Yes. Its Mac App Store listing says Amphetamine is 100% free, with no in-app purchases, no pro version and no ads. MrFixable is not free: it costs $19.99 once after a 14-day trial, and Keep Awake is one of its 68 fixes, so it's worth it only if you want the others too.

How do I keep my Mac awake without an app?

Open Terminal, type caffeinate -d and press Return. Your Mac and its display stay awake until you press ⌃C. Amphetamine and Keep Awake do the same from the menu bar, so you don't need Terminal. Keep Awake leaves the sleep settings you chose in System Settings as they are.

Will Keep Awake keep my MacBook awake with the lid closed?

Only when your MacBook is connected to power and an external display. Otherwise closing the lid still puts it to sleep, even with Keep Awake on. Amphetamine has a closed-display mode for this, which on Apple Silicon Macs needs an installed script and your administrator password.

Can Keep Awake turn on by itself?

No. Keep Awake runs only when you turn it on, and then stays on until you turn it off or its 1 or 3 hour timer ends. Amphetamine's triggers can start a session on their own, for example when you connect a display or join a Wi-Fi network.

Alternatives

Amphetamine alternative for Mac

Amphetamine is a free Mac App Store app that keeps your Mac awake, with timed sessions, automatic triggers and a closed-lid mode. MrFixable's Keep Awake is a simpler switch: on until you turn it off, or for 1 or 3 hours, with or without the display. If keeping awake is all you need, Amphetamine is free and does more.

Try MrFixable free for 14 daysBuy for $19.99 Lifetime license

By Mohammed Chaara. Updated October 21, 2026. Facts about Amphetamine come from its own website or App Store page, listed at the end.

What Amphetamine is

Amphetamine, made by William Gustafson, is free on the Mac App Store, with no in-app purchases and no ads. Its sessions run indefinitely, for a set time, until a set time, while a file downloads or while an app runs. Triggers start sessions by themselves, for example when you connect an external display, join a Wi-Fi network, plug in a USB or Bluetooth device, run an app or reach a battery level. It can keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed, keep a drive awake with Drive Alive, move the pointer from time to time, and let the display sleep while the Mac stays awake. The App Store lists macOS 10.13 or later.

Amphetamine vs MrFixable

	Amphetamine	MrFixable
Price	Free, with no in-app purchases or ads	$19.99 once (lifetime license) for all 68 fixes, with a 14-day free trial
How long it stays on	Indefinitely, for a set time, until a set time, while a download or an app runs	Until you turn it off, 1 hour or 3 hours
Starts by itself	Yes, with triggers such as displays, Wi-Fi, USB and Bluetooth devices, apps and battery level	No: you turn it on
Display	Keep it on, or let it sleep while the Mac stays awake	Keep it on, or let it sleep while the Mac stays awake
Lid closed	Closed-display mode. On Apple Silicon it needs an installed script and your administrator password	The Mac sleeps, unless it's on power with an external display
Other options	Drive Alive, pointer movement, screen lock, AppleScript, hot keys	None in this fix
Setup	Download from the Mac App Store	One switch, no permissions needed
macOS support	macOS 10.13 or later	macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later, tested on macOS 26 Tahoe
What else is included	Keeping the Mac awake only	67 other fixes in the same app

Where each one is better

Amphetamine is better for

It's free, with no ads and nothing to unlock.
Much more control: sessions until a set time or while a download or app runs, and triggers that start a session by themselves.
It can keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed, keep a drive awake and move the pointer.
It runs on much older versions of macOS.

MrFixable is better for

Nothing to set up: turn it on, choose 1 hour, 3 hours or Never, and it turns itself off when the time is up.
If you use MrFixable for other fixes, you don't need another menu bar app just to keep your Mac awake.

Choose Amphetamine if

People who want a free app, or need triggers, a closed-lid mode, or sessions tied to downloads and apps.

Choose MrFixable if

People who already use MrFixable, or want it for its other fixes, and only need a simple switch with a timer.

Switching from Amphetamine

If you set up triggers in Amphetamine, note them first, because Keep Awake has none. Quit Amphetamine, and if it opens at login, remove it in System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions. Then turn on Keep Awake in MrFixable and choose 1 hour, 3 hours or Never. Turn off Keep the display on too if the screen may sleep while the Mac works.

Questions

Is Amphetamine free?
Yes. Its Mac App Store listing says Amphetamine is 100% free, with no in-app purchases, no pro version and no ads. MrFixable is not free: it costs $19.99 once after a 14-day trial, and Keep Awake is one of its 68 fixes, so it's worth it only if you want the others too.
How do I keep my Mac awake without an app?
Open Terminal, type caffeinate -d and press Return. Your Mac and its display stay awake until you press ⌃C. Amphetamine and Keep Awake do the same from the menu bar, so you don't need Terminal. Keep Awake leaves the sleep settings you chose in System Settings as they are.
Will Keep Awake keep my MacBook awake with the lid closed?
Only when your MacBook is connected to power and an external display. Otherwise closing the lid still puts it to sleep, even with Keep Awake on. Amphetamine has a closed-display mode for this, which on Apple Silicon Macs needs an installed script and your administrator password.
Can Keep Awake turn on by itself?
No. Keep Awake runs only when you turn it on, and then stays on until you turn it off or its 1 or 3 hour timer ends. Amphetamine's triggers can start a session on their own, for example when you connect a display or join a Wi-Fi network.

Sources

Amphetamine on the Mac App Store