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AwakeTab vs caffeinate

If the job runs in Terminal, such as a build, a script or an AI agent, use caffeinate: it is built into macOS, holds the Mac awake whatever window is in front, and lets go when the command exits. If you want a button, a session that ends at a set time, or a status you can read at a glance, AwakeTab does that from a visible browser tab.

Sources checked Saturday, 26 September 20263 min readBy Soubhik Biswas

Side by side

Both hold a power assertion, a note to macOS that says "don't sleep yet". caffeinate creates one from Terminal; Chrome creates the same kind while a visible page keeps the screen on. The difference is what ends it: a command or Control-C for caffeinate, the tab's visibility and your chosen time for AwakeTab. Rows marked Same are real ties.

How it keeps the Mac awakeAwakeTab: Screen Wake Lock API; Chrome holds a "no display sleep" power assertioncaffeinate: A power assertion from Terminal: -i stops idle sleep, -di also keeps the display on
With the tab hidden or the window coveredAwakeTab: Stops. The pill says "Paused — tab hidden" and asks again when you return.caffeinate: Keeps holding, whatever window is in front
Screen off, Mac awakeAwakeTab: No, it keeps the display oncaffeinate: Yes, with caffeinate -i
When it endsAwakeTab: At the time you pick, or when you stop itcaffeinate: When you press Control-C, or when the command it runs exits
What you seeAwakeTab: A pill that says "Screen awake" only once the browser grants the lockcaffeinate: The Terminal window running it
With the lid closedSameAwakeTab: Sleeps, unless in clamshell modecaffeinate: Sleeps, unless in clamshell mode
InstallAwakeTab: None, open a web pagecaffeinate: None, part of macOS
PlatformsAwakeTab: Chrome and Edge 84+, Firefox 126+, Safari 16.4+caffeinate: macOS
Facts checkedSameAwakeTab: 26 September 2026caffeinate: 26 September 2026

When caffeinate is the better choice

It is the operating system's own tool, and for these jobs it is the simplest fix.

  1. The job is a command in TerminalPut it in front of the command: caffeinate -i npm run build or caffeinate -i claude. The Mac stays awake until the command exits, then lets go by itself.
  2. You want the Mac awake with the screen offcaffeinate -i holds off idle sleep and lets the display turn off. A wake lock always keeps the display lit.
  3. You work full screen in other appscaffeinate works whatever window is in front. A browser tab loses its lock the moment you switch away.

When AwakeTab is the better choice

These are the jobs AwakeTab was built for.

  1. You'd rather press a buttonNo Terminal and no flags. Open the page, pick a length and press Start.
  2. You want it to end at a timePick 30 min, 1 h or a clock time such as 11:30 AM. Hidden time doesn't count toward a timed session.
  3. You want to see that it's workingThe pill turns to "Screen awake" once your browser has granted the lock, not when you press the button.
  4. You are not on a MacAwakeTab works in Chrome and Edge on Windows, in Chrome on Android, and in Safari 16.4 or later on iPhone and iPad.
  5. You want a hidden tab to countOn desktop Chrome or Edge, AwakeTab for Chrome uses Chrome's own power setting, so it keeps working with the tab hidden.

Neither one keeps a closed MacBook awake

Closing the lid is a direct request to sleep, not idle time, so caffeinate with its usual options, the browser and AwakeTab for Chrome all stop there. The exception is clamshell mode, with power and an external display: see keeping a Mac awake with the lid closed.

Check which one is holding your Mac awake

Run pmset -g assertions in Terminal. It lists every process asking macOS not to sleep. caffeinate -i shows up as PreventUserIdleSystemSleep. With AwakeTab showing "Screen awake" in Chrome, the browser holds a PreventUserIdleDisplaySleep or NoDisplaySleep entry. Hide the tab, run it again, and the browser's line is gone.

Try it hereTry itStart a session, switch tabs, then come back and watch the pill. No end time: it keeps the screen on until you stop it.Start this session

Questions

caffeinate -i keeps the Mac awake and lets the screen turn off. caffeinate -di also stops display sleep, so the screen stays lit until you press Control-C. Either one can wrap a command, such as caffeinate -di codex.

Soubhik Biswas · Builds AwakeTab. Sources checked Saturday, 26 September 2026. About AwakeTab