The Stayaway blog.

How the app works, and why it works that way. Written by the people who build it, without the sales pitch.

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By the Stayaway team16 October 20266 min read
IdleBuster review (2026): features, pricing, caveats
An honest IdleBuster review from a competitor: features, pricing, platforms, what using it is like, its reviews, and where it beats Stayaway. Sourced and dated.
Guides Windows
By the Stayaway team16 October 20265 min read
LazyWork review (2026): pricing, features and caveats
An honest LazyWork review from a competitor: plans and prices, features by tier, the download, platforms, and where it beats Stayaway. Sourced and dated.
Guides Windows
By the Stayaway team7 October 20263 min read
How big is a mouse jiggler? Installer sizes measured
Stayaway's Windows installer is 4.0 MB, LazyWork's 69.9 MB and IdleBuster's 105.8 MB. The exact bytes, where each was measured, and why they differ.
Windows How it works
By the Stayaway team7 October 20264 min read
PowerToys Awake vs Caffeine vs a mouse jiggler
PowerToys Awake keeps a PC awake but presses no keys, Caffeine taps a key every 59 seconds, and a jiggler moves the mouse. What each does for Teams and Slack.
Windows Guides
By the Stayaway team6 October 20263 min read
Can mouse jigglers be detected? What trackers see
A mouse jiggler keeps your computer active, but it does not hide your work. What time trackers, IT tools and screenshots can and cannot see, honestly.
Trackers How it works
By the Stayaway team6 October 2026Updated 7 October 20263 min read
Keep your Teams and Slack status from going away
Microsoft Teams and Slack show you Away after a few idle minutes. Why it happens, the settings that change it, and what actually keeps your status green.
Guides
By the Stayaway team24 September 20262 min read
Choosing an Activity Level
Activity Levels set how busy Stayaway is once a run starts, from Ultra Low to Ultra High. What each level changes, the exact numbers, and how to pick one.
Guides How it works
By the Stayaway team24 September 20263 min read
What an activity simulator is, and what it isn't
An activity simulator makes mouse, keyboard and scroll input on your own computer so it does not go idle. How Stayaway does it, and what it will not promise.
How it works
By the Stayaway team24 September 20265 min read
What Stayaway sends us, and what it never sends
What Stayaway sends to sign you in, keep your licence current and report how the app itself is doing, what it never sends, and how long we keep it.
Privacy
By the Stayaway team24 September 20263 min read
Why Windows warns you before installing Stayaway
Stayaway's installer is not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen shows a warning. What it means, why we have not bought a certificate, and how to check the file.
Windows