StayUp
keep a Mac awake (lid closed) while AI agents are working
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What is StayUp?
StayUp is a small macOS menu-bar utility for Apple Silicon Macs that keeps your machine awake when the lid is closed. The website positions it as a way to let local AI agents, model servers, renders, and downloads keep running without interruption.
It is designed for people who want their MacBook to behave more like a always-on mini workstation. The product focuses on a simple workflow: close the lid, keep the system awake, and let long-running tasks continue.
A major emphasis on the site is privacy and simplicity. The listing says it is a free Mac menu-bar Duck and explicitly mentions no telemetry, which suggests the app is built to be lightweight and local-first.
StayUp appears to be aimed at developers, AI users, creators, and power users who run tasks that should not stop when the laptop lid closes. It is especially relevant for people using their Mac as a host for local services or compute-heavy jobs.
StayUp pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
The website presents StayUp as free. The homepage text says it is a free Mac menu-bar Duck for Apple Silicon, and the site also indicates no telemetry. No paid tiers, subscriptions, or premium feature split are shown on the website content that was available.
StayUp pros
- Keeps Apple Silicon Macs awake with the lid closed
- Useful for local AI agents
- Useful for model servers
- Useful for renders
- Useful for downloads
- Menu-bar access for quick control
- Free to use
- No telemetry
- Simple, task-focused purpose
- Lightweight utility rather than a full suite
- Works well as a MacBook-to-Mac-mini style workaround
- Good for unattended long-running jobs
- Designed for local-first workflows
- Fits developer and creator use cases
- Reduces interruptions from sleep mode
StayUp cons
- Only targets Apple Silicon Macs
- Mac-specific, not cross-platform
- Focused on one narrow use case
- Not a full power-management suite
- May be unnecessary for users who never close the lid
- Potentially redundant with other wake/sleep tools
- No evidence of advanced scheduling options on the site
- No clear mention of enterprise features
- No clear mention of multi-device support
- May depend on macOS behavior and hardware limits
Frequently asked questions about StayUp
What does StayUp do?
StayUp keeps a Mac awake when the lid is closed so long-running tasks can continue running. The website specifically frames it as a tool for keeping local AI agents, model servers, renders, and downloads alive.
Which Macs is StayUp for?
The website says it is for Apple Silicon Macs. No support for Intel Macs or other platforms is mentioned.
Is StayUp free?
Yes. The homepage describes it as a free Mac menu-bar Duck. No paid plans or subscription pricing are shown on the site content that was available.
Does StayUp collect telemetry?
The site explicitly says no telemetry. That suggests it is designed to be privacy-friendly and avoid sending usage data back to a server.
What kinds of tasks is StayUp useful for?
It is positioned for tasks that should keep running while the laptop is closed, especially local AI agents, model servers, render jobs, and downloads. The product message is centered on uninterrupted background work.
Is StayUp a full battery or sleep manager?
No full battery-management suite is described on the website. The focus is narrower: keep the Mac awake when needed, rather than provide a broad set of power automation features.
How do you control StayUp?
The website describes it as a menu-bar utility, which implies quick access from the macOS menu bar. The public site content does not describe more advanced control surfaces.
Why would someone use StayUp instead of just leaving the Mac open?
StayUp is meant for people who want the laptop lid closed while work continues. That makes it useful when the Mac is acting like a small always-on workstation for agents, downloads, or rendering.
Does StayUp support Windows or Linux?
No cross-platform support is mentioned. The site only presents it as a macOS utility for Apple Silicon.
Is StayUp meant for casual users or power users?
It is most clearly aimed at power users, developers, and AI users who run long jobs locally. The homepage language about agents, model servers, renders, and downloads points to a technical workflow.