Heart
Too much sitting is bad for your health
Sitting for long hours may raise your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. This is true even if you exercise.
NHS, United KingdomLong days at a desk need regular breaks.
Reminds you to get up, look away and stretch.
- macOS 12 or later
- Windows 10 or later
- Two free sessions, no card
- Break history stays on your computer
Digital eye strain
Long days at a screen can make your eyes tired.
About seven in ten screen users say their eyes feel tired or strained. When a screen is close to you, the small muscles that focus your eyes keep working. You also blink less.
Every 20 minutes, look at something far away for 20 seconds.
In a small study, this made eyes feel less strained. When people stopped, the strain came back. BetterBreaks reminds you when it is time.
The 20-20-20 rule, from the American Optometric Association
Read the eye researchThe science
Built on published research.
Posture
Long sitting tires your neck and back
Sitting for a long time slows blood flow to the muscles in your neck and back. Changing your position often helps.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and SafetyMoving
A short walk every hour helps
Every 40 to 50 minutes, get up and walk for about 5 minutes.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and SafetyEvery day
Break up long periods of sitting
Keep your sitting to 8 hours a day or less, and take breaks in between.
Canadian Society for Exercise PhysiologySet it up once, and it runs by itself.
1
Pick a rhythm
Choose one of four rhythms, from a 20 second look out of the window to 90 minutes of deep work. Change it any time from the menu bar or the system tray.
2
Work as normal
You do not need to open BetterBreaks while you work. It pauses when you leave your computer, and it waits while you are in a call.
3
Take the break
Get a full screen reminder when you want a strong reminder, or a small notification when you do not. You can skip a break. It will remind you again next time.
Choose a rhythm that fits your work.
| Mode | Work | Break | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-20-20 | 20 min | 20 sec | Long days on screen, when your eyes get tired first. |
| Pomodoro | 25 min | 5 min | Good for tasks you keep delaying. You work in short blocks of time with a clear end. |
| Ikigai Flow | 45 min | 10 min | Focused work that needs longer periods without a break. |
| Marathon | 90 min | 15 min | Long, focused work, where stopping often would break your focus. |
With Pro you set your own work time, break length and number of rounds.
Two free sessions, then choose a plan.
Free
$0
- Two full sessions to try it
- All four break rhythms
- Full screen or notification reminders
Pro
$49.99 a year
- No limit on sessions
- Your own work and break times
- Reports for the day, week and month
Forever
$249.99 once
- Everything in Pro
- One payment. Nothing renews
- All future updates included
Before you download
Something else? Write to support@betterbreaks.app.
What do I get for free?
Two full sessions, with every rhythm and both kinds of reminder. A session starts each time you press Start or Resume. After two sessions, the app asks you to choose Pro or Forever. You do not need a card to try it.
Does it work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. It runs on macOS 12 or later and on Windows 10 or later. Sign in with the same account on both computers, and your plan works on both.
Will it interrupt my calls?
It tries not to. When your camera or microphone is in use, it waits until the call ends. It also pauses when you leave your computer, and starts again when you come back.
What do you store about me?
Your email address, your plan and how many free sessions you have used. If the app crashes, it sends us a crash report so we can fix the problem. We do not sell your information. The details are in our Privacy Policy.
Can I get my money back?
Yes. Ask within 15 days of paying and we refund the full amount. This is true for Pro, for each yearly renewal and for Forever. See the Refund Policy.
Is this medical advice?
No. BetterBreaks reminds you to take breaks. It is not a medical device, and it does not diagnose or treat anything. If your eyes, neck or back hurt, talk to a doctor.
Try BetterBreaks free on your computer.
BetterBreaks for Mac and Windows. Two sessions are free, and you do not need a card.