macOS app comparison

KeepingYouAwake alternative for Mac

KeepingYouAwake is excellent at one focused job. StayRunning starts with the same keep-awake control, then adds rules, closed-lid work, battery guardrails, a dashboard, and local history.

Written by Deepanshu Mishra, creator of StayRunning · Updated July 24, 2026

The practical difference

Choose KeepingYouAwake when you want a small menu-bar utility centered on one-click activation and predefined durations. Choose StayRunning when you want to see why the Mac is staying awake and control the conditions around battery, activity, lid state, and history.

StayRunning vs. KeepingYouAwake

CapabilityKeepingYouAwakeStayRunning
Core focusOne-click sleep preventionSleep prevention plus rules and visibility
ActivationOne click and predefined durationsOne click and activity-based rules
Battery protectionLow-battery deactivationConfigurable battery guardrails
Closed-lid workflowsCheck the current project documentationDedicated closed-lid mode
Activity historyNot highlighted in its official feature listLocal activity history
SourceOpen-source projectOpen-source project

Which should you choose?

There is no universal winner. KeepingYouAwake has years of history and a deliberately compact scope. StayRunning is a better fit when you want a more visual, rule-driven workflow for long-running work.

Explore StayRunning →

Common questions

KeepingYouAwake alternatives

Is StayRunning a KeepingYouAwake alternative?

Yes. Both prevent a Mac from sleeping. StayRunning is aimed at users who also want activity rules, closed-lid workflows, battery guardrails, and local history.

Are StayRunning and KeepingYouAwake free?

StayRunning is free to download and its source is available on GitHub. KeepingYouAwake is also an open-source project with downloads available from its official site and GitHub repository.

Which app is better for simple one-click use?

KeepingYouAwake focuses on a compact menu-bar workflow. StayRunning also supports one-click control, but adds a dashboard and more explicit rules and history.