Pausr vs Workrave

This comparison has an unusual answer: for a lot of readers Workrave is the right choice, and it is free. It was built in the early 2000s for RSI recovery, it is still being released, and nothing modern matches its exercise routines. Pausr is a different kind of app for a different kind of problem.

Feature by feature

Pausr / Workrave: Feature by feature
Feature	Pausr	Workrave
Native macOS app	Yes	Partly
Windows	No	Yes
Linux	No	Yes
Eye breaks (20-20-20)	Yes	Yes
Stand-up and movement breaks	Yes	Yes
Long recovery breaks	Yes	Yes
Holds breaks during meetings, calls, screen sharing and games	Yes	No
Screen-time statistics	Yes	Yes
Guided RSI exercises	No	Yes
Open source	No	Yes
Free to use	No	Yes
Works without an account	Yes	Yes

YesPartlyNo

The nuance behind the table5 rows need a caveat

Native macOS app: Workrave: Built for Windows and Linux. macOS builds have existed but lag well behind the other platforms.
Windows: Pausr: A Windows version is in the works. The waitlist is open on the download page.
Screen-time statistics: Workrave: Tracks breaks taken, breaks ignored and usage time, daily, weekly and monthly.
Guided RSI exercises: Pausr: Pausr prompts stand-up and movement breaks, but it does not ship guided RSI exercise routines.; Workrave: The reason to stay on Workrave: guided exercises and activity-based daily limits that no free modern app matches.
Free to use: Pausr: No permanent free tier: a 7-day free trial, then a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase.

Facts checked on August 3, 2026, on the official sites.Latest Workrave release seen: 1.11.1, July 23, 2026.

A glowing sphere held back at the edge of a lit doorway, waiting to enter — A break app is judged on the moments it stays quiet, not on the length of its feature list.

Where the two really differ

Platforms, which settles it for many people
Workrave is built for Windows and Linux. Pausr is macOS only, with a Windows version still in the works. If you are on Windows today, this comparison is largely academic and Workrave stays.
Medical depth versus daily timing
Workrave offers microbreaks, rest breaks, activity-based daily limits and guided exercises. If you are managing real RSI symptoms, that is a feature set Pausr does not attempt to match. Pausr is built for the ordinary screen day: eye breaks, stand-up breaks, long recovery, held automatically at the right moment.
How each one looks and feels
Workrave looks like the decade it was written in, and its users are the group that most actively searches for a replacement for exactly that reason. It is still actively released, so this is about the interface, not abandonment.

Microsoft Teams — The difference in one view: the break waits through your meeting or your match, then comes back on its own.

Price

Pausr

Native macOS break app, context aware

Price

Subscription with a 7-day free trial, or a one-time lifetime purchase

Workrave

Veteran RSI prevention tool, open source

Price

Free and open source, GPL-3.0 or later

Official site

Choose Pausr if

You are on a Mac and want a native app that fits the system.
Your breaks keep landing in the middle of meetings and games.
You want the ordinary screen day covered, not a medical programme.

Choose Workrave if

You have genuine RSI symptoms and rely on guided exercises and daily limits.
You are on Windows or Linux.
You want free and open source, still actively maintained.

Frequently asked questions

Is Workrave still maintained?

Yes. Version 1.11.1 was released in July 2026. The complaint about Workrave is its interface, not its upkeep, and it is worth separating the two before switching.

Does Pausr replace Workrave for RSI?

No, and it would be irresponsible to claim otherwise. Workrave's guided exercises and activity-based daily limits have no equivalent in Pausr. If you are managing carpal tunnel symptoms, stay until your replacement genuinely matches your needs.

Can I run Workrave on a Mac?

It is built for Windows and Linux. macOS builds have existed but lag well behind the other platforms, which is why Mac users generally look elsewhere.