Comparison · 5 min read
Mouse Jiggler vs Amphetamine
Amphetamine and Mouse Jiggler solve the same problem — a Mac that falls asleep mid-task — with two different approaches. Here is how they compare.
Short answer
- Amphetamine keeps macOS awake by holding a system sleep assertion; Mouse Jiggler keeps it awake by generating small, configurable cursor movement.
- Amphetamine is free; Mouse Jiggler is a one-time $9.99 lifetime license that also supports Windows.
- Choose Amphetamine if you only need to block system sleep. Choose Mouse Jiggler if you also need visible cursor activity for apps that read local input, like Teams or Slack presence detection.
- Both are local utilities — neither uploads activity data anywhere.
Comparison
| Capability | Mouse Jiggler | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | One-time $9.99 lifetime license | Free |
| Platforms | macOS and Windows | macOS only |
| How it works | Generates small, configurable cursor movement | Holds a system sleep assertion (no cursor movement) |
| Affects Teams/Slack presence detection | Yes — cursor activity is visible to apps that watch for local input | No — blocks sleep but does not simulate input |
What both tools actually do
Amphetamine and Mouse Jiggler both exist to stop a Mac from sleeping or locking during a task you are still actively part of. They just intervene at different layers.
Amphetamine works by telling macOS to hold off on its normal sleep behavior for a chosen duration or trigger. Mouse Jiggler works by generating small, configurable cursor movements so macOS keeps registering local input.
Where Amphetamine wins
If your only goal is to stop the Mac from sleeping — for example during a long export or backup — Amphetamine is free and does the job with a simple menu bar toggle.
Where Mouse Jiggler wins
Some collaboration tools infer "away" status from keyboard and mouse input, not from whether sleep is blocked. In that case, blocking sleep alone does not change your status — the app also needs to see input activity.
Mouse Jiggler also supports Windows, so the same approach works if you switch between a Mac and a PC.
This only applies while you are legitimately present. Follow your employer's or organization's monitoring and remote-work policies before relying on either tool for presence status.
Which one should you pick
If you only need to stop your Mac from sleeping during a task you are supervising, Amphetamine is a solid free option.
If you also need visible cursor activity — for presence status in Teams or Slack, or because you also use Windows — Mouse Jiggler is the better fit.
FAQ
Is Amphetamine free?
Yes, Amphetamine is a free macOS menu bar app.
Does Mouse Jiggler work on Windows?
Yes. Mouse Jiggler supports both macOS and Windows.
Can I use both at the same time?
You can, but it is usually redundant — Mouse Jiggler already keeps the system active through cursor movement, which also prevents the sleep behavior Amphetamine targets.