The Workrave Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Workrave in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Workrave
The Insider’s Guide
Free RSI-prevention break reminder with daily usage limits
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Workrave’s own pages.
Made by Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Workrave’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Workrave’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 60 of the 83 other focus apps we grade
Workrave is a free program that watches keyboard and mouse use and prompts for microbreaks, longer rest breaks and a daily computer-use limit. It is aimed at preventing repetitive strain injury and keeps statistics on breaks taken, postponed and ignored. The site is licensed under the GPL.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Workrave, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It runs on Windows and Linux only, the Mac version exists only as an untested development build, and its site describes it only briefly.
- 1
Best for RSI break reminders on Windows and Linux
Workrave is a free program that prompts microbreaks and rest breaks and enforces a daily limit.
- 2
It is free
Workrave has no paid plan at all. Free software with no paid plan.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and Linux.
- 4
Microbreaks
Typically a 30-second break every 3 minutes; duration and frequency are configurable.
- 5
Rest breaks
Typically 10 minutes every 45 minutes, also configurable.
- 6
Daily limit
Prompts you to stop once a set amount of computer time is reached.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 60 of 83
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Workrave is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Workrave at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers, since 2001
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for RSI break reminders on Windows and Linux
Workrave is a free program that prompts microbreaks and rest breaks and enforces a daily limit. It runs on Windows and Linux only, the Mac version exists only as an untested development build, and its site describes it only briefly.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free software with no paid plan, source code public. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full program is free with no ads or tier. |
| Features | C | Microbreaks, rest breaks, a daily limit and statistics. The basics, with a feature set that dates from its long history. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows and Linux desktop only, with no phone app and Mac only in an untested build. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Workrave is for
- Fits if you want RSI breaks and a daily limit on Windows or Linux
- Works for people who want free software with public source code
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use a Mac, as that port exists only in the untested development version
- Skip it if you want a phone version, since none is listed
- Watch out: the site describes the features only briefly
- Too light for coaching or exercises beyond the break prompts
Good to know
Good for
- People managing or preventing repetitive strain
- Windows and Linux desk workers wanting a no-cost reminder
Worth knowing
- The download page lists Windows and GNU/Linux; a macOS port exists only in the untested development version.
- No phone version is listed.
- The interface and feature set date from the project's long history and are described only briefly on the site.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Workrave is free to use.
Free software with no paid plan, source code public.
Free
$0
The full program; source code is public.
The free plan
Free software with no paid plan.
Read from workrave.org on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Windows and Linux
Free RSI-prevention break reminder with daily usage limits. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, time tracking.
Microbreaks, rest breaks, a daily limit and statistics.
- Microbreaks
- Typically a 30-second break every 3 minutes; duration and frequency are configurable.
- Rest breaks
- Typically 10 minutes every 45 minutes, also configurable.
- Daily limit
- Prompts you to stop once a set amount of computer time is reached.
- Statistics
- Counts breaks taken, postponed and ignored, plus daily, weekly and monthly use.
Where it runs
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Workrave is made by Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers, and has been around since 2001.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
60/83
Other focus apps it is graded above
Workrave's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 60 of the 83 other focus apps we grade, and level with 15.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 64 of 83) and worst on features (C, above 5).
Workrave has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 84 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Workrave’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 47 of 83
- AFree plan and trialAbove 64 of 83
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 83
- BEase of useAbove 22 of 83
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 11 of 83
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 70 focus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Workrave is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Workrave is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 60 of the 83 other focus apps we grade.
What you could make
- Time tracking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Workrave’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Stretchly, Time Out, Focus Timer, Tomighty and Focus Bear
The 5 tools Workrave is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Stretchly
Free
Open-source break reminder for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Only Stretchly lists a macOS app.
- Workrave also covers time tracking.
- Stretchly also covers menu bar app.
- 2.8GPA
Time Out
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Mac break reminder with customizable break screens.
- Only Workrave lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Time Out lists a macOS app.
- Workrave is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Focus Timer
Free
Free Pomodoro timer for Linux, formerly GNOME Pomodoro.
- Only Workrave lists a Windows app.
- Focus Timer also covers Pomodoro timer.
- 3.0GPA
Tomighty
Free
Free Pomodoro timer for the browser, Windows and Mac.
- Only Workrave lists a Linux app.
- Only Tomighty lists a web app.
- Only Tomighty lists a macOS app.
- 2.4GPA
Focus Bear
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Distraction blocker and guided routines built for ADHD brains.
- Only Workrave lists a Linux app.
- Only Focus Bear lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Workrave is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Workrave free?
Yes. Workrave is free to use.
How much does Workrave cost?
Workrave lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Workrave work on?
Workrave is available on Windows and Linux.
Does Workrave have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Workrave is listed for Windows and Linux.
Does Workrave have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Workrave is listed for Windows and Linux.
Is Workrave open source?
Yes. Workrave is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Workrave?
Workrave is made by Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers. It dates from 2001.
What are the alternatives to Workrave?
The closest alternatives to Workrave in our directory are Stretchly, Time Out, Focus Timer, Tomighty and Focus Bear.
How does Workrave compare with other focus apps?
Workrave's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 60 of the 83 other focus apps we grade, and level with 15.
Is Workrave good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Workrave A for value for money. Workrave has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Workrave?
Workrave is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 60 of the 83 other focus apps we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Workrave’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers. Prices change, so check workrave.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Workrave, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/workrave
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Workrave: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/workrave
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/workrave/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Workrave, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 84 focus apps we grade, compared
- ScreenZen Insider's GuideFree app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites3.6 GPA
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Workrave’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Workrave is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Raymond Penners and Rob Caelers. Prices and plans change: check workrave.org before you buy.