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LookAway pauses for meetings and video, then locks your iPhone so you actually step away. 2.4 adds remaining time on the lock screen. BreakTimer is a free open-source timer for Windows, Mac, and Linux that fires on the schedule you set — here's where each one wins on a Mac.
Quick verdict
Keep BreakTimer if you just want a free timer that also works on Windows. LookAway if you want it to skip meetings and lock the iPhone when the Mac break starts.
| Feature | LookAway | BreakTimer |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Mac as your main machine. You want meetings skipped and the phone locked. | A free timer that also runs on Windows and Linux. |
| Price | $19 single / $29 personal, pay once. 7-day trial. Also on Setapp. | Free and open source. No commercial/enterprise support. |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 13+). iPhone/iPad via Mirror. Windows has not shipped. | Windows, macOS, Linux. Windows build is unsigned (More info → Run anyway). |
| Breaks | Short and long, heads-up, snooze limits, idle counted as a natural break. | Frequency, duration, working hours, notification or fullscreen break, custom colors and messages. |
| Smart timing | Pauses during meetings, calls, video, screen recording, deep focus apps, and fullscreen games. | Can restart the countdown if it thinks you haven't been using the computer. No meeting/video pause. |
| Planned breaks | Clock-time breaks (lunch, a walk) that wait during meetings and can follow you to iPhone/iPad. | Interval breaks inside working hours only. No break at 1pm. |
| When the screen is locked | 2.4: countdown on the Mac lock screen (macOS 26+, not in the App Store build) and a Live Activity on iPhone/iPad. | No. |
| iPhone and iPad | Mirror can lock the phone when the Mac break starts. | None. |
| Posture / blink | Separate posture nudges and blink reminders. | Breaks only. |
| Stats | Screen Score, breaks, app usage, website usage. | A timer. No dashboard like that. |
Where BreakTimer is strong
BreakTimer does a small job clearly: how often, how long, working hours, a notification or a fullscreen overlay, a message you write. Free, open source, three desktop OSes. If that's all you wanted, paying for anything else is optional.
It will not skip a Zoom call for you. It will not lock the phone. It will not schedule lunch at 1. Those aren't bugs. They just aren't the app.
Where they differ
Smart Pause holds the break during calls, video, screen sharing, focus apps, and games. BreakTimer can notice you walked away from the computer. That's a different problem.
Mirror can lock iPhone or iPad when the Mac break starts. 2.4 puts remaining time on the lock screen and Dynamic Island. BreakTimer has no phone side.
BreakTimer only repeats on an interval inside working hours. LookAway Planned Breaks sit at 1pm and still wait if you're in a meeting.
Optional extra nudges. BreakTimer doesn't have them.
BreakTimer is provided as-is. LookAway is a paid Mac app with support at [email protected].
If you're coming from BreakTimer
Put in the same frequency and duration you already used. Turn on Smart Pause. Set a snooze limit so you can't postpone forever. After a few days, add Mirror if you keep picking up the phone, and blink/posture only if your eyes or neck still feel wrecked.
How this comparison was made
Feature availability, system requirements, and pricing were checked against official product pages, documentation, release notes, and public downloads. We compare features that are currently available, distinguish automatic behavior from manual configuration, and treat prices as snapshots because store and regional pricing can change.
On a Mac, if you want meetings skipped, the iPhone locked, and more than a timer. BreakTimer if you want free and you also use Windows or Linux.
Yes, if your machine is a Mac. It is not a Windows/Linux replacement.
No. It repeats on an interval inside working hours. LookAway Planned Breaks can sit at a clock time and still wait during meetings.
Yes. LookAway is $19 or $29 once, with a 7-day trial, also on Setapp.
No. Breaks only. LookAway adds those as separate optional nudges.
No. Windows is listed as coming soon and has not shipped. Use BreakTimer if you need those today.
LookAway
LookAway