A Move Mouse alternative that does more than move
Move Mouse is a free, open-source mouse mover. Here is what it does, where it wins, and what Stayaway adds for keeping a computer active.
Last checked 2026-10-06.
Move Mouse is a free, open-source Windows tool that moves the pointer on a timer and runs scheduled scripts. Stayaway adds human-like motion, keyboard and scroll activity, Auto Detect and Smart Resume — and still has a free plan for mouse activity.
| Stayaway | Move Mouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, or Pro $9.99/mo, $99/yr or $178 once | Free (donationware), open-source |
| Platforms | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows |
| Mouse movement | Curved, eased paths with pauses, the way a hand moves | Moves the pointer on a timer |
| Keyboard and scroll activity | Yes (Pro) | Not as activity; it runs scheduled actions and scripts instead |
| Auto Detect (starts when you go idle) | Yes (Pro) | Scheduling and blackout windows, not an idle-triggered start |
| Smart Resume (stops when you return) | Yes (Pro) | Not documented |
| Emergency Stop | Yes — Alt+X, from any app | Not documented |
| Distribution | Direct download and GitHub releases, with a published SHA-256 | Microsoft Store and GitHub |
| Code signing | Not yet signed — Windows shows a SmartScreen warning | Signed through the Microsoft Store |
Where Move Mouse is the better pick
Move Mouse is a free, open-source Windows tool that moves the pointer on a timer and can run scheduled actions and PowerShell scripts.
- Free and open-source — every feature, at no cost.
- Runs PowerShell scripts and custom actions on a schedule.
- Distributed through the Microsoft Store, so it installs without a SmartScreen warning.
Comparing the paid tools too? See LazyWork vs IdleBuster vs Stayaway.
Questions
Is Move Mouse free?
- Yes. Move Mouse is free and open-source (donationware). Stayaway also has a free plan for mouse activity, with its Pro features — keyboard, scroll, Auto Detect and more — on a trial, then paid.
What does Stayaway add over Move Mouse?
- Human-like mouse motion rather than timer movement, plus keyboard and scroll activity, Auto Detect that starts when you go idle, and Smart Resume that stops the instant you return. Move Mouse focuses on scheduled movement and scripts.
Is Caffeine a good alternative too?
- It depends what you need. Caffeine for Windows keeps a computer awake by simulating a keypress every 59 seconds (the F15 key by default, by its own description), which resets the idle timer. It is one key on a fixed timer, though: no mouse movement, and nothing that starts when you step away or stops when you return. Microsoft's PowerToys Awake is different again: it keeps the computer and screen awake but presses no keys, so the idle timer keeps counting.
Does Stayaway stop a tracker from seeing my work?
- No. Like any mouse mover, Stayaway keeps the computer registering as active; it does not change screenshots, app or website logs, or the activity a tracker records, and makes no claim to do so.
Sources
Move Mouse facts were read from the vendor's own pages (checked 2026-10-06), except where a source below says otherwise.
Try the lighter one.
Stayaway is a small Windows app with a free plan, Auto Detect, Smart Resume, and an honest answer about what a tracker can still see.