A free, open-source break reminder app that interrupts your work at set intervals to protect your eyes, posture, and focus.
Remote workers often sit at their desks for longer uninterrupted stretches than office workers, partly because there are fewer natural interruptions — no commute, no in-person meetings, no colleagues stopping by. Extended screen time without breaks contributes to eye strain, neck and back tension, and mental fatigue. The research on this is consistent: regular short breaks improve sustained attention and reduce physical discomfort. The problem is that when you're in flow, you don't notice the time passing. Stretchly solves this by making the reminder automatic.
Stretchly operates on two timers simultaneously. Micro-breaks are short interruptions — typically 20 seconds every 10 minutes — designed to give your eyes a rest and prompt a brief posture reset. Long breaks are longer interruptions — typically 5 minutes every 30 minutes — designed for standing up, stretching, or stepping away from the screen entirely. The default settings follow the 20-20-20 rule for eye health (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds), but both timers are fully customizable.
Stretchly's settings let you adjust the frequency and duration of both break types, the content shown during breaks (stretching suggestions, breathing exercises, or custom text), the appearance of the break screen, and whether breaks can be skipped or postponed. You can set different schedules for different days, pause the timer during meetings, and configure the app to start automatically when your computer starts. The level of customization is unusually high for a free tool.
Strict mode prevents you from skipping or postponing breaks. The break screen appears and stays until the break duration is complete. This is useful for people who know they'll dismiss reminders if given the option — the strict mode removes the choice. It's a blunt instrument, but for people who genuinely struggle to take breaks, it works. You can toggle strict mode on and off, so it doesn't have to be permanent.
Stretchly is open source and available on GitHub. It's free to use, and the source code is publicly available for inspection. There are no ads, no data collection, and no premium tier. The project is maintained by a small team of contributors. For privacy-conscious users, the open-source model means you can verify exactly what the app does. For users who want to contribute, the GitHub repository accepts pull requests and bug reports.
Stretchly runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This cross-platform support is unusual for a small open-source project and makes it practical for freelancers who work across different operating systems or switch machines. Installation is straightforward — download the installer for your platform and run it. No account required, no setup beyond adjusting the settings to your preference.