ctrlhqctrlhq vs AmphetamineKeep your Mac awake, one less menu bar icon.
ctrlhq vs Amphetamine: keep your Mac awake for 30 minutes, an hour or until you say so, from the notch with ⌃⌥K. No extra menu bar app.
One-time purchase, lifetime updates
Already bought? Download
- ctrlhq
- Productivity app in the notch
- $24.99 launch price (then $29)₹1,499 launch price (then ₹1,999) · macOS 15 Sequoia+ · native, about 17 MB
- Amphetamine
- keep-awake app
- Free
Amphetamine is free and excellent, with triggers, schedules and per-app rules. If you use those, keep it.
If you just flip it on before a long download, a build or a presentation, ctrlhq has the same switch in the notch: 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours or until you turn it off, and ⌃⌥K from any app.
It can also turn the screen off while your Mac keeps working (⌃⌥⇧K), and keep running with the lid closed. That's in beta.
ctrlhq vs Amphetamine, side by side
| Feature | ctrlhq | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24.99 once (launch price, then $29) | Free |
| Keep awake for a set time | ||
| Keep awake indefinitely | ||
| Global shortcut | ⌃⌥K | |
| Keep running with the lid closed | Beta | |
| Triggers, schedules, per-app rules | ||
| Lives in | The notch | The menu bar |
Amphetamine details from its website, checked October 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Choose Amphetamine if
- You rely on triggers, schedules or per-app rules.
Choose ctrlhq if
- You want a quick keep-awake switch without another menu bar icon, next to the rest of your tools.
Lightweight by design
ctrlhq is a native Swift app, about 17 MB to download, with no background daemons or helper apps. One app that's already in your notch replaces a shelf of single-purpose ones, and every menu bar icon that came with them.
The ctrlhq features that cover Amphetamine
Questions
Is it like caffeinate?
Same idea. ctrlhq holds the same power assertion macOS uses, and lets go when the time's up.
Run it next to Amphetamine.
Every feature for $24.99 launch price (then $29)₹1,499 launch price (then ₹1,999), no subscription.
One-time purchase, lifetime updates
Already bought? Download
Amphetamine is a trademark of its owner. ctrlhq isn't affiliated with it.