How the two compare
These details are from each product's site on .
Workrave
- Free software. The download page says Workrave is currently available on GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows. It lists stable release 1.11.1, from 23 July 2026.
- That download page does not offer a stable Mac build. It describes a macOS port in the development version that has not been thoroughly tested and may be less stable than the stable release.
- It monitors keyboard and mouse usage, then alerts you to take microbreaks and rest breaks.
- Microbreaks are typically every 3 minutes and last about 30 seconds. Rest breaks are typically about 10 minutes every 45 minutes. Both are configurable.
- It can prompt you to stop for the day when you reach a daily computer-usage limit.
- Statistics cover breaks taken, breaks ignored, breaks postponed, and computer usage by day, week, and month.
CapyBreaks
- Mac and Windows, available on Windows now. Windows installs from the Microsoft Store. The Mac homepage download is an Apple-silicon DMG.
- $14.99 once for up to 3 devices. Team is $9.99 per seat.
- 7-day trial.
- Reminders for eyes, hydration, stretching, and posture, with a capybara character.
- Idle detection, custom schedules, and working hours.
- Skips a reminder that comes due while the microphone is in use, or while a fullscreen app is active, and starts the timers over instead of showing it later. On Windows, reminders also pause when Windows reports presentation mode. On Mac, there is no separate presentation check: a presentation in a window that does not fill the screen does not by itself pause reminders. They still pause while the microphone is in use, and idle detection, which is on by default, skips a due reminder after 5 minutes without keyboard or mouse input and then starts the timers over. A screen share by itself does not pause reminders. An optional lock screen is available.
- A premium break app.
What is the same
Both are desktop break reminders for Windows, and both let you change how often the breaks happen.
What is different
Workrave is free software for Windows and Linux. CapyBreaks is the premium product for Windows and Mac: $14.99 once for up to 3 devices, a 7-day trial, a capybara, and reminders for eyes, hydration, stretching, and posture. CapyBreaks skips a reminder that comes due while the microphone is in use, or while a fullscreen app is active, and starts the timers over instead of showing it later. On Windows, reminders also pause when Windows reports presentation mode. On Mac, there is no separate presentation check: a presentation in a window that does not fill the screen does not by itself pause reminders. They still pause while the microphone is in use, and idle detection, which is on by default, skips a due reminder after 5 minutes without keyboard or mouse input and then starts the timers over. A screen share by itself does not pause reminders. Workrave monitors keyboard and mouse usage, times microbreaks and rest breaks, sets a daily computer-usage limit, and keeps statistics for breaks taken, ignored, and postponed. Its download page does not list a stable Mac build.
Who should pick which
CapyBreaks
Pick CapyBreaks if you want the premium break reminder on Windows, or one license that also covers a Mac.
Workrave
Pick Workrave if you want the free program for Windows or Linux, with microbreaks, rest breaks, a daily computer-usage limit, and usage statistics.
CapyBreaks is the premium break reminder.
It runs on Windows and Mac, reminds you about your eyes, water, stretching, and posture, and costs $14.99 once for up to 3 devices. There is a 7-day trial. On Windows it installs from the Microsoft Store. The Mac homepage download is an Apple-silicon DMG.