About Pomodoro Timer
Pomodoro Timer runs the classic 25-minute focus / 5-minute break cycle popularised by Francesco Cirillo, with a longer 15–30-minute rest after every fourth pomodoro. The timer keeps ticking with the tab in the background and plays a short sound when each interval ends, so you can keep working without watching the clock. Your session count and current cycle position persist between visits, giving you a running tally for the day.
- No uploads
- Browser-only
- Works offline
- 100% free
How it works
- 1
Pick your interval lengths
Defaults are 25/5/15 minutes — adjust if you prefer shorter sprints (e.g. 50/10) or the Animedoro variant (40/20).
- 2
Start the focus block
Tap Start. The timer counts down, the tab title shows the remaining time, and a sound plays when the block ends.
- 3
Take the break, then repeat
Auto-rolls into the break, then back to focus. Every fourth focus block is followed by the long break to recover.
The 25/5 technique, and why the timer does the work
The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, is almost insultingly simple: work in a focused 25-minute block (one 'pomodoro'), then take a 5-minute break, and after four pomodoros take a longer 15-30 minute break. The name comes from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a student. That's the whole method — the structure is the feature.
It works because it externalises willpower. Starting is the hard part of any task, and 'just do 25 minutes' is a far smaller commitment to make than 'work on this'. The ticking timer creates a gentle deadline that crowds out the urge to check your phone, and the guaranteed break removes the guilt of stepping away — you're not slacking, you're between pomodoros. It also makes work measurable: 'this took three pomodoros' is concrete in a way 'a while' never is.
Deep-work variants — 25/5 isn't the only ratio
- Classic 25/5: the default, and the best starting point. Short blocks suit shallow, interruptible work and anyone rebuilding a focus habit.
- 50/10 or 52/17: longer blocks for deep work that has a costly warm-up — coding, writing, design — where 25 minutes barely gets you into flow before the bell rings.
- 90-minute blocks: aligned to the body's natural ultradian rhythm; powerful for the deepest work, but demanding, and not where beginners should start.
- The rule isn't the number, it's the rhythm: a fixed work block followed by a real break. Pick the block length your task actually needs and keep the breaks honest.
Break discipline, and the mistakes that break the method
The breaks are not optional padding — they're the half that makes the technique sustainable. Skipping them to 'keep the momentum' is the most common failure: you burn out by mid-afternoon and the method collapses. The break is also most effective when it's a genuine context switch — stand up, look away from the screen, get water — not a scroll through the same feed that fragments your attention the rest of the day. Resting your eyes on something distant for a few minutes is the kind of break the 20-20-20 rule from the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends anyway.
Two more pitfalls. First, treating the timer as a hard interrupt mid-flow: if you're deep in something when the bell rings, it's fine to finish the thought — the timer serves your focus, not the reverse. Second, multitasking inside a pomodoro defeats the point; the block is for one task, and answering a message 'real quick' restarts the very switching cost the technique exists to eliminate. Protect the block, take the break, and pair it with a short, honest Tasks list so each pomodoro has one clear target. For a plain countdown without the technique's structure, the everyday Timer is simpler.
Frequently asked questions about Pomodoro Timer
Why 25 minutes specifically?
The original technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s used 25 minutes as a unit chosen to be long enough for meaningful work but short enough to maintain sharp attention. Many users find 25/5 a strong default; longer sprints (50/10) suit deep flow work, shorter (15/3) helps with low-energy days. Experiment — there's nothing magic about 25.
Does it keep counting if I close the tab?
No — the timer pauses when you close the tab. If you keep the tab open but switch to another window, the countdown continues running using absolute timestamps, so it stays accurate even when browsers throttle background tabs.
Can I disable the end-of-interval sound?
Yes. Mute the volume in the controls if you're in a quiet environment, or rely solely on the tab-title flash and (if you grant permission) a desktop notification.
Privacy, offline use, browser support, and pricing questions are answered on the site-wide FAQ.