Alternative to BreakTimer
BreakTimer is a simple free and open-source app for Windows, macOS and Linux. You set how often and how long, and it shows a notification or a fullscreen break with your own text and colours.
What they have in common
Both are free and open source, run on all three desktop systems, know your working hours and count being away as rest.
| Feature | Unslouch | BreakTimer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Source code | Open source, MIT | Open source, GPL-3.0 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, plus free tools in the browser | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Eye breaks | Every 20 min one small exercise, then look more than 6 m (20 ft) away for 20 s | Configurable interval and length, as a notification or a fullscreen break |
| Exercises | Animated exercises by body part: eyes, neck, back, hands, legs, breathing. With sources and when to see a doctor | not checked |
| Posture, blink, water | Gentle cues without windows: screen edges darken to blink, a posture banner, a water card | not checked |
| Calls and meetings | Waits while another program uses the camera or microphone | not checked |
| Fullscreen, Do Not Disturb | Waits in fullscreen and Do Not Disturb, outside work hours, during Focus 25/50 | Working hours; the timer resets when you are idle |
| Statistics | Time at the computer, longest sitting stretch, streaks, year heatmap, achievements, time per program. All on your computer | not checked |
| Languages | 15 | not checked |
| Data collection | Nothing is collected | not checked |
Checked on 27 September 2026 against official sites and app store pages. Prices and features change: if something is out of date, write to us and we'll fix it.
When BreakTimer may suit you better
- You need one simple timer and nothing else.
- You want to write your own break message and pick colours.
What Unslouch does
- Free
- Open source, MIT
- macOS, Windows, Linux, plus free tools in the browser
- Every 20 min one small exercise, then look more than 6 m (20 ft) away for 20 s
- Animated exercises by body part: eyes, neck, back, hands, legs, breathing. With sources and when to see a doctor
- Gentle cues without windows: screen edges darken to blink, a posture banner, a water card
- Waits while another program uses the camera or microphone
- Waits in fullscreen and Do Not Disturb, outside work hours, during Focus 25/50
- Time at the computer, longest sitting stretch, streaks, year heatmap, achievements, time per program. All on your computer
- Nothing is collected
Alternative to Stretchly · Alternative to LookAway · Alternative to Time Out · Alternative to DeskBreak