KeepingYouAwake pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole app is open source under the MIT license, downloaded from the website or GitHub or installed with Homebrew. Its pages show no price, purchase step or paid edition.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| KeepingYouAwake | $0 | The complete utility with every setting, as a direct download with no account or license key. MIT licensed. |
Read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with KeepingYouAwake before you buy.
KeepingYouAwake alternatives
- KeepingYouAwake vs AlDente
Free plan · from $13.99/yr
Common questions
Is KeepingYouAwake free?
Yes. KeepingYouAwake is free to use. The whole app is open source under the MIT license, downloaded from the website or GitHub or installed with Homebrew. Its pages show no price, purchase step or paid edition.
How much does KeepingYouAwake cost?
KeepingYouAwake lists one plan. KeepingYouAwake: $0. Prices were read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does KeepingYouAwake work on?
KeepingYouAwake is available on macOS.
Does KeepingYouAwake have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. KeepingYouAwake is listed for macOS.
Does KeepingYouAwake have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. KeepingYouAwake is listed for macOS.
Is KeepingYouAwake open source?
Yes. KeepingYouAwake is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes KeepingYouAwake?
KeepingYouAwake is made by Marcel Dierkes. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to KeepingYouAwake?
The closest alternatives to KeepingYouAwake in our directory are Microsoft PowerToys, AlDente and Hammerspoon. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with KeepingYouAwake.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.