The primary difference between the two versions is that System Scheduler Professional can run as a Windows Service, allowing automation scripts and backups to execute even when a user is logged off or the computer is locked. Conversely, the Free version requires a user to remain actively logged into Windows to run tasks.
You can download both versions or evaluate the software directly through the official Splinterware System Scheduler Page. Key Differences At a Glance Free Version Professional Version Price ~$30 (One-off perpetual license) Run Mode Only while user is logged in Windows Service (Runs when logged off) App Automation Basic launch, keypresses, mouse clicks Advanced sequences with wait commands System Watchers Window Watcher only File, Process, Window, and Service Watchers Notifications On-screen popup reminders Automated emails with attachments Power Control Local shutdown / reboot Remote power management + Wake-on-LAN In-Depth Feature Analysis 1. Windows Service Integration
Free: Runs as a standard system tray application. If you lock your PC or log out, your scheduled events will fail to trigger.
Professional: Runs in the background as an NT service. It initiates immediately at system boot before anyone logs in, offering the enterprise reliability required for servers. 2. Advanced System “Watchers”
Free: Includes the basic Window Watcher. It looks for specific error windows or pop-ups and automatically dismisses them.
Professional: Expands automation to include File Watchers (triggers actions if a file appears or changes in a folder), Process Watchers (restarts closed apps), and Service Watchers (monitors background infrastructure). 3. Sequence Execution & Conditions Free: Triggers isolated, independent actions.
Professional: Chain multiple events sequentially. You can program a secondary task to wait until the first task finishes completely. It also includes date/time restrictions to block tasks on holidays or weekends. 4. Alerts and Communication Free: Relies solely on visual, on-screen pop-up reminders.
Professional: Sends automated emails with attachments, custom subjects, and bodies. It supports modern secure protocols like OAuth2 to alert you immediately if a remote script fails. 5. Remote and Power Management
Free: Limited to executing tasks on your local desktop session.
Professional: Shuts down, reboots, or sleeps remote network computers. It can also send Wake-on-LAN commands to wake sleeping hardware across your network.
If you would like to test the premium features in your local environment, Splinterware provides a fully functional 30-day evaluation version on the Splinterware Downloads Portal.
Are you planning to run this on a personal desktop or a network server? Let me know what types of tasks you need to automate so I can recommend the right version for your needs. System Scheduler – Splinterware
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