FavTray vs Amphetamine
Amphetamine prevents Mac sleep using system assertions. FavTray simulates actual mouse movements — keeping chat apps active and VPN connections alive — plus includes 6 other developer tools.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | FavTray | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Keep-awake method | Simulates mouse movements and input events | System power assertions (IOKit) |
| Price | Core free / $20 for 6mo (all 7 tools) | Free |
| Movement patterns | 5 patterns (circle, figure-8, random, linear, micro-jitter) | None — prevents sleep via system API |
| Stealth mode | Returns cursor to exact original position after each move | Not applicable — no cursor movement |
| Slack/Teams status | Keeps status active (simulates real input) | May not keep chat apps active (no input simulation) |
| VPN keep-alive | Prevents VPN idle disconnection via simulated activity | May not prevent VPN idle timeouts |
| Scheduling | Office hours with day-of-week granularity | Triggers (time, app, battery, Wi-Fi, location, etc.) |
| Battery awareness | Auto-pause below configurable battery threshold | Battery trigger to end session |
| Auto-pause on real activity | Detects real mouse/keyboard use, pauses simulation | Not applicable — no simulation to pause |
| Session timeouts | Configurable auto-stop after N hours | Configurable session duration |
| Triggers | Manual toggle, schedule, battery threshold | Extensive — app launch, display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, location, battery, time |
| Other tools included | Eye rest timer, AI tracker, window manager, system info, port kill, cloud costs | None — dedicated keep-awake tool |
| Privacy | 100% local, no telemetry | Local (App Store app) |
| Open source | No | No |
The Verdict
Amphetamine is the better choice if you want a free, dedicated keep-awake tool with extensive trigger options — it handles sleep prevention reliably and has been trusted by Mac users for years. FavTray is the better choice if you need to appear active in Slack or Teams, keep VPN connections alive during long builds, or want stealth cursor movement that returns to its original position. FavTray also bundles 6 other developer tools (eye rest timer, AI tracker, window manager, system info, port kill, cloud costs) in the same menu bar icon for $3.33/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FavTray better than Amphetamine for keeping my Mac awake?
They use different approaches. Amphetamine prevents sleep via macOS system assertions — it is free, reliable, and has extensive trigger options (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location, app-based). FavTray simulates actual mouse movements, which additionally keeps chat apps (Slack, Teams) active and prevents VPN idle timeouts. If you only need to prevent sleep, Amphetamine is excellent and free. If you need to appear active in chat or keep VPN connections alive, FavTray's input simulation approach is more effective.
Can FavTray replace Amphetamine?
For most developer workflows, yes. FavTray's Keep Alive prevents sleep, keeps chat status active, and prevents VPN disconnection — all things developers commonly need. However, Amphetamine has more advanced triggers (location, specific Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth devices, app launches) that FavTray does not match. If you rely on those triggers, Amphetamine remains useful.
Is Amphetamine safe to use?
Yes. Amphetamine is a well-established App Store app that uses official macOS power assertion APIs. It does not simulate input events or move your mouse. FavTray's Keep Alive simulates mouse movements, which is a different approach — equally safe but serves a different purpose (appearing active vs. just preventing sleep).
Does FavTray's Keep Alive work with Slack and Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Because FavTray simulates actual mouse input events, macOS treats it as real user activity. This keeps Slack, Teams, and other chat apps showing you as active. Amphetamine's system assertion approach prevents sleep but does not generate input events, so chat apps may still show you as away after their idle timeout.