Quick answer
A Pomodoro timer splits work into 25-minute focus sessions separated by 5-minute breaks, with a longer 15 to 30 minute break after every four sessions. This free timer does that in your browser, with other presets, sounds, daily goals and session stats saved on your device.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a time-management method that uses a timer to break work into short, focused intervals. Francesco Cirillo developed it in the late 1980s while he was a university student, using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato, which is where the name comes from.
One 25-minute interval is called a pomodoro. The idea is simple: a fixed, short block makes it easier to begin, and the scheduled breaks keep your attention from wearing down over a long day.
How does the Pomodoro Technique work?
You work on one task for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and after four rounds take a longer 15 to 30 minute break. In practice that is five steps.
- Pick one task. Choose the one thing you will work on and write it down. The timer has a label field for it.
- Start a 25-minute focus session. Press Start and work on that task only. A single 25-minute session is one pomodoro.
- Work until the timer rings. If something else comes to mind, note it on paper and go back to the task. Do not switch.
- Take a 5-minute break. Stand up, drink water, look away from the screen. Do not start another task.
- Repeat, then take a longer break. After four focus sessions, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes, then start the cycle again.
Which Pomodoro timer settings should you use?
Start with 25 minutes of focus and 5 minutes of rest, and change it only if it clearly does not fit the work. Longer blocks suit tasks that need time to get into.
| Preset | Focus | Break | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomodoro | 25 min | 5 min, 15 after four | The classic. Good for starting, small tasks, studying, email and admin. |
| Deep work | 50 min | 10 min, 30 after four | Coding, writing, design and anything that needs a warm-up before it flows. |
| Long focus | 90 min | 20 min, always | One or two big blocks a day on a single hard problem. |
| Custom | 1 to 180 min | 1 to 60 min | Set the lengths that match your task, from a 10-minute sprint to a three-hour block. |
In Pomodoro and Deep work, the break after the fourth session is the long break. Shorter intervals can help if starting is the hard part. Longer ones help if you keep losing your thread at the end of 25 minutes.
How do you use this Pomodoro timer?
Choose a preset, type what you are working on, and press Start. The timer then runs the focus session, the break and the long break for you.
- Press Start (or Space). When a session ends you hear a soft chime and the next phase is ready, or starts by itself if auto-start is on.
- Turn on Notify to get a browser notification when a session ends while you are in another tab or window. The browser asks for permission only when you switch it on.
- Pick a quiet ambient sound such as rain, a river or a forest. Ambient sound is off by default and loads only when you choose it.
- The remaining time appears in the browser tab title, so you can see it from another tab.
- The timer can ask your device to keep the screen awake while it runs.
How do goals, streaks and stats work?
A focus session you finish counts as a session. One you stop after at least a minute still adds its time to your total but not to the session count. Recent sessions also lists your breaks. Stats show time focused and sessions for today, this week and this month, plus a breakdown by the labels you typed.
- Day streak counts consecutive days with at least one completed focus session.
- Daily and weekly goals show a progress bar. Change them with the plus and minus controls.
- Everything is stored in your browser on this device. Use Export JSON to save a copy, or Clear all data to delete it (you are asked to confirm).
How do you stay focused during a Pomodoro?
Protect the 25 minutes: one task, nothing else open, and a plan for interruptions before they happen. These habits do most of the work.
- Write the task before you press Start. A named task is easier to finish than a vague block of time.
- Put your phone out of sight and close the tabs you do not need for this one task.
- When a thought or request pops up, note it on paper and return to the task. Deal with it in the next break.
- Spend breaks away from the screen. Scrolling a feed is not a rest and often runs past five minutes.
- If 25 minutes ends just as you get going, try 50/10. If it feels too long, shorten it. The method serves you, not the other way round.
- Finish the session even on a bad day. A half-focused 25 minutes still counts toward your streak.
Studying? The same method works for reading, problem sets and revision. See the Mac focus app workflow for students. For more apps that run the method, read best Pomodoro apps for Mac.
Can a timer block distractions while you work?
A browser timer can count the time, but it cannot stop you opening another tab or app. On a Mac, Nudge blocks the apps and websites you choose for the whole session, so the 25 minutes stay yours.
- Pick the apps and websites that pull you away. They stay blocked until the session ends.
- Start a session from the menu bar. Websites are blocked in Safari and Chrome.
- Works on macOS 13 and later. 7 days free, no card to start, then $9.99 once.
Read how to pair a Pomodoro timer with website blocking or see how the menu bar focus timer works.
Pomodoro timer FAQ
How long is a Pomodoro?
A standard Pomodoro is 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. After four Pomodoros you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. This timer defaults to 25/5 with a 15-minute long break and lets you set your own lengths with Custom.
How many Pomodoros should I do in a day?
There is no official number. It depends on how much of your day is open for focused work. Many people count their sessions and aim for a total of focused minutes instead. This timer has a daily goal, set to 120 minutes by default, that you can raise or lower.
Is this Pomodoro timer free?
Yes. The timer, the presets, the sounds and the statistics are free to use, with no trial and no card.
Do I need an account, and where are my stats stored?
You do not need an account. Your sessions, goals and settings are stored in your browser on this device. Clearing the site's data removes them, so use Export JSON, under the stats below the timer, to save a copy as a file.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer counts from a start time rather than ticking once per second, so it stays correct while the tab is in the background and after you reload the page. The tab title shows the remaining time so you can check it without switching.
Can I change the focus and break lengths?
Yes. Choose the Pomodoro, Deep work or Long focus preset, or pick Custom to set a focus length from 1 to 180 minutes and breaks from 1 to 60 minutes. You can also turn on auto-start so the next session begins on its own.
What is the difference between a short break and a long break?
A short break, about 5 minutes, follows each focus session and lets you reset briefly. A long break of 15 to 30 minutes follows every fourth session and gives your attention a proper rest before the next cycle.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The timer works in a phone browser. Keep the page open while you work. Whether sounds and notifications play with the screen locked depends on your browser and phone settings.
Is the Pomodoro Technique good for studying?
Many students find that a short, fixed block makes it easier to start and keeps reading or problem sets from drifting. It is a time-management method, not a medical treatment. If 25 minutes is too short for you to get into a task, try the 50/10 preset.