At a glance
Presence Scheduler: sets your Slack presence to auto at regular intervals through the Slack API (its site mentions both 5 and 15 minutes); its optional Chrome extension runs a hidden Slack tab on your computer, and the site notes you may still show offline without it; $3 a month with a minimum one-year term, or $250 lifetime; 7-day free trial; Slack only.
OnlineHours: the connector is used once to create a connection code, then the schedule runs from OnlineHours servers with the browser closed; Slack, ClickUp and Teams; timed Slack status; Slack $3.49 a month or $29.99 a year; 7-day trial for one app.
Why “auto” matters
In Slack’s API, auto returns presence to Slack’s automatic rules rather than forcing active, so the 10-minute away rule applies again. That is why tools built only on the presence API often need something else alongside it.
When Presence Scheduler is the better fit
Price: $3 a month is less than OnlineHours’ $3.49 for Slack, though it comes with a one-year minimum term; over a year OnlineHours is $29.99 for one app. If you would rather pay once, Presence Scheduler has a $250 lifetime plan and OnlineHours has none.
If your computer is on during work anyway, its optional extension keeping a Slack tab open there costs you nothing extra. Both offer a 7-day free trial.
More options: OnlineHours compared with Stay Green On Slack and Slack Green, and the full list of apps that keep Slack active.
Switching to OnlineHours
Stop Presence Scheduler first, so two tools are not changing your Slack presence at the same time. Then add the free OnlineHours Connector to Chrome, open Slack in a Chrome tab, create a connection code and paste it into Apps on your OnlineHours dashboard.
The connection starts paused. Set your hours, add a Slack status if you want one, and switch it on. The 7-day trial for one app needs no card, and nothing is charged automatically when it ends.
Keep your status on your hours, laptop closed
OnlineHours sets Slack, Teams or ClickUp to online from its servers during the hours you choose, and stops outside them.
Presence Scheduler costs less per month and offers a lifetime plan. OnlineHours fits when you want no tab running on your computer, plus Teams or ClickUp.
One app, no card. Nothing is charged when it ends.
Common questions
Can I run Presence Scheduler and OnlineHours together?
It is better not to. Two tools setting your Slack presence can work against each other; stop one before you start the other.
Do I need to keep a browser open for OnlineHours?
No. After you paste the connection code, the schedule runs from our servers.