Free online Pomodoro timer with audio alerts, session tracking, and customizable work/break intervals. Boost focus with the Pomodoro technique — no signup, works offline.
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Deep work time — eliminate distractions and concentrate on a single task.
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Pomodoro Timer is a free, browser-based implementation of the Pomodoro Technique — a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique divides work into focused 25-minute intervals (called "pomodoros") separated by 5-minute short breaks, with a longer 15–30 minute break after every four sessions. This timer implements the full work-break cycle with synthesized audio alerts (no external sound files), browser push notifications (works even when the tab is in the background), customizable durations, and session statistics tracking. All settings and progress are saved in your browser's localStorage — no account required, no data transmitted, works offline once loaded.
The Pomodoro Technique is effective for several neuroscience-backed reasons. Time-boxing reduces procrastination — committing to just 25 minutes feels manageable, even for daunting tasks, which overcomes the activation energy barrier. Mandatory breaks prevent cognitive fatigue — sustained attention depletes neurochemical resources in the prefrontal cortex; regular rest periods allow partial recovery. Session counting provides motivation — tracking completed pomodoros creates a visible sense of progress, triggering dopamine-driven motivation loops. Single-tasking improves quality — the technique's rule of one task per pomodoro eliminates context-switching costs, which research shows can waste up to 40% of productive time. Studies in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience suggest that brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve focus on that task for prolonged periods.
Classic (25/5) — The standard Pomodoro interval. Best for tasks requiring moderate focus: email processing, administrative work, routine development tasks, and studying. Good starting point for beginners.
Deep Work (50/10) — Extended focus intervals for complex tasks requiring deep concentration: writing, architecture design, mathematical proofs, and creative work. Requires more discipline but produces higher output quality.
Ultra Focus (90/20) — Matches the natural ultradian rhythm (90-minute work cycles). Best for experienced practitioners engaged in flow-state activities: long coding sessions, research writing, artistic creation.
Essential terms and definitions related to Pomodoro Timer.
Italian for "tomato" — the name comes from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Francesco Cirillo used as a student. In the context of the Pomodoro Technique, one "pomodoro" refers to a single 25-minute focused work session, after which you mark off a completed interval and take a short break.
A time management technique that allocates a fixed time period (a "box") to a planned activity. The Pomodoro Technique is a specific form of time boxing. Time boxing reduces perfectionism by enforcing a stopping point, reduces context-switching by dedicating a window to a single task, and provides natural checkpoints for progress assessment.
The gradual degradation of cognitive performance that occurs during sustained mental effort without rest. Studies show that focused attention depletes neurochemical resources in the prefrontal cortex. The Pomodoro Technique's mandatory breaks allow partial recovery of these resources, maintaining performance across longer work sessions.
The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, divides work into focused 25-minute intervals (pomodoros) followed by 5-minute short breaks. After four pomodoros, you take a 15–30 minute long break. This timer implements the full cycle: it counts down work sessions, automatically transitions to break periods, tracks your completed pomodoros, and plays an audio alert at each transition using the Web Audio API.
Yes. The settings panel lets you adjust the work session length (default 25 min), short break length (default 5 min), and long break length (default 15 min). You can also set how many pomodoros before a long break (default 4). Your settings are saved in localStorage and persist between sessions.
Yes. The timer uses the Web Notifications API to send a browser notification when a session ends, even if the tab is minimized or in the background. On first use, your browser will ask permission to send notifications. The timer also plays an audio tone via the Web Audio API regardless of tab visibility.
No. Like all browser-based timers, closing the tab stops the timer. Your completed session count is saved in localStorage, but the running countdown is not. For a timer that persists across tabs, you would need a native application. We recommend keeping the tab open in a dedicated browser window during your work sessions.
The technique works for several neuroscience-backed reasons: short, time-boxed tasks reduce procrastination by making work feel less overwhelming; mandatory breaks prevent cognitive fatigue and maintain sustained attention; the act of tracking completed pomodoros provides dopamine-driven motivation. Research suggests focused work intervals with scheduled breaks outperform continuous working for both quality and quantity of output.
Common errors developers encounter and how to resolve them.
Audio alert does not play when session ends Browsers require a user gesture (click, keypress) before playing audio. Ensure you have clicked the Start button at least once to initialize the Audio Context. Also check that your browser tab is not muted — right-click the tab and check audio settings. If audio still does not play, try refreshing and clicking Start again.
Browser notification does not appear Check that you have granted notification permission. In Chrome: click the lock icon in the address bar → Notifications → Allow. In Firefox: click the shield icon → Permissions. If notifications are blocked at the OS level (Do Not Disturb mode on Mac/Windows), browser notifications will also be suppressed.