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LookAway waits when you're in a meeting or watching video, then locks your iPhone so the break actually happens. As of 2.4, remaining time shows on the Mac lock screen and as a Live Activity on iPhone. Stretchly is free, open source, and runs on Windows and Linux too — here's where each one wins on a Mac.
Quick verdict
Keep Stretchly if you want free, open source, and it has to run on Windows or Linux too. LookAway if you're on a Mac and you want it to wait during meetings, plus blink, posture, and the iPhone lock.
| Feature | LookAway | Stretchly |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Mac as your main machine. You want it to skip meetings and lock the phone. | You want free, open source, and the same app on Windows/Linux too. |
| Price | $19 single / $29 personal, pay once. 7-day trial. Also on Setapp and the Mac App Store. | Free and open source. |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 13+). iPhone/iPad via LookAway Mirror. Windows is listed as coming soon, not shipped. | macOS, Windows, and Linux. |
| Install on Mac | Signed. Direct download, Homebrew, Setapp, Mac App Store. | Not signed. Official README recommends Homebrew plus a quarantine workaround on first run. |
| Breaks | Short and long breaks, heads-up, snooze limits, idle counted as a natural break. | Mini breaks, long breaks, tray controls, break ideas. |
| Smart Pause | Pauses on its own during meetings, calls, video, screen recording, deep focus apps, and fullscreen games. | Preferences and timing. No Mac-specific pause for meetings/video/games. |
| Planned breaks | Clock-time breaks (lunch, a walk) that wait during meetings and can follow you to iPhone/iPad. | Interval only. No break at a fixed time of day. |
| When the screen is locked | 2.4: countdown under the Mac lock-screen clock (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. | Mostly a timer. No equivalent dashboard. |
| Mac extras | AppleScript, Shortcuts, Focus Filters, menu bar, global shortcuts. | Raycast and Alfred plugins exist. The app itself is not a native Mac app. |
Where Stretchly is strong
That's the whole pitch, and it's a real one. If you bounce between a Mac and a Windows machine, or you just don't want to pay for a break timer, Stretchly does the job: mini breaks, long breaks, a tray icon, some break ideas. Open source, you can read the code.
On a Mac, the install is the annoying part. It isn't signed, so the README walks you through Homebrew and a quarantine workaround. Fine if you're used to that. Less fine if you just wanted something from a DMG that opens.
Where they differ
Smart Pause holds the break during calls, video, screen sharing, focus apps, and fullscreen games. Stretchly will still fire unless you skipped it.
Mirror can lock the iPhone or iPad when the Mac break starts. 2.4 adds a Live Activity so you can see time left without unlocking. Stretchly has no phone side.
Stretchly is interval-only. LookAway Planned Breaks sit at a clock time and still wait if you're in a meeting.
Optional extra nudges. Stretchly doesn't have them.
LookAway installs like a normal Mac app (direct, Homebrew, Setapp, App Store). Stretchly's own docs tell you to work around Gatekeeper.
If you're coming from Stretchly
Copy the interval you already liked. Turn on Smart Pause. Add a Planned Break for lunch if you were faking that with a long break. Optional: Mirror on the phone, lock the Mac on break start. Don't turn on blink and posture until the basic breaks feel boring in a good way.
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, often, if you care about meetings, the iPhone lock, and not fighting Gatekeeper. Stretchly if you want free and you also use Windows or Linux.
Yes, if your main machine is a Mac. It is not a replacement if you need one binary on three desktop OSes.
No. Stretchly is interval-based. LookAway Planned Breaks can sit at a clock time and still wait during meetings.
Yes. LookAway is paid: $19 or $29 once, 7-day trial, also on Setapp.
It runs. The official README notes it isn't signed and may need a first-run workaround. LookAway is a signed Mac app.
No. Windows is listed as coming soon and has not shipped. If you need Windows or Linux today, Stretchly is the better fit.
LookAway
LookAway