Power · 5 min read
Amphetamine vs Tegaro
Tegaro is better if battery and load readouts are the need and simple keep-awake rules are enough. Amphetamine is the dedicated keep-awake tool.
Both can keep your Mac awake: Amphetamine is the dedicated tool, while Tegaro adds keep awake to battery, load and eight other tools. Here is what each does during long downloads and renders.
Tegaro and Amphetamine overlap on keeping a Mac awake, and differ everywhere else. Amphetamine is a dedicated keep-awake app with timers and rules, for example staying awake while certain apps run or while connected to a certain Wi-Fi network. Since version 0.1.31 Tegaro has keep awake too: manual (30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours, until a time you pick, or until you turn it off), or automatic while chosen apps are open, an AI agent works, the Mac downloads or is busy, you are on a call, an external display is connected or the adapter is plugged in (the agent, download, busy and call rules came in 0.1.32), with a battery floor, a pause while the screen is locked, a reminder before a timer ends, a shortcut and an optional menu-bar cup. Its Power tool also shows battery charge, charging wattage, time to full or remaining, battery health, cycle count and temperature, plus CPU, memory and disk load, all in one menu-bar icon. If you need Wi-Fi-based or finer rules, keep Amphetamine; otherwise Tegaro's keep awake covers the common cases.
Free power readouts
Battery, adapter and normal Power information remain available after the trial.
CPU and memory beside battery
Power keeps load information beside battery data.
No extra app to install
These readouts live inside the existing Tegaro menu-bar app.
At a glance
| Capability | Amphetamine | Tegaro |
|---|---|---|
| Keep your Mac awake Closing the lid still sleeps the Mac; Amphetamine is the dedicated tool | Yes, with timers and rules | Yes, since 0.1.31: manual, on a timer or until a time, or while chosen apps run, an AI agent works, the Mac downloads or is busy, you are on a call, an external display is connected or the adapter is plugged in (agent, download, busy and call rules since 0.1.32) |
| Battery charge limit (80%) Neither caps charging; macOS Optimized Battery Charging can | No | No |
| Battery and power information Power stays free after the trial | No | Yes: charge, charging wattage, time to full or remaining, battery health, cycle count and temperature |
| Mac load (CPU, memory, disk) Free after the trial | No | Yes, in the Power tool |
| Rules for when to stay awake Amphetamine is built for this and offers more | Yes. For example by app, Wi-Fi network or connected display | Yes, fewer: chosen apps, an AI agent, a download, a busy Mac, a call, an external display or the power adapter, with a battery floor and a pause while locked; no Wi-Fi rule |
| Menu bar space Fewer icons in the menu bar | Its own menu-bar icon | Part of one icon with eight other tools |
| Scope Tegaro adds screenshots, clipboard, typing fix and more | One job: keeping your Mac awake | Ten tools in one app |
| Pricing All 10 tools free for the first 14 days | Free on Mac App Store | 14-day all-tools trial; Free limits; Pro: $1.99 first month, then $4.99/month, $29.99/year or $100 lifetime |
When to Choose Amphetamine
People who want fine control over when their Mac stays awake, such as timers or rules based on apps, Wi-Fi networks or connected displays.
When to Choose Tegaro
MacBook and desktop users who want battery charge, charging wattage, battery health and CPU, memory and disk load in the same menu-bar icon as clipboard, typing and display tools, and who want a keep-awake switch with simple rules in the same app.
Tegaro tools, one icon
Typing · Clipboard · Screenshots · Dictation · Displays · Power · Disk · Sound · AI Usage · Critter
Current Tegaro access
Try every Pro tool for 14 days without a card or account. Afterward, Free keeps Classic, Cat and Dog, Power, Sound, AI Usage, normal Displays and Disk analysis; it includes 100 successful automatic layout fixes per calendar month and 2,000 delivered dictation words per Monday-starting week. Pro unlocks Clipboard, Screenshots, Disk cleanup and app removal, unlimited layout automation and dictation, more critters and compatible EDR brightness. A $100 lifetime license covers one person on up to three Macs.
Pricing and terms: Amphetamine
Free on Mac App Store
Tegaro: 14-day trial; Pro is $1.99 for the first month, then $4.99/month, $29.99/year, or $100 lifetime for one license on up to three Macs. Post-trial module access varies by module. Check Amphetamine's official page for its current price and regional terms.
Offers: Amphetamine
No public promotion is asserted here; check the official checkout for current offers.
Tegaro trial offer
Eligible trial users may receive a one-time 30% annual or lifetime offer valid for 48 hours. It is optional, not a promised public price.
Privacy and footprint
Tegaro runs its core typing, clipboard and downloaded-model dictation workflows locally. AI usage may query Claude or Codex providers using existing authentication; licensing checks, downloads, updates and opted-in email have separate network behaviour. Review each product’s privacy documentation for the feature you use.
Native macOS app built with Swift.
Core typing, copied-content and downloaded-model dictation workflows stay local. Licensing, optional renewal lookups, model downloads, opted-in diagnostics and direct AI-provider checks are separate network actions. AI Usage uses existing provider sign-in and does not send provider credentials to Tegaro.
How to Switch from Amphetamine to Tegaro
- Install Tegaro and open the Power tool from the menu bar to see battery charge, charging wattage and battery health.
- Keep Amphetamine if you need its rules, or try Tegaro's keep awake (Settings, Power, Keep awake, or the cup in the menu). For a one-off long task you can also run caffeinate -i in Terminal.
- Check Tegaro's charging wattage and CPU, memory and disk load during long renders to see how hard the Mac is working.
- Remove any separate battery or system-monitor menu bar apps that Tegaro now covers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tegaro keep my MacBook awake?
Yes, since version 0.1.31. Settings, Power, Keep awake keeps the Mac from idle-sleeping until you turn it off, for 30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours or until a time you pick, or by itself while chosen apps are open, an AI agent works, the Mac downloads or is busy, you are on a call (these four came in 0.1.32), an external display is connected or the adapter is plugged in. You can also use Amphetamine, or run caffeinate -i in Terminal until you press Control-C. Closing the lid still sleeps the Mac, and with the lid closed, macOS stays awake on its own when the MacBook is connected to power, an external display, and a keyboard or mouse.
Does Tegaro limit MacBook charging to 80%?
No. Tegaro shows charge, charging wattage, time to full, battery health, cycle count and temperature, but it does not change how the battery charges. macOS Optimized Battery Charging (System Settings, Battery, Battery Health) can hold charging at 80% on its own, and dedicated apps such as AlDente go further.
Is Amphetamine free while Tegaro requires a purchase?
Amphetamine is free. Tegaro's Power tool, with battery wattage, health and CPU, memory and disk load, stays free after the 14-day trial, along with Displays, AI usage and Disk analysis. Layout keeps unlimited manual fixes and 100 automatic fixes per calendar month, and Dictation 2,000 words per week. Clipboard, Screenshots, Disk cleanup and app removal, extra Critters and brightness above 100% on XDR displays need Pro: $1.99 first month, then $4.99/month, $29.99/year or $100 lifetime. Tegaro's keep awake covers the common cases and is free after the trial; Amphetamine remains the dedicated tool with more rules.
Sources and disclosure
Published by Tegaro. App information is checked against the linked official pages on the date shown. Checked: 2026-10-07.