CHECKED
cctop helps you monitor AI coding sessions and jump back to the right workspace. Vigil keeps your Mac awake while supported agents work, then releases its hold when they finish, fail, or wait too long.
Both show agent status in a Mac menu bar. That overlap can make them look interchangeable. The question is whether you need help returning to work or keeping the Mac awake while you are away.
THE DIFFERENCE AT A GLANCE
| Behavior | cctop | Vigil |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Monitor sessions and return to the right workspace. | Prevent idle sleep while supported agents need protection. |
| Keep-awake policy | No keep-awake feature in the reviewed source. | Work keeps the hold active; input waits get 5–30 minutes of grace. |
| Navigation | Keyboard navigation and host-specific pane, tab, thread, or project targets. | A session-card row can bring its resolved host app forward. |
| Session tools | Recent projects, a draggable panel, and worktree cleanup. | Current sessions, waiting countdowns, and sub-agent status. |
| Agent families | Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and pi, with supported desktop workflows. | Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Copilot CLI, pi, and OpenCode. |
| Distribution | Open source under the MIT license. | Paid app: $3.99 once, for two Macs. |
IF THE HARD PART IS FINDING THE RIGHT SESSION
cctop is the closer fit. Its Navigate mode gives session cards numbered shortcuts. Its focus strategies can target a terminal pane, tab, desktop thread, or editor project, depending on the host.
That targeting has conditions. Some terminals require Automation permission or additional configuration. An unsupported target can fall back to app activation or opening the project folder. cctop's own documentation explains the supported hosts and fallbacks.
Vigil deliberately stops at app activation. It does not offer cctop's keyboard-driven session switcher, recent-project browser, or worktree removal tools. Buy Vigil for sleep protection, not as a replacement for those features.
IF THE HARD PART IS LEAVING THE MAC ALONE
You start a coding agent, step away, and want the Mac to stay awake while the agent works. If the agent asks a question, you also want the hold to end rather than last all evening.
Vigil connects supported agents through lifecycle hooks. Working sessions keep its sleep-prevention assertion active. A waiting session gets a configurable grace period. Once no tracked session needs protection, Vigil releases its assertion and normal macOS sleep behavior can resume.
The menu bar and optional session card at the top of the screen explain the current state. The display can still sleep unless you enable the separate display-protection option. Vigil requires macOS 14 or newer and an activated license.
It does not override lid-close sleep or explicit Sleep. A session that reports nothing for 30 minutes, including its sub-agents, stops holding the Mac awake. These are boundaries of the protection, not promises to keep every job running indefinitely.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Does cctop keep my Mac awake?
The cctop source reviewed for this comparison provides session monitoring and navigation, not a sleep-prevention policy. Its status display alone is not a substitute for a keep-awake tool.
Do I have to replace cctop to use Vigil?
The products have different roles. Vigil's installer preserves other tools' unmarked hooks. This comparison does not claim that every combination of app versions and integrations was tested together.
What if I only need a timed hold?
Use the built-in caffeinate command or a general-purpose keep-awake app. Vigil has no manual keep-awake timer or permanent on switch.
CHOOSE BY THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE
Choose cctop for navigation
You want to find waiting sessions, jump to supported workspace targets, or return to recent projects.
Choose Vigil for sleep protection
You want supported agents' work and input waits to determine how long the Mac stays awake.
Vigil has no trial. A purchase includes a 30-day refund period.
SOURCES AND RELATED COMPARISONS
Based on cctop's product site, cctop source at 4ee2258, and Vigil's implementation. This is a source and documentation comparison, not a performance benchmark. Both products can change.