EyeNap vs Stretchly: a free open-source classic or a Mac-native wellness app?

Our bias, stated up front

EyeNap is made by the team that runs this blog. We've tried to be fair; where another app is the better choice, we say so.

All Stretchly details below come from its official site, README and GitHub releases page, linked in the sources. Versions and prices are as of November 2026. For a wider view, see our comparison of the best break reminder apps for Mac.

The short version

Stretchly is one of the most widely recommended break apps for good reason. It's free, it's open source under the BSD-2-Clause license, it runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, it has about 6,600 stars on GitHub, and it ships regular updates (v1.22.1 arrived on August 13, 2026).

EyeNap is a newer, paid, Mac-only app. It exists for people who want more structure in each break: guided eye routines, illustrated stretches and water tracking, with automatic pausing during calls.

If you're happy with a well-timed reminder and a short text suggestion, Stretchly may be all you need.

Feature comparison

Pricing compared

This part is simple. Stretchly costs nothing. The developer describes it as free and supported by people who contribute code, translations or money. Sponsors and contributors get Contributor Preferences, Sync Preferences, and (for Patreon sponsors) Discord access, but those are thank-you extras, not a paywall around the core app.

EyeNap has a 7-day trial with everything unlocked. After that, basic 20-20-20 reminders and smart pause keep working for free, and a one-time lifetime license unlocks the rest: $19 for one Mac, $29 for three or $79 for ten, with no subscription. Details are in our pricing section.

If price is your main concern, Stretchly wins outright.

Where Stretchly is better

We'd recommend Stretchly over EyeNap in a lot of situations:

• It's free. Not a trial, not a limited tier. The full app.
• It's open source. You can read the code, build it yourself, and see exactly what it does. For privacy-minded users and some workplaces, that settles it.
• It's cross-platform. The same app runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, with installers from GitHub, the Microsoft Store, winget, Chocolatey, Flathub, the Snap Store and an apt repository. If you switch between a Mac at home and a Windows PC at work, Stretchly gives you one routine everywhere. EyeNap can't.
• Older Macs. Stretchly lists macOS 13 Ventura or later; EyeNap needs macOS 14 Sonoma.
• Deep customization. Beyond the Preferences window, a JSON preferences file controls postpone limits, break window size, keyboard shortcuts for pausing and skipping, pause-until-morning, a command-line interface and more. Power users can make it behave almost any way they like.
• Many languages. Stretchly is translated into many languages by its community on Weblate.
• A long, active history. Stretchly has nearly 2,000 commits and regular releases. EyeNap launched in 2026.

Where EyeNap is better

• Guided break content. Instead of a text suggestion, EyeNap walks you through 12 animated eye routines (such as Focus Shift, Figure Eight, Palming and Blink Reset) and 7 desk-stretch routines (neck, shoulders, wrists and hands, upper back, lower back, stand and move, full body) with step-by-step illustrations and timers. Keep expectations realistic: the evidence for eye exercises is limited, as our eye exercises guide explains, but guided routines make it easier to actually do something useful with the break.
• Water reminders. One-click water logging in ml or oz, a daily goal, and reminders that stop once you hit it. Stretchly doesn't track hydration.
• Automatic call and presentation detection. EyeNap pauses while your microphone is in use, while a full-screen app or presentation is in front, and when you're idle or locked. With Stretchly you get similar results by turning on Do Not Disturb or setting up app rules in the preferences file.
• A native Mac app. EyeNap is built only for macOS and lives in the menu bar. Stretchly is a cross-platform Electron app that's only ad-hoc signed on macOS, so the first launch needs an "Open Anyway" step or a Terminal command, as its README explains. That's a small one-time hurdle, but worth knowing.
• Progress tracking. A daily wellness score, Today/Week/Month/History views, a weekly review and CSV export.
• Gentler reminder options. Choose a banner, a notification or a full-screen break, and let EyeNap merge eye and stretch breaks that fall due together.

Where neither is ideal

• No team or admin tools. Neither app is built for managing breaks across a company.
• Not medical devices. Break apps help you remember habits. They don't diagnose or treat anything; if you have ongoing symptoms, read our guide to digital eye strain and see an eye doctor.
• No iPhone app. Neither offers one. If you want a Mac break app with an iPhone companion, see LookAway in our roundup.

Who should pick which

Pick Stretchly if you:

• Want a free app, full stop.
• Value open source, or your workplace requires it.
• Use Windows or Linux as well as a Mac.
• Are on macOS 13 Ventura.
• Enjoy tuning settings and don't mind editing a preferences file.
• Want an app translated by a large volunteer community.

Pick EyeNap if you:

• Work only on a Mac and prefer a native menu-bar app.
• Want guided eye routines and illustrated stretches rather than text prompts.
• Want water reminders and a daily wellness score in the same place.
• Spend a lot of time on calls or presenting and want reminders to step aside automatically.
• Are fine paying once for those extras, with a free basic tier if you don't.

Still undecided? Install Stretchly first; it's free and takes a minute. If after a week you find yourself wishing the breaks told you what to do, or kept interrupting your calls, try EyeNap's 7-day trial. If you'd rather compare with a more configurable Mac-native option, read EyeNap vs Time Out. Either way, the habit matters more than the app: our 20-20-20 rule guide covers how to make breaks stick.