Nightcap

Shutdown Timer Classic alternative

Nightcap is a free Shutdown Timer Classic alternative built for falling asleep to a show. It fades your screen and sound out slowly, then puts the computer to sleep.

Shutdown Timer Classic is a solid open-source power timer for Windows. Nightcap does a different job, on Mac and Linux as well as Windows.

Download Nightcap

For Mac, Windows and Linux. Free and open source. Works offline, no account needed.

Shutdown Timer Classic alternative: the Nightcap window counting down 32 minutes, set to dim the screen and lower the volume before sleep

How they compare

NightcapShutdown Timer ClassicWise Auto ShutdownSleepr
Runs onMac, Windows, LinuxWindowsWindowsMac
PriceFreeFreeFreePaid
Open sourceYesYesNoNo public code
Fades screen and soundYesNoNoNot listed

Details for other apps come from their own listings as of October 2026.

It fades out instead of switching off

Shutdown Timer Classic and Wise Auto Shutdown leave the screen bright and the sound loud until the second the PC turns off.

Nightcap dims the screen from 20 minutes before the end and lowers the volume from 15 minutes before, so a show trails off while you drift off.

Sleep keeps your work open

Choose Sleep, Hibernate or Shut Down. With Sleep, nothing is force-closed.

When you wake the computer, Nightcap puts the brightness and volume back where they were.

One app on every computer

Mac, Windows and Linux. Sleepr is Mac only, and the other two are Windows only.

Free and open source

MIT or Apache 2.0 licensed, no account, no ads, and it works offline.

When to stay put

Keep Shutdown Timer Classic to restart or lock on a timer, or to start timers from scripts. Wise Auto Shutdown and Sleepr can repeat every night, which Nightcap doesn't.

Try Nightcap tonight

Download Nightcap

For Mac, Windows and Linux. Free and open source. Works offline, no account needed.

More ways to use Nightcap

All use cases · User guide