A simple Pomodoro timer for deep, focused work
This free Pomodoro timer splits your work into focused sessions with short breaks in between. Press Start, work on one thing until the timer rings, then rest for a few minutes. After every fourth session you get a longer break. It is the rhythm of the Pomodoro Technique, created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s and named after his tomato-shaped kitchen timer.
The timer is built to be dependable. It counts from the real clock rather than by adding up seconds, so it stays accurate when the tab is in the background, your laptop is busy or your phone locks the screen for a moment. The time left is shown in the tab title, a soft chime plays when a session ends, and you can turn on desktop notifications too.
Every finished session is logged with the task you were working on, so you can see how many focused minutes you put in today and this week. Your settings and history are saved in your own browser and never uploaded.
How to use the Pomodoro Timer
- Type what you are working on in “What are you working on?” — it is saved with every finished session.
- Press Start (or the Space bar). The ring empties as the 25-minute focus session counts down. Reset restarts the session; pressing it again on an unstarted timer restarts the cycle at session 1.
- Work on that one task until the chime. If you get distracted, note the thought down and carry on.
- Take the break when it starts. Breaks start automatically by default; untick that in Timer settings if you prefer to start them yourself.
- After four focus sessions, enjoy the long break. Change any of the lengths, sounds and notifications under Timer settings.
- Check today’s sessions and totals in the stats panel, and press CSV to download your history for a timesheet.
Pomodoro Timer features
Accurate in background tabs
The countdown is based on timestamps, and it even catches up correctly if you reload or close the page during a session.
Custom lengths
Pick any focus and break length — try 50/10 for long tasks or 15/3 for warming up — and choose after how many sessions the long break comes.
Sound and notifications
A gentle three-note chime, generated by your browser with no audio files, plays at the end of each session, with adjustable volume and optional desktop notifications.
Countdown in the tab title
See the minutes left from any other tab, with a pause symbol when the timer is paused.
Daily stats and a session log
Focus sessions and focus time today, sessions this week and your position in the cycle — plus a log you can export as CSV.
Keyboard shortcuts
Space to start or pause, R to reset, S to skip, and 1, 2 or 3 to jump to focus, short break or long break.
How the Pomodoro Technique works
The classic method has five steps: choose one task, set a timer for 25 minutes, work only on that task until the timer rings, take a 5-minute break, and after four of these “pomodoros” take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Each completed 25-minute block counts as one pomodoro; if you abandon a session, it does not count — which is why the Skip button here does not add an unfinished focus session to your stats.
The fixed time box lowers the barrier to starting, because you only have to commit to 25 minutes. The breaks keep your energy steady through the day, and counting pomodoros gives you an honest measure of how much focused work a task really takes, which makes future planning easier.
Choosing your session lengths
There is nothing magic about 25 minutes. Use these common patterns as a starting point and adjust them to the kind of work you do:
- 25 / 5 / 15 — the classic setting, good for studying, email and most office work.
- 50 / 10 / 30 — longer stretches for writing, coding or design, where getting into flow takes a while.
- 90 / 20 — a single deep-work block with one long break, for people who already focus well.
- 15 / 3 — short sprints for low-energy days, children’s homework or tasks you have been avoiding.
Getting more from each session
Plan your sessions before you start: list the day’s tasks in the to-do list and estimate how many pomodoros each needs. Silence phone notifications during focus time, and if background noise distracts you, play brown or pink noise from the noise generator in another tab.
Use breaks to move, drink water or look out of a window rather than scrolling — a real break makes the next session easier. If you want to build a daily focus habit, record it in the habit tracker, and for one-off timings without the cycle use the countdown timer.
Pomodoro Timer FAQ
Is this Pomodoro timer free?
Yes. The Pomodoro timer is free to use with no account, no adverts inside the tool and no limit on sessions.
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs or lock my phone?
Yes. The end time is fixed when you press Start, so the countdown stays correct in a background tab. The chime and notification fire as soon as the browser lets the page run; on phones that aggressively pause web pages, the sound may wait until you return, but the timer and your stats will still be correct.
Why didn’t I hear a sound?
Browsers only allow sound after you interact with the page, so the timer unlocks audio when you press Start. Check that “Play a sound when a session ends” is ticked, the volume slider is up and your device is not muted, then press “Test sound”.
How do notifications work?
Tick “Show a desktop notification” and allow notifications when your browser asks. If you blocked them earlier, re-allow them in your browser’s site settings. Some mobile browsers only allow notifications from installed apps; there the sound and tab title still work.
Are skipped or reset sessions counted?
No. Only focus sessions that run to the end are counted in your stats and log, in line with the Pomodoro rule that an interrupted pomodoro does not count.
Where is my session history stored?
In your browser’s local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Download the CSV to keep a permanent record or to use it in a spreadsheet or timesheet.