Setting an intention and getting it done is harder than ever. Distractions, social media & even FOMO can hit you hard as you start studying, working or getting in the zone. Pomodoro timers are a unique way to set a method to your focus and get locked in.
The "Pomodoro Technique" is very simple, yet powerful.
Millions now use it every single day to revise, focus at work & start their side project with intentional focus. The system can be used and adapted to your needs in session and break length.
Developed by Francesco Cirillio in the 1980s.
It consists of a timed session of 25 minutes with 5 minute breaks.
Used for 4 cycles maximum then moves to a longer break period.
Don't overload or overwork your timer, it can cause negative impact on your flow.
Make sure to take a break and move around - planned breaks are effective once used.
After the full 4 pomodoro cycles, take a longer break - a good one to time with lunch.
There are many apps that help mould to the system and embrace some of the productivity principles behind it. Some apps like Forest do have a 25 minute timer, but not fixed system, so we removed many recommendations for that reason as we wanted tools you could jump into with the system directly built in.
This is a good all-round pomodoro app that deserves some love.
Focus Keeper is a clean, and simple pomodoro timer with lots of customization abilities.
It is used by 65,000+ people according to the website, available on web, iOS and Android - and seems to help people visualize their progress using a pomo timer. A lot of people like how you can see analytics and break downs of your sessions you have. You can also track your most focused tasks too, and the time of day that you are most focused. This is one of the best-rated mobile friendly Pomodoro timers too.
Clean and simple design (not overwhelming).
Visual timer seeing your screen fill up with colour as you progress.
Comes with music switching allowing you to have focus sounds.
Good way to see how many pomodoro cycles you have left and the goal objectives.
They have a great mobile (iOS) app with tonnes of customization.
Good statistics for tracking focus streak, focus time (detailed chart) and breaks too.
You can block apps on your phone to help reduce distractions and uses ScreenTime to help make that secure.
Some good generic tracks to listen to as you focus.
We liked how they did customizing of your timer and what settings work best for you.
It lacks a dedicated Windows & Mac app.
Nothing visually stunning - some of the apps on this list make a good effort at this.
It can be used for free with limits.
It comes at $34.99 per year for Pro.
This unlocks routines, recurring tasks & other abilities.
Focus Keeper is one of the best in-class Pomodoro timers.
It is very good at customization, this impressed us the most. The app is clean and easy to use, whilst the price is on the higher end of the spectrum for a pomodoro timer, it won't break the bank if you're someone that invests into timers as a part of your productivity toolkit. The lack of Windows & Mac apps is a shame and might turn away some people.
Otto impressed us. It works as your Chrome companion and free to use (with some limits).
Otto is a chrome extension for tracking pomodoros and blocking websites in one.
You can combine using pomodoro timer with distraction website blocking, all for free. If you use just these features, Otto is free to use with no worries about paying (great for students) and those who want to throw themselves into starting with the methodology. It also has some premium features which are worth exploring - they are "Autoblock" and "Workflows" - both of these features are hidden gems.
Autoblock helps you create visual timers on how much time you're allowed daily on certain sites (YouTube/X/Instagram) and then Workflows helps you to set up triggers, like "go off Reddit" and start a focus, after a set period of time, giving you some focus & control. Tasks as a feature was another great one and lives as part of your timer and well worth considering if you like to use timer + to-do apps like Blitzit, or other tools like that.
Helps you set set unlimited pomodoro timers.
You can block all and any website that is distracting you.
If you upgrade, you can track tasks and set timers up to 60 minutes.
The other two features Autoblock & Workflows (premium) are great for setting boundaries on sites.
The design and character (Otto) is fun and interactive.
Works fast and reliably on Chrome - from our tests, you can tell this is well-built.
Fantastic look and creative designs make things even more fun as a user.
The task hovers over whatever tab you are in making it accessible to open up & keep in mind.
Otto would be a great app on iOS & Android - it's a shame.
It's a shame you only get 3 tasks with a limit of 15 minutes, but they do offer a good free plan.
It is free to use with unlimited pomo timers & distraction blocking.
The upgrade is $24 per year, or $59 one-off lifetime.
Both reasonable pricing for a pomodoro timer.
We really enjoyed Otto as a Chrome. It hits all the notes of a fun, well-designed and easy to use timer that is free to use.
You can use the unlimited timer abilities, website blocking and get a flavour for some of the more premium features. The premium features are well thought out, not vital to the experience, but nonetheless gives you additional things that might help upgrade how you focus. This is a delightful Chrome extension and we'd recommend it for those who spend a lot of time working in tabs.
Looking for something fantastic for Mac?
Session is a great iOS and Mac focused pomodoro timer.
The best feature that people love is the analytics that it provides. It centers around tracking your pomos, and then providing reports for you after each session. The reports area is very extensive and it almost looks like an Formula 1 live tracking sheet (that much data) - very helpful if you like to see the mood tracking, visual trends & where you typically spend your time best. The app has a clean timer that looks great and once you start a "session" gives you an exercise to breathe in and out. The calendar feature is great for seeing your sessions on a timesheet, between sessions you also get asked how your mood was during the completed session - a neat micro-journal type feature.
Great design and works very well on Mac & iOS.
Comes as part of Setapp subscription (for those using it).
Superb for visual thinkers who like to see their daily timeline & task focus.
Fantastic reporting & mood tracking - for those who love to audit their time spent.
One of the better looking pomodoro timers.
Good for mindfulness with the breathing before timer starts.
Great for those who want audit their time and use it as a form of journal.
Can be limiting on the free plan with 2-days analytics.
Syncing actually only works between devices if you have premium.
Only suitable for free access if you use on one device.
Priced at $39.99 per year.
There is a free plan which gives you unlimited pomodoros timers.
But for the analytics and advanced features the premium is a must.
For Mac users, this is a top pick. The combination between analytics & tracking pomos is great.
The design and features like being able to track emotions, notes & even projecting it onto a schedule is perfect for those who want to visualize their calendar and what they worked on. Analytics (premium) is perfect for those who want to go deeper and unlock their full time audit, the best thing is that you can try it for 1 month and if you unlock that data anytime as you'll be logging it each time you complete a task, a nice addition.
Looking to use project tracker with pomodoro features?
Toggl Track is a project focused time tracker used by small to large teams, but individuals too.
For those who use tracking for work and use it as a helpful auditing activity for their time & client-based work, Toggl is the one. Toggl Track has projects, client-based reports, invoice integrations and advanced widgets for tracking as you go. Many people like the easy to use feel and the advanced integrations.
It is most used by people in freelancing, marketing agencies, sales or industries where you bill clients. It's basically the most advanced work timer on the market, allowing you to capture every aspect of your workload - it has automatic tracking for websites you visit to build a picture of how productive and focused you were.
Track projects, report & connect integrations.
Good for those who need to track the full spectrum of workload.
Allows you to add team members, if you expand.
The timer for pomodoro works on all devices.
One of the most detailed breakdowns for time to help your audits.
Automatic tracking of time spent on activities, sites & apps.
Connects with invoicing and helps track whilst keeping the pomodoro tracking.
Can be too intense for many people with a big learning curve.
Toggl Track doesn't market itself as a pomodoro timer, but it does have the abilities.
This makes it a solid option for those freelancers, busy individuals or small teams that want to be able to implement a system, whilst having the superpowers of Toggl. The benefit for many teams is that you can use it with up to 5 people, for free, with all-access for time tracking and desktop automatic tracking. It's the power features that paid subscriptions make sense for, but if pomodoro is your objective, free access it is.
Looking for something super fun & interactive on iOS?
PomoFocus is an iOS timer app that helps you start pomodoro sessions with a fun element to it.
Much like popular app Forest, you can collect a tree each time you finish a session with PomoFocus you collect a tomato for your collection (they look like oranges in the app). It is very popular for iOS and works with Apple Watch to help keep track of pomo cycles you're doing. The app is fun and plays to the use of your iPhone on the desk as you build up your routine. You can also track sessions by calendar too to help see what you have completed.
An important thing to note, this is not the web-based app with the same name (Pomofocus), this is the iOS-based app called PomoFocus. Different name, small spelling change.
Has a "Standby" mode for iOS devices to keep your live activities & widgets going on desk
Great interactive widgets for helping start a timer from your home or lock screen.
A timeline of what you spend your day focusing on as well as charts for going deeper on focus.
Stunning design and interactive pomo tracker.
Well-crafted features like charts, app blocking & calendar views.
A lot of the main features are locked under premium.
You might not like it if you're looking for a more serious, customizable pomo timer.
PomoFocus is an attractive, fun to use pomodoro timer.
Many iPhone users love it for the array of features, cute designs, and Apple Watch access. It is fun and interactive which will make it a good app for those with ADHD who want to promote gamification and easy time tracking. If you do upgrade to premium, it won't break the bank, offers between $19.99 - $29.99 commonly appear for lifetime access to it and with regular updates, this is an attractive offer.
This is one of the most interactive, fun, iOS apps for pomodoro tracking.
Not Boring Timer is beautiful, fun to use, but not the most practical of tools. Think of it as a bold, creative looking timer and nothing too feature-dense. You can start a timer and the numbers appear on screen and fill the screen. You can use the timer to see how long is left and the free plan limits you to what you see. The real magic is if you are connected to all the apps like Not Boring weather, calculator, habits and more - then you get access (as part of premium) to all the other bonuses like wallpapers, better backgrounds & more.
Well-designed and easy to use timer.
Bold and simple concept that will leave people impressed.
For those who want a bold typeface with a visual timer - this is perfect.
Can be used with the other apps in the Not Boring universe.
Lacks all customization without the upgraded plans.
Free to use with limits of the basic screens.
$14.99 one-off (for access to Not Boring Timer)
Or $49.99 for all the apps, per year.
Looking for a balance between mindfulness & pomodoro tracking?
Flow is a mindful, stress-reducing focused pomodoro timer.
Many people go for this as it works well for those who want a more stress free looking tool and one that works for them. It works on Mac, iOS and Apple watch too. It's super clean and very mindful looking, you can track some chart-based insights, but not too much. Premium features do allow you to block apps, connect your calendar & more useful features, but largely it is free to use and get started with.
Looking for something more basic & easy to jump right into?
No we didn't forget the "o". Pomodor is a web-focused pomodoro timer that works with the basics.
You can track a timer, cycles, basic settings and that's it. Made by an independent developer and totally free, the app is used by many who want a simple and minimal timer app. It won't be available on iOS, Android or any of the desktop apps, but it is just on a web page. You can sign in to keep track of your sessions, but that's it. The only visual customization is a light and dark mode switcher for those who like to work into the evening. You won't write home to anyone about what this app does, it is very simply a basic timer app with the pomodoro system, that's all and it does it well.
Easy to use and minimal design.
Allows you to follow the system with basic, but good settings.
Comes with a Chrome notifications for nudging you on task completion.
Lacks any sort of apps or downloads.
No way to add task name or title.
It is free to use with no limits.
It is limited to only web access.
If you don't want to pay, don't care for looks, don't care for the playful elements. This is the perfect pomodoro timer.
Simple and loadable at any time, you can use this on web and mobile web to start a timer, get stuck in and remove barriers to productivity that some apps might take up.
Looking for an Android timer app with great widget abilities?
Focus To-Do is one of the highest-rated pomodoro timers for Android.
You will be able to use time tracking, reminders, tasks and recurring items. You can also get weekly and monthly reporting too. There are calendar modes for organizing your schedule too. It has 5M+ downloads on Google Play and a top tool for those who want a free Android app.
Does work on iOS & Mac too (if you change).
Great widgets that you can add to your Android home.
Comes with high level of statistics, streaks & insight into time spent.
Not the most playful or attractive of apps.
Can feel cluttered at times.
If you're an Android user, or you want something that works cross-platform (minus Windows) then Focus To-Do is perfect.
It isn't the most attractive option on the market, but it does a good job at having all the features & ease of use.
Choosing a pomodoro timer might seem scary, there's so many and they all have very similar features; let's help:
Depending on your needs, we'd recommend the all-round Focus Keeper, it is available on iOS, Android & web.
Our top recommendations for those who like to use Google Chrome, or browser like it, are Otto & Pomodoro.
Otto is better suited for users who want something robust that works as a Chrome extension in your browse.
Pomodor is better for those who want to use it within the tab, without the need to be nudged (they do have chrome notifications).
These are ones that you'll want to use at work and keep track of projects or client work. We'd recommend Paymo and Toggl Track.
Paymo does allow for advanced tracking for projects and time tracking with a settings page for pomodoro too.
Toggl Track has a dedicated mode for pomodoro users making life easier for you.
If you're looking for cross-platform (iOS and Android in this case) and a good reliable, easy to use option, we'd say Focus To-Do and Focus Keeper.
Focus To-Do is a good all round that is favored for Android users but also has a way to connect up on Mac too.
Focus Keeper is better all round for iOS users, with no desktop app, it does have a web version for on the go access & and Android version too.
Looking for something a little less intense for tracking, with less features & more calm layouts? We'd recommend Flow or Sunsama.
Sunsama is a better, focused planner system with pomodoro functions and a focus mode (more broader and expensive).
Flow is the most mindful pomodoro timer on the market with a focus on zen and relaxation.
If fun and interactivity is your goal. We'd recommend the following apps: PomoFocus, Otto or Forest.
Otto is the best pomodoro timer for chrome with a fun, gamified nature - with a health score for reducing distractions.
Forest is better for those students who need a way to set a timer (25 minutes) and be pressured into not using their phones.
PomoFocus is a great way to collect tomatos with each session you have. Tilt the phone and they all moved around - fun & playful.
Many of those with ADHD lean towards the pomodoro method, so if you're recently discovering the system, we'd recommend Otto, PomoFocus or Flow.
All of these recommendations are good as they promote healthy timer session, make them fun & interactive, as well as calm.
Here's some common questions that the pomodoro technique throws up:
Following the pomodoro system as a religion, 25 minutes.
But you can adapt the system to your need. A study showed that 90 minutes is an effective focus time for many people.
The 80 20 rule is a concept known as the Pareto principle.
It could assist with pomodoro timers as you can use it to narrow your focus down to the most important tasks.
If you need help with visual prompts, physical tools are better especially on your desk in view.
If you don't get distracted by phone or screens as much, timers on apps are a good choice.
Help narrow down your choices with more timer apps for Pomodoro: