Breaks

Breaks is a minimalist Pomodoro timer designed for macOS users seeking a distraction-free focus tool.

Our verdict

Who it's for

A quiet, privacy-focused Pomodoro timer for macOS that respects your attention.

Who should look elsewhere

Requires manual installation steps due to not being notarized by Apple

+Completely free and open-source with no in-app purchases
+Prioritizes user privacy with no account creation or data analytics
+Minimalist design that stays out of the way, reducing distractions
+Intelligent streak tracking that accounts for real-life interruptions like sleep and rest days
+Universal binary support for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs

−Requires manual installation steps due to not being notarized by Apple
−Lacks automatic update functionality, requiring users to manually check for new versions
−Limited to macOS only, not available on other operating systems

✓Lives quietly in the menu bar with no Dock icon or extra window
✓Tracks real focus sessions with labels and session quality (good, messy, skipped)
✓Customizable short and long break suggestions
✓Optional export of completed focus blocks to Apple Calendar
✓"Honest streaks" system with a weekly rest-day budget and idle time prompts
✓Global hotkeys for starting, pausing, skipping, and resetting sessions
✓Configurable settings for durations, sounds, hotkeys, and idle threshold

No public pricing plans recorded.