Pomodoro
Short Break
Long Break
25:00
100% Free • No Signup Required
Free Online Pomodoro Timer
Science-backed focus sessions for deep work. Customizable intervals, session tracking, and audio notifications, free, no signup required.
Looking for the theory behind the method? Read our Beginner's Guide to the Pomodoro Technique.
Science-Backed
Customizable
Free Forever
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Everything You Need to Stay Focused
A simple, powerful timer built for deep work
Customizable Presets
Traditional 25/5/30, Sprint (15 min), Deep Work (45 min), or create your own custom intervals. Different tasks need different rhythms.
Auto-Start Flow
Enable auto-start to maintain seamless transitions between work and breaks. Stay in the zone without manual clicking.
Visual Progress Tracking
Session dots show completed Pomodoros, your current interval, and when your next long break arrives. See your momentum build.
Smart Notifications
Multiple alarm sounds with adjustable volume. Desktop notifications keep you informed even when the tab isn't active.
Daily Goal Setting
Set your daily Pomodoro target and see an estimated finish time that updates as you complete sessions.
Privacy First
All your timer settings and preferences are stored locally in your browser. No accounts, no personal data collection. Just you and your work.
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The Deep History of Focus Science
Journey through 180 years of groundbreaking discoveries that revealed how our minds and bodies really work. From the first biological clock experiments in 1842 to modern neuroscience breakthroughs.
Attention Span
Our capacity for sustained focus wanes after ~20 minutes for demanding tasks.
Pomodoro Connection: 25-min sessions end before vigilance drops.
Key Papers: Ariga & Lleras 2011; Ralph et al. 2020
Ultradian Rhythm
90-120 minute physiological cycles of alertness and fatigue.
Pomodoro Connection: Four Pomodoros (~2 h) map onto one ultradian peak.
Key Papers: Kleitman 1963; Lavie 1983
Dopamine Reward Loops
Small wins release dopamine, reinforcing positive behavior.
Pomodoro Connection: Completing a Pomodoro and ticking a box equals a micro-reward.
Key Papers: Schultz 1997; Wise 2004
Parkinson's Law
Work expands to fill the time available.
Pomodoro Connection: Fixed 25-min deadline squeezes task scope.
Key Papers: Parkinson 1955
Zeigarnik Effect
We recall unfinished tasks better than finished ones.
Pomodoro Connection: Knowing a break is coming keeps tasks top-of-mind.
Key Papers: Zeigarnik 1927
Cognitive Load Theory
Working memory has limited capacity for processing information.
Pomodoro Connection: Regular breaks prevent cognitive overload and maintain mental clarity.
Key Papers: Sweller 1988; Baddeley 2000
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Getting Started: How to Use the Pomodo Timer
A step-by-step guide to using our Pomodoro timer effectively
1. Plan Your Day
Before you press start, decide what you want to accomplish today. Create a focused list of tasks you'll work on. You can use your favorite task management app or a simple pen and paper.
The goal is to commit to a set of priorities, preventing distractions from a larger backlog.
Download our To Do Today Sheet: PDF | Google Docs
2. Estimate Your Effort
Once you have your list, estimate how many Pomodoros each task will take. A good rule of thumb: break down any task requiring more than 5-7 Pomodoros into smaller chunks.
Record the number of available Pomodoros, assign them to tasks, and tick them off as you go.
The To Do Today Sheet helps you plan your day by estimating how many Pomodoros each task will require.
3. Set Your Session Goal
Below the main timer, use the session configuration to choose how many Pomodoros you want to complete (default is 8).
Configure your daily Pomodoro target to see an estimated finish time that updates as you work.
4. Press Start and Focus
Click Start to begin your first Pomodoro. The timer counts down from 25 minutes. Work on your chosen task without interruption until the timer rings. The progress bar shows your progress through the interval.
The timer in focus mode, counting down from 25 minutes with a visual progress indicator.
5. Take Your Break
When the alarm sounds, take a 5-minute break. The timer automatically switches to "Short Break" mode if auto-start is enabled. After 4 Pomodoros, you earn a longer 15-30 minute break.
These break intervals align with your body's natural ultradian rhythms, the 90-120 minute cycles of alertness and fatigue discovered by pioneering physiologists in the 1800s.
During your break, the timer switches to green, helping you relax before the next focus session.
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Understanding the Interface
What the interface means and how to control it
The Pomodoro timer interface with key controls and features numbered for easy reference.
The Controls
- 1Start / Pause / Resume - Your main control. Starts, pauses, and resumes the timer.
- 2Next (→) - Skips to the next interval (work to break or break to work). Only enabled when timer is active.
- 3Rewind (←) - Goes back to the previous interval. Only enabled after you've completed at least one Pomodoro.
- 4Reset - Clears the entire session. Requires confirmation to prevent accidents.
- 5Settings - Customize timer presets, notifications, and auto-start behavior.
The Progress Dots
- 6Filled dots - completed Pomodoros
- 7Pulsing dot - current interval
- 8Separator (|) - where your next long break occurs
Mastering the Settings
The settings panel lets you customize timer presets, enable auto-start, choose alarm sounds, and configure desktop notifications.
- Timer Presets:
- Traditional - 25 min work / 5 min short break / 30 min long break (every 4 Pomodoros)
- Sprint - 15 min sessions for quick tasks
- Deep Work - 45 min blocks for intensive concentration
- Custom - Create your own intervals (auto-selected when you adjust sliders)
- Auto Start - Automatically start the next break or Pomodoro without clicking
- Sound - Choose alarm sound and volume (with test button)
- Desktop Notifications - Get notified even when the browser tab isn't active
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The Three Rules
What separates effective Pomodoro use from just running a timer
1. A Pomodoro is Indivisible
A 25-minute Pomodoro is an atomic unit of work. It cannot be split. If you're interrupted, the Pomodoro is void. You should start a new one.
This isn't harsh. It's protective. It trains you to defend your focus time.
“A Pomodoro can't be interrupted; it marks 25 minutes of pure work. A Pomodoro can't be split up; there is no such thing as half of a Pomodoro or a quarter of a Pomodoro. The atomic unit of time is a Pomodoro.
2. Protect Your Pomodoro
- Internal interruption? Write it down immediately, continue working.
- External interruption? Politely defer to your next break. "I'll be available in 15 minutes."
- Genuine emergency? Handle it, void the Pomodoro, start fresh.
The technique teaches you to identify interruption patterns and develop prevention strategies.
“Protect the Pomodoro means: inform effectively, negotiate quickly to reschedule the interruption, and call back the person who interrupted you as agreed. The Inform, Negotiate, Call Back Strategy enables you to control external interruptions by simply rescheduling them in a later Pomodoro the same day or another day according to the degree of urgency.
3. Finished Early? Overlearn
Completed your task before the timer rings? Use the remaining time to review and improve your work.
Reinforce what you learned. Spot areas for improvement. Don't just stop and wait for the bell.
“If you finish a task while the Pomodoro is still ticking, the following rule applies: If a Pomodoro Begins, It Has to Ring. It's a good idea to take advantage of the opportunity for overlearning, using the remaining portion of the Pomodoro to review or repeat what you've done, make small improvements, and note down what you've learned until the Pomodoro rings.
These aren't arbitrary restrictions. They're the difference between "I used a timer today" and "I actually got deep work done."
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using the timer
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Is this Pomodoro timer really free?
Yes. The timer is completely free with no hidden costs. There is no signup, no subscription, and no account required. All features are available immediately.
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Do I need to create an account?
No. The timer works entirely without an account. Your settings and preferences are saved locally in your browser using localStorage, so they persist between visits on the same device without any registration.
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Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The timer is fully responsive and works on mobile browsers. For the best experience on mobile, you can add it to your home screen from your browser menu to use it like a native app.
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How do I customise the timer intervals?
Open Settings and adjust the sliders for work duration, short break, and long break. You can also choose from built-in presets: Traditional (25/5/30), Sprint (15 min), or Deep Work (45 min). Your custom settings are saved automatically.
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Will the timer keep running in a background tab?
Yes. The timer continues running if you switch tabs or minimise the browser. Enable Desktop Notifications in Settings to receive an alert when each interval ends, even when the tab is not active.
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What happens if I get interrupted mid-Pomodoro?
According to the Pomodoro Technique, an interrupted Pomodoro is void — you should note the interruption and start a new one. Use the Reset button to clear the current session, or the Next button to skip to a break if you need one.