Our pick is Clamshell for Mac, the best overall for lid-closed use. It keeps an Apple Silicon MacBook awake with the lid closed and no monitor, with no admin password, sudo rule, or root helper, nothing saved across a restart, and thermal safety always on. If the lid stays open, almost any keep-awake app works, including free ones such as Amphetamine, KeepingYouAwake, and caffeinate.
Clamshell for Mac keeps an Apple Silicon MacBook awake with the lid closed while armed. No monitor, no sudo. Free for 7 days.
Download free trialApple Silicon, macOS 14+. Notarized by Apple. 3.6 MB. Or buy now, $9.99
Searching for an app to keep a MacBook awake turns up dozens of menu bar utilities, and most reviews treat them as interchangeable. They are not. This roundup checks 15 apps and built-in commands as of October 5, 2026, against each one's own website, App Store listing or GitHub repository, and sorts them by the question that matters most: does the Mac stay awake when you close the lid? Clamshell comes first because it answers yes with no admin rights and nothing left behind.
If you only want lid-closed depth, the best app to keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed comparison goes further on that one job. This page covers everything, idle and lid.
Idle sleep or lid sleep: which one stops your Mac?
macOS has two separate reasons to sleep. Idle sleep happens when nobody touches the Mac for the time set in System Settings. Lid sleep happens when you close a MacBook without an external display attached. Classic keep-awake apps create a power assertion that holds off idle sleep, the same thing caffeinate does. That assertion does nothing against lid sleep.
Several developers say this plainly. Lungo's site says it can only keep a closed Mac awake when a charger and an external display are connected. Theine's App Store listing says it cannot prevent sleep on a closed MacBook with no additional display. KeepingYouAwake's maintainer closed issue #66 about the closed lid, and a newer proposal to add an opt-in pmset mode, issue #262, was still open as of October 2026.
All keep-awake apps compared (October 2026)
Prices, versions and requirements below come from each product's own page on October 5, 2026. Where a vendor does not say something, the cell says so instead of guessing.
Best overall for lid-closed use: Clamshell. It keeps a closed MacBook awake with no admin password, sudo rule, or root helper, never changes pmset disablesleep, and keeps thermal safety on at all times. The other lid-closed tools follow it, then the idle-sleep apps, which do not keep the Mac awake once the lid closes.
Lid-closed apps and commands
| Tool | Lid closed | Price | Admin or root | Version | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clamshell Our pick |
Yes, display stays black | 7-day free trial, then $9.99 once | None | 1.4.21 Oct 5, 2026 |
Best overall for lid-closed use: no admin, no monitor |
| Keepresso | Yes, closed-display mode | Free, open source (GPL-3.0) | Admin helper, approved once | 1.26.0 Oct 4, 2026 |
Free, trigger-heavy, agent-aware |
| Sleepless | Yes, via pmset disablesleep |
Free, open source (MIT) | Scoped sudo rule added at install | 1.2.7 (macOS 26) Jun 3, 2026 |
Auditable free lid switch |
| Adrafinil | Yes, while agents work | Free, open source (MIT) | Small root helper | 1.9 Oct 4, 2026 |
Free agent-only sessions |
| Hold My Lid | Yes, while agents work | $9.99 early bird, up to 3 Macs | None mentioned | 1.0.6 Sep 12, 2026 |
Agent hooks for Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode |
| LidRun | Yes, Pro only | Free lid-open tier; Pro from $9.90 | May prompt for admin until its helper is approved | 1.2.25 Sep 27, 2026 |
Agent auto-detection, Intel Macs |
| Helmlet | Yes, with fan control | €3.99 introductory | Signed helper, password once | 2.4.2 July 2026 |
Lid closed plus fan curves |
| Awake | Yes on power; battery mode is optional | $14.99 lifetime, launch price | Battery mode installs a helper | Not published | Simple timers, lid closed on power |
| Amphetamine | Yes, Closed-Display Mode | Free | Power Protect is a separate install on Apple Silicon | 5.3.2 Nov 10, 2023 |
Free all-round keep-awake with triggers |
pmset disablesleep |
Yes | Free, built into macOS | sudo, stays on until undone |
Ships with macOS | Terminal users who will undo it |
Idle-sleep apps and commands
These hold off idle sleep only. Without an external display, they do not keep the Mac awake once the lid closes. Caffeinated's new 3.2.0 lid option is the one untested exception.
| Tool | Lid closed | Price | Admin or root | Version | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeinated | New option in 3.2.0 | $3.99 | Not stated | 3.2.0 Sep 11, 2026 |
Simple paid idle app with timers |
| Lungo | No, unless a charger and display are connected | $4 on the App Store, or via Setapp | No | 2.8.3 (macOS 26) Sep 15, 2026 |
Polished idle keep-awake |
| KeepingYouAwake | No | Free, open source (MIT) | No | 1.6.8 Sep 12, 2025 |
One-click idle toggle |
| Theine | No | $8.99 | No | 4.3 Oct 1, 2026 |
Keep-awake plus window focus dimming |
caffeinate |
No | Free, built into macOS | No | Ships with macOS | One terminal job, lid open |
Why Clamshell is the best pick for a closed lid
- No admin password, sudo rule, or root helper. Most other lid-closed tools in the table ask for something: Keepresso an admin helper approved once, Sleepless a scoped sudo rule added at install, Adrafinil a small root helper, LidRun an admin prompt until its helper is approved, Helmlet a signed helper and a password once, Awake a helper for battery mode, and
pmsetasudocommand. Clamshell uses an unprivileged IOKit lid sleep-state control plus an idle-sleep assertion while armed. On a managed work Mac without admin rights, that can be the difference between installing and not. - Nothing persistent left behind.
pmset disablesleepis a system-wide setting that stays on until something switches it back, and Keepresso, Sleepless, Adrafinil and LidRun all switch that setting. Clamshell never changes it. It restores normal lid sleep on disarm or quit, and its lid change is never saved across a restart. - Battery and power changes, nothing extra to install. Awake's lid-closed mode needs the Mac plugged in unless you install its battery-mode helper, and Amphetamine's fix for Apple Silicon power changes, Power Protect, is a separate download. Clamshell works on AC and battery and survives plugging in and unplugging.
- Thermal safety is always on. At serious or critical thermal pressure, Clamshell disarms toward normal lid sleep and blocks arming until the Mac cools.
- A black display, a usable screen, macOS 14 or later. The built-in display stays black while agents can still use the screen during an armed closed-lid session, a setting that is on by default. It runs on macOS 14 or later; Sleepless's current version needs macOS 26.
The download is notarized by Apple, and Clamshell is $9.99 once for one Mac after a 7-day free trial, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Get our lid-closed pick. Clamshell is free for 7 days with no payment details, then $9.99 once for one Mac. 14-day money-back guarantee.
Download free trialApple Silicon, macOS 14+. Notarized by Apple. 3.6 MB. Or buy now, $9.99
Best apps to keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed
This is where the list shrinks. Every tool below can keep a MacBook awake with the lid shut and no external display. They differ in how they get there, what they cost, and what they ask of your system.
Clamshell: our pick, no admin rights at all
A menu bar app for Apple Silicon MacBooks on macOS 14 or later. While armed it uses an unprivileged IOKit lid sleep-state control plus an idle-sleep assertion, with no sudo, admin password, kernel extension or helper. The built-in display stays black, the Mac stays on the network, and thermal safety disarms toward normal sleep at serious or critical pressure. $9.99 once after a 7-day trial, also on Setapp.
Keepresso: free, admin helper
Free and GPL-3.0, with triggers for agents, meetings, downloads and schedules. Closed-display mode switches pmset disablesleep through an admin helper you approve once. See Keepresso vs Clamshell.
Sleepless: free, sudo rule
One MIT-licensed AppKit file that flips pmset disablesleep, with a timer and battery floor. Its installer adds a sudo rule for exactly two pmset commands. Needs macOS 26 on Apple Silicon. See Sleepless vs Clamshell.
Adrafinil: free, root helper, agents only
Hooks into Claude Code, Codex and other agents and holds the Mac awake only while a session is active. It uses pmset disablesleep through a small root helper. See Adrafinil vs Clamshell.
Hold My Lid: paid, agent-aware
Reads lifecycle hooks from Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode and holds the Mac only while an agent works. $9.99 early-bird price for up to 3 Macs, with a free trial. See Hold My Lid vs Clamshell.
LidRun: auto-detection, Pro only
Free for lid-open sessions. Closed-Lid Mode is in Pro, from $9.90 for one Mac at its launch price, and its FAQ says it calls pmset disablesleep. Supports Intel Macs and macOS 13. See LidRun vs Amphetamine vs Clamshell.
Helmlet: lid closed plus fans
Adds fan curves and live temperatures, and ends closed-lid mode when the Mac gets too hot or drops below 15% battery. €3.99 introductory price, signed helper. See Helmlet vs Clamshell.
Awake: lid closed on power
Lid-closed mode needs the Mac plugged in; an advanced on-battery mode installs a background helper. $14.99 lifetime launch price, 3-day trial, Apple Silicon and Intel.
Amphetamine belongs here too: its Closed-Display Mode is free. On Apple Silicon laptops, its release notes say connecting or disconnecting power could cause unexpected session behavior, and the fix, Power Protect, is a separate download and install. Without any app, sudo pmset -a disablesleep 1 works but stays on, system-wide, until you set it back to 0. The pmset guide has the checks.
Do keep-awake apps need admin rights?
Idle-only apps generally do not. Lid-closed apps usually do, because the common mechanism, pmset disablesleep, is an administrator setting. Each app handles that differently: a helper approved once, a scoped sudo rule, or a password at install. Clamshell needs no admin rights at all.
pmset flag stops lid sleep but needs root, so apps add helpers or sudo rules. Clamshell uses an unprivileged lid sleep-state control while armed.Apps for a lid that stays open
For downloads, presentations, renders and builds on a Mac that stays open, any of these does the job. None of them keeps the Mac awake once the lid closes without an external display, so for a closed lid, use Clamshell.
Amphetamine: free all-rounder
Free, with timers, triggers by app, Wi-Fi, power and more, and a Closed-Display Mode. Its last App Store update was November 2023, and it is still listed for free.
KeepingYouAwake: free toggle
Open source (MIT), one click, preset durations, and a low-battery cutoff. It wraps caffeinate, so it stays an idle-sleep tool.
caffeinate: nothing to install
Built into macOS. caffeinate -i make keeps the Mac up until the command finishes. The caffeinate guide covers the flags.
Lungo, Caffeinated, Theine: paid
Lungo is $4 on the App Store and included in Setapp; its current version needs macOS 26. Caffeinated is $3.99. Theine is $8.99 and adds a focus mode that fades background windows.
One recent change: Caffeinated's 3.2.0 release notes, dated September 11, 2026, add an "option to keep your system awake with the lid closed", while its App Store description still says the anti-sleep feature does not work with the lid closed. Test it on your own Mac before relying on it.
What is the best Amphetamine alternative?
For a closed lid, Clamshell: no Power Protect install, no admin setup, and nothing left switched on. For a free lid-open toggle, KeepingYouAwake. The Amphetamine alternative guide goes deeper on the lid-closed case.
If you need a free open-source tool, agent auto-detection, or an Intel Mac, Keepresso, Adrafinil, or LidRun covers that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed?
Clamshell for Mac is our pick. It keeps an Apple Silicon MacBook awake with the lid closed and no external display, with no admin password, sudo rule or root helper, its lid change is never saved across a restart, and thermal safety is always on. If the lid stays open, a free app such as Amphetamine or KeepingYouAwake, or the built-in caffeinate command, is enough.
Do I need admin rights to keep a Mac awake with the lid closed?
Not with Clamshell for Mac. It uses an unprivileged lid sleep-state control while armed, with no sudo, admin password, kernel extension or helper. The built-in route, sudo pmset -a disablesleep 1, needs an administrator, and most other lid-closed apps wrap it in a privileged helper or sudo rule.
Does Clamshell leave anything behind?
No. Clamshell never changes pmset disablesleep. It restores normal lid sleep when you disarm or quit, and its lid change is never saved across a restart.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Clamshell is free for 7 days with no payment details, then $9.99 once for one Mac or $19.99 for up to 3 Macs, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. It is also on Setapp.
Why does my keep-awake app not work when I close the lid?
Most keep-awake apps hold off idle sleep, the timer that puts an untouched Mac to sleep. Closing the lid triggers a separate sleep path that idle-sleep assertions do not block. Some apps say so in their own listings, including Lungo, Theine and KeepingYouAwake.
Is there a free app to keep a Mac awake with the lid closed?
Yes. As of October 2026, Keepresso, Sleepless and Adrafinil are free and open source and can keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed. All three switch pmset disablesleep through an administrator helper or a scoped sudo rule. Amphetamine's Closed-Display Mode is also free, with a separate Power Protect download for Apple Silicon power changes.
Does Amphetamine still work in 2026?
Amphetamine is still free on the Mac App Store. As of October 2026 its latest listed version is 5.3.2, released November 10, 2023. For Closed-Display Mode on Apple Silicon laptops, its release notes describe Power Protect, a separate download that handles connecting and disconnecting power.
Close the lid, keep working. Try Clamshell free for 7 days. No admin rights, nothing left behind, $9.99 once if you keep it.
Download free trialApple Silicon, macOS 14+. Notarized by Apple. 3.6 MB. Or buy now, $9.99
Related guides
- Best app to keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed
- Amphetamine alternative for lid-closed Apple Silicon Macs
- LidRun vs Amphetamine vs Clamshell
- Hold My Lid vs Clamshell
- Adrafinil vs Clamshell
- Keepresso vs Clamshell
- Sleepless vs Clamshell
- Helmlet vs Clamshell
- Why caffeinate does not work with the lid closed
- Clamshell pricing
Sources checked October 5, 2026: Mac App Store listings and release notes for Amphetamine, Lungo, Caffeinated and Theine; sindresorhus.com/lungo and Lungo on Setapp; GitHub repositories and releases for KeepingYouAwake, Sleepless, Keepresso, Adrafinil and Hold My Lid; Sleepless, Keepresso, Adrafinil, Hold My Lid, Helmlet and its changelog, Awake, LidRun's pricing, FAQ and changelog; the macOS caffeinate(8) and pmset(1) manuals. Prices are the vendors' listed prices and may change. The original Caffeine app is left out because its site could not be reached. Clamshell is the publisher of this roundup. Product names belong to their respective owners.