Breaks is a free, open-source Pomodoro timer that lives quietly in your Mac menu bar. It offers a focused, distraction-free experience with features like a focus journal, streaks, and on-device AI weekly reviews—all while ensuring your data never leaves your Mac. Built for macOS 13+, it combines simplicity with powerful productivity tools.
Breaks
A quiet Pomodoro that lives in your menu bar.
Breaks Introduction
Key Features
- Menu bar timer that stays out of your way
- Focus journal and streak tracking with pause-day budget
- Global hotkeys for quick control
- Optional Calendar export for completed sessions
- On-device AI weekly review powered by Apple Intelligence
Use Cases
- Developers who need to maintain deep focus during coding sessions
- Freelancers and remote workers tracking productive hours
- Students managing study sessions with built-in break reminders
- Writers and creatives who benefit from the Pomodoro technique
Why Startups Use It
Startups can adopt Breaks to enhance team focus without compromising privacy or budget. As a free, open-source tool with no telemetry or cloud dependency, it integrates seamlessly into any workflow. Its streak and journal features help individuals maintain consistent productivity, which is critical in fast-paced startup environments.
Alternative Options
TickTick, Rize, DeskMinder, Balance: Mindful time tracking, Focus@Will
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Breaks really free?
Yes, Breaks is completely free and open source under the MIT license.
How does the AI weekly review work?
The review uses on-device Apple Intelligence to analyze your focus sessions and provide insights—your data never leaves your Mac.
Can I export completed sessions to my calendar?
Yes, starting in v1.1, you can enable optional Calendar export in settings (requires macOS permission).
What happens if I walk away from my Mac during a session?
Breaks detects idle time and asks whether the elapsed time should still count toward your session.
How do streaks work when I miss a day?
Each ISO week has a configurable pause-day budget that absorbs missed days before the streak starts decaying.
Alternative Tools
More About Breaks
PricingPaid
Category DescriptionTools to boost personal and team productivity, covering task management, collaboration, notes, automation, and workflow optimization.
Listed DateJul 06, 2026
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