1MachineTool vs Amphetamine
The free keep-awake app with every trigger, or keep-awake that also knows what is keeping your Mac up.
Checked against Amphetamine’s own site, 18 October 2026
Short answer
Amphetamine is free and has more triggers. 1MachineTool adds the other direction: why the Mac won't sleep, and what woke it.
- Amphetamine keeps the Mac awake indefinitely, for a time, during a download or while an app runs, with triggers for displays, USB, Wi-Fi, CPU and more.
- 1MachineTool's Power module keeps it awake, schedules Low Power Mode and runs lid-closed mode through its helper.
- Ask 1MachineTool "why won't it sleep?" and it names the culprit.
Two ways to do the job.
1MachineTool
Power is a Pro module: keep-awake modes and schedules, Low Power Mode at a time or when you unplug, cool down, and lid-closed mode through the helper. Diagnosis answers "why won't it sleep?" and "what woke it?".
Amphetamine
William Gustafson's keep-awake app on the Mac App Store: sessions that run indefinitely, for a set time, until a time, during a download or while an app runs, with triggers for displays, USB and Bluetooth devices, apps, power, Wi-Fi, CPU and idle time. Free, no in-app purchases.
apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704Side by side.
| Feature | 1MachineTool | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Price | Free, or Pro $29 once (one year of updates) | Free, no in-app purchases |
| Runs on | macOS now; Windows (v1.1) and Linux (v1.3) on the same licence | macOS |
| What it covers | Eleven tools: launcher, clipboard, windows, monitor, clean, power, battery, menu bar, network, security, VMs (when shipped) | Keeping the Mac awake |
| Tells you why the machine is slow, hot, full or draining | Yes: one sentence, the evidence, the fix and an undo | No |
| Power | ||
| Keep awake now, for a time, or until a time | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic triggers (displays, USB, Wi-Fi, CPU) | Schedules and on unplug | Many |
| Lid-closed mode | Through the helper | Not checked |
| Low Power Mode schedules | Yes | No |
| Why it won't sleep, what woke it | Yes | No |
| Everything else | ||
| Battery, cleaner, monitor, menu bar | Included | No |
| Windows and Linux | Windows in v1.1, Linux in v1.3; your Pro licence covers them | No |
| Data collected | Local-first; no account | Crash data only, per the App Store label |
Scroll the table sideways.
Which one is for you.
Choose 1MachineTool if
- Your problem is as often "it won't sleep" as "keep it awake".
- You want keep-awake, Low Power Mode schedules and battery care together.
- You want lid-closed mode without extra setup.
Choose Amphetamine if
- You only need keep-awake, for free.
- You rely on detailed triggers like a USB device or a Wi-Fi network.
- You prefer Mac App Store apps.
Questions.
Is keep-awake free in 1MachineTool?
Power is part of Pro. The diagnosis question, including "why won't it sleep?", is free with one finding.
Why does lid-closed mode need a helper?
Changing sleep behaviour needs root. 1MachineTool installs one small helper with one admin prompt; it answers a fixed list of operations and you can remove it in Settings.
Is Amphetamine really free?
Yes. The Mac App Store listing says it is 100% free with no in-app purchases.
Amphetamine’s column comes from its own site on 18 October 2026. Prices and plans change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
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