We stand with Ukraine to help keep people safe. Join us
EN
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

Time Out for Mac

Break reminder tool with micro-breaks.

Free
In English
4.7
Based on 76 user rates

Time Out overview

Time Out helps remind you to take work breaks throughout the day. It has two kinds of breaks: a "Normal" break, typically for 10 minutes after 50 minutes of work, so you can move about and relax, plus a "Micro" break: a very brief pause of typically 10 seconds every 10 minutes, so you can remember not to tense up too much for long periods.

You can configure how long each kind of break lasts, and how long between breaks, or disable each kind. Each Time Out is announced via the screen slowly dimming, with related graphics materializing, and when the break is complete, it fades out again, optionally playing a sound. You can change the time these transitions take... and you can even change the color and the level of transparency during the break. So if you like, you can make it mostly transparent so you can continue reading while on your break... though it's better for you if you give your eyes a rest during the Time Out.

What's new in version 3.1

New option to end a break when done
  • Added a Show button to end break when done checkbox to the Break Appearance page.
  • If enabled, when the break reaches its scheduled duration, it remains displayed instead of fading out automatically.
  • The control panel shows an End Break button; click it when you are ready to finish the break.
  • The left-hand time label continues to show the scheduled duration, while the right-hand label counts upward, e.g. +35 seconds, so you can see how long the break has continued beyond its schedule.
  • Clicking End Break fades out the break as usual.
  • This option is available as a new reward for recent Time Out supporters.
New icons for the menu bar status item
  • Added several new icons for the menu bar status item, as fun indicators of Time Out breaks.
  • Symbols include a palm tree, umbrella, leaf, cup, pause, and more.
  • Activity shapes include walking, cardio, strength training, flexibility, etc.
  • Unlike the app icon and break label icons, these will adapt to the current menu bar appearance.
Alternative status item menu
  • Hold the Option key when clicking the menu bar status item to show a menu of useful commands for the next due break, while a regular click continues to show the window.
  • This menu includes an item to show the Time Out window, several commands to start, postpone, skip, etc the next due break, and useful commands that apply to all breaks.
Quickly change when a break is due
  • Added a Make Due In submenu to change a break to be due in 30 seconds, 1 to 10 minutes, 15, 20, 30, or 45 minutes, or 1 hour.
  • This is equivalent to editing the due date in the Break Schedule page, so doesn't count as postponing or skipping.
  • It is also useful for testing Break Actions, to make them due soon.
  • This submenu appears in the new alternative status item menu, and in each break's Options menu in the sidebar.
Optionally hide commands that could bypass a break
  • Added Advanced options to separately hide or disable the Make Due In, Reset, Disable, Delete, and/or Quit commands.
  • These join the existing option to hide the Pause commands.
  • These options make it harder to bypass breaks, for people who want a little extra help.
  • These new options are available as a new reward for recent Time Out supporters.
Introducing Messages from Dejal
  • Added a new Messages page in the settings window for occasional tips, helpful feature explanations, announcements, and invitations from Dejal.
  • A brief message may sometimes appear as part of the control panel during a break; it won't pause, extend, postpone, or otherwise change the break, and the complete message remains available in Settings.
  • Click the message during a break to show the full message after the break ends.
  • Or click the X next to the message (that appears when pointing at it) to dismiss the message.
  • Unread messages are marked, and messages can be searched or marked as read.
  • Messages can include a Show Me button, that takes you to the relevant settings page and highlights the control being discussed.
  • As a new reward for recent Time Out supporters, options are available to disable messages, hide them during breaks, or exclude promotional messages.
  • Time Out does not show third-party advertising; promotional messages are just very rare mentions of other Dejal apps that you might find useful.
Introducing an optional Premium subscription and Lifetime purchase
  • Added an automatically recurring subscription option, as an alternative to the Supporter options.
  • It works like a normal subscription, unlocking all premium features while subscribed.
  • Note that the subscription option is only available in the Mac App Store edition.
  • The existing non-recurring Supporter options are still available in both the direct and App Store editions.
  • You may not be offered one or the other, depending on your current supporter status.
  • Also added a Lifetime purchase option, which keeps all current and future premium features available forever.
  • The existing trial mechanism is unchanged; a trial will automatically start when any supporter/premium feature is used.
  • Trials now more clearly highlight the options being tried with a red highlight.
  • And of course the basic features of the app can still be used completely free.
Modernized the break display
  • Rewrote the break display using SwiftUI, while retaining compatibility with all existing themes.
  • The available control buttons are now always centered when some buttons are hidden.
  • This modernization was the groundwork for the Messages and End Break enhancements.
Added anonymous analytics to help improve the app
  • Added a checkbox to the Advanced page to control sending anonymous analytics to Dejal.
  • This does not include any personally identifiable information, and doesn't include any third-party trackers.
  • It was written by Dejal to provide basic aggregated information like the major OS version and similar values, to help guide future improvements of the app.
But wait, there's more!
  • If the mouse/trackpad button is down when a break is due, it now waits until the button is released, to avoid interrupting a drag operation.
  • Added support for URLs like timeout://break/micro/postpone/2m and timeout://postpone/2m, i.e. postponing a specific break or all breaks by a custom time interval.
  • Added support for a timeout://scheduler/logging/on URL to turn on break scheduler diagnostic logging, and timeout://scheduler/logging/off to turn it off again. Leave off unless instructed by Dejal.
  • Several other minor improvements.
View older Time Out versions

Time Out for Mac

Free
In English
Version 3.1

What users say about Time Out

iMac2011
By iMac2011 on Jan 2, 2023 for v.2.9.1

Value: 5.0

I am not tech savvy, but I did not need much time to learn how it works and how to best use it for my lifestyle. The features are more than sufficient to start, but I look forward to anything new in 2023. I especially like the non-subscription payment option.

Other user ratings:

Ease of use | 5.0
Features | 5.0
Reliability | 5.0
Customer support | 5.0
Write a detailed review about Time Out

What customers like

Stability
Price
Value

What needs improvements

Security

Time Out qualities

Value
5.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
5.0
Reliability
5.0
Customer support
5.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.7

(82 Reviews of Time Out)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Apr 21, 2026
3.0
5.0
Apr 21, 2026
5.0
Version: 3.0
It's still FREE with shareware donation options. "Time Out is Free! Offers In-App Purchases: • 3-Month Supporter $3.99 • 6-Month Supporter $7.99 • 12-Month Supporter $14.99. These one-time purchases do not auto-renew." Well worth supporing!
alfa23
alfa23
Jul 7, 2024
2.9.2
0.0
Jul 7, 2024
0.0
Version: 2.9.2
Great little tool for online working! 😁
gunman-2
gunman-2
Dec 19, 2023
2.9.2
0.0
Dec 19, 2023
0.0
Version: 2.9.2
I've tried some Pomodoro and Flow apps, which don't match my productivity flow. TimeOut is the most suitable for me, with the main feature "Natural Break" is very flexible, you don't need to stick to the time block. As far as I know TimeOut is one of two apps that have auto break feature based on activities, the other one is Pandan (lack of device/OS support range). Although I love and enjoy being a TimeOut supporter, I wish the app could be more minimal in both appearance and functionality (you can check out Panda as a reference). Nevertheless, I wish you success and hope TimeOut will remain maintained.
GymW
GymW
Oct 23, 2021
2.8.1
0.0
Oct 23, 2021
0.0
Version: 2.8.1
First of all this is subscription based software. Unless you pay on a regular basis you cannot update the App. I just deleted this App from my MacPro 7.1 2019 Desktop Computer running Big Sur as it has an issue on my machine that if you start in at login, the first time my machine goes to sleep it shuts down my computer. This happened once a day as I shut my machine down each evening. Since I disabled the App from starting up when I log-in this issue has disappeared.
rverrips
rverrips
Dec 31, 2020
2.7.1
5.0
Dec 31, 2020
5.0
Version: 2.7.1
Works Great - Love this App!
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Apr 21, 2026
3.0
5.0
Apr 21, 2026
5.0
Version: 3.0
fannylauchen7
fannylauchen7
Dec 11, 2024
2.9.2
5.0
Dec 11, 2024
5.0
Version: 2.9.2
Ervins Strauhmanis
Ervins Strauhmanis
Aug 31, 2022
2.9
5.0
Aug 31, 2022
5.0
Version: 2.9
far_g
far_g
May 30, 2021
2.8
5.0
May 30, 2021
5.0
Version: 2.8
rverrips
rverrips
Dec 31, 2020
5.0
Dec 31, 2020
5.0
Version: null
shaungmcpherson
shaungmcpherson
Oct 28, 2020
5.0
Oct 28, 2020
5.0
Version: null
mactriguna
mactriguna
Sep 17, 2020
5.0
Sep 17, 2020
5.0
Version: null
raducanb
raducanb
Jun 19, 2020
5.0
Jun 19, 2020
5.0
Version: null
kk1320
kk1320
Apr 7, 2020
5.0
Apr 7, 2020
5.0
Version: null
john-brugge
john-brugge
Jan 14, 2020
5.0
Jan 14, 2020
5.0
Version: null
ahmedhatata-ah
ahmedhatata-ah
Nov 22, 2019
5.0
Nov 22, 2019
5.0
Version: null
annahass
annahass
Nov 16, 2019
5.0
Nov 16, 2019
5.0
Version: null
vermeergrange
vermeergrange
Oct 25, 2019
5.0
Oct 25, 2019
5.0
Version: null
barryed
barryed
Oct 14, 2019
5.0
Oct 14, 2019
5.0
Version: null
ocanada73
ocanada73
Oct 2, 2019
5.0
Oct 2, 2019
5.0
Version: null
kyrsquir
kyrsquir
Dec 15, 2018
5.0
Dec 15, 2018
5.0
Version: null
henry-korman
henry-korman
Dec 14, 2018
5.0
Dec 14, 2018
5.0
Version: null
kristoffer-risanger
kristoffer-risanger
Nov 21, 2018
5.0
Nov 21, 2018
5.0
Version: null
goldarthur1
goldarthur1
Apr 26, 2018
5.0
Apr 26, 2018
5.0
Version: null
cons-brian-henry1
cons-brian-henry1
Nov 23, 2017
5.0
Nov 23, 2017
5.0
Version: null
vermeer-grange
vermeer-grange
Nov 9, 2017
5.0
Nov 9, 2017
5.0
Version: null
Stuckfly
Stuckfly
Sep 15, 2017
5.0
Sep 15, 2017
5.0
Version: null
susant-macaddict
susant-macaddict
May 28, 2017
5.0
May 28, 2017
5.0
Version: null
100%MacSince1990
100%MacSince1990
Apr 29, 2017
5.0
Apr 29, 2017
5.0
Version: null
positivelyaligned
positivelyaligned
Mar 29, 2017
5.0
Mar 29, 2017
5.0
Version: null
Mr Roger
Mr Roger
Mar 17, 2017
5.0
Mar 17, 2017
5.0
Version: null
jwritty
jwritty
Jan 7, 2017
5.0
Jan 7, 2017
5.0
Version: null
macupdate-439
macupdate-439
Nov 2, 2016
4.5
Nov 2, 2016
4.5
Version: null
ChangeMachine
ChangeMachine
Oct 22, 2016
4.5
Oct 22, 2016
4.5
Version: null
acss21acss
acss21acss
Jul 9, 2016
5.0
Jul 9, 2016
5.0
Version: null
laukur
laukur
May 12, 2016
1.0
May 12, 2016
1.0
Version: null
franceska
franceska
Apr 27, 2016
5.0
Apr 27, 2016
5.0
Version: null
krat96
krat96
Apr 20, 2016
5.0
Apr 20, 2016
5.0
Version: null
nsurrry
nsurrry
Apr 17, 2016
5.0
Apr 17, 2016
5.0
Version: null
SiteCR2
SiteCR2
Apr 7, 2016
5.0
Apr 7, 2016
5.0
Version: null
ATusler
ATusler
Apr 5, 2016
5.0
Apr 5, 2016
5.0
Version: null
grechonline
grechonline
Apr 3, 2016
5.0
Apr 3, 2016
5.0
Version: null
GarlicBread
GarlicBread
Mar 25, 2016
5.0
Mar 25, 2016
5.0
Version: null
Zjaaspoer
Zjaaspoer
Mar 23, 2016
5.0
Mar 23, 2016
5.0
Version: null
emechip
emechip
Mar 23, 2016
5.0
Mar 23, 2016
5.0
Version: null