| App | Platforms · Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pati & Hav | Mac, Windows · free with three pets, optional one-time packs | People who ignore notifications: a cat or a dog lies on your keyboard until the break is over, and waits for your calls |
| Stretchly | macOS, Windows, Linux · free, open source | Mini and long breaks on every platform, with break ideas |
| Time Out | Mac · free core, optional supporter purchases or Premium | Power users: micro, normal and custom breaks, rules, scripts and statistics |
| LookAway | Mac (+ iPhone/iPad) · one-time licence from $19 | A polished Mac app that pauses for meetings, video and games, with posture and blink reminders |
| BreakTimer | macOS, Windows, Linux · free, open source | A simple configurable break with working hours and idle reset |
| Workrave | Windows, Linux · free, open source | Micro breaks, rest breaks and a daily limit, with detailed statistics |
| Pandan | Mac · free | Gentle time awareness: shows how long you've been at the computer |
Facts from each app's official website, store listing or README (checked November 2026). Prices in USD where shown.
How to choose
- You use Linux: Stretchly, BreakTimer or Workrave.
- You want maximum control on a Mac: Time Out.
- You're in meetings all day: LookAway on Mac, or Pati and Hav on Mac and Windows; both wait for calls.
- You keep dismissing reminders: Pati or Hav. A pet on your keyboard is hard to ignore.
- You just want to notice time passing: Pandan.
Pati and Hav in one minute
Set a work time and a break time. 60 seconds before each break your cat or dog peeks in; then it walks onto the screen, lies on your keyboard and plays with you until the break is over. On a call, the break waits. There's no account and nothing is tracked.
Pati · The Break Cat
Hav · The Break Dog
Questions
Which break reminder app is free?
Stretchly, BreakTimer, Workrave and Pandan are free. Time Out has a free core app. Pati and Hav are free with three pets, with optional one-time packs.
Which ones work on both Mac and Windows?
Pati and Hav, Stretchly and BreakTimer. Time Out, LookAway and Pandan are Mac only; Workrave is Windows and Linux.
Which apps wait for meetings?
LookAway and Time Out (Mac) and Pati and Hav (Mac and Windows) can hold breaks during calls. Stretchly pauses while Do Not Disturb is on.