Pomodoro timer apps: 10 picks for browser, desktop and phone

A pomodoro timer splits your work into short, timed focus sessions with breaks in between, so you stop trying to concentrate for three hours straight and start finishing things in 25 minute blocks. The method works with any kitchen timer, but an app adds the parts that are easy to forget: automatic breaks, a task list, and a record of how many sessions you actually completed.

If you just want a timer right now, a free browser timer such as Pomofocus or TomatoTimer needs no install. If you want sessions logged and distractions blocked, pick an app for your device, such as Focus Keeper on iPhone, Flow on Mac or Focus 10 on Windows. Below are ten pomodoro timer apps that were still available on November 11, 2026, with their current prices, plus a few tips on getting more from the technique.

How a pomodoro timer works

The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s while he was a university student, according to the official Pomodoro Technique site. “Pomodoro” is Italian for tomato, and each focus session is called a pomodoro.

Most pomodoro timer apps use the same default cycle, which you can usually change in settings. Marinara Timer’s preset, for example, works like this:

• 25 minutes of focus
• 5 minute break
• Repeat four times
• 15 minute long break

During a pomodoro you work on one task and nothing else. If something unrelated comes to mind, you write it down and return to it later. The breaks are part of the method, not a reward: you step away from the screen so the next session starts fresh. Our article on the Pomodoro Technique and natural body cycles explains how to adjust the lengths to your own energy levels.

What to look for in a pomodoro timer app

Every app below counts down from 25 minutes, so the real differences are in what happens around the timer.

• Where it runs. A browser timer works anywhere with no install, a desktop app keeps running when the browser closes, and a phone app is best if you work away from a computer or study offline.
• Custom intervals. Check that you can change focus, short break and long break lengths, and whether the next session starts automatically.
• Tasks and estimates. Some apps let you list tasks and estimate how many pomodoros each will take, which turns the timer into a daily plan.
• Blocking. If social media is the problem, an app that blocks distracting sites or apps during a session does more than a timer alone.
• Reports. Daily and weekly session counts show whether your focus time is growing, and some apps let you export them.
• Price model. Many timers are free with an optional subscription; a few charge for the app itself or offer a lifetime licence.

Pomodoro timer apps compared

Platforms and prices are from each app’s official site or store listing, checked on November 11, 2026. Store prices can differ by country.

10 best pomodoro timer apps

1. Pomofocus

Key features:

• Custom focus and break times
• Task list with pomodoro estimates
• Daily, weekly and monthly reports
• Task templates

Pomofocus is a pomodoro timer that runs in a desktop or mobile browser, with downloadable apps for Mac, Windows and Linux. You add tasks, estimate how many pomodoros each needs, and pick one to work on, so the timer doubles as a plan for the day. Focus and break lengths, alarm and background sounds are all adjustable. The free version covers the timer, tasks and basic reports; premium unlocks yearly reports, unlimited templates and a Todoist integration (premium pricing is not shown on the homepage).

Best for: anyone who wants a free pomodoro timer online with a simple task list and no setup.

2. TomatoTimer

Key features:

• Custom intervals
• Audio and desktop notifications
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Daily pomodoro goal

TomatoTimer is a browser pomodoro timer. The original tomato-timer.com address now redirects to Toptal, which acquired the site, but the tool works as before. You set custom pomodoro, short break and long break lengths, get a sound and a desktop notification when a timer ends, and control everything from the keyboard (Space to start or stop, Alt plus P, S, L or R to switch modes or reset). A time log and daily goal tracker show how many sessions you finished; there is no task list.

Best for: people who want a timer and nothing else.

3. Marinara Timer

Key features:

• Pomodoro preset
• Fully custom timer
• Kitchen timer
• Shareable team timer

Marinara Timer is a browser timer with three modes. The pomodoro preset runs 25 minute sessions, 5 minute breaks and a 15 minute break after every fourth pomodoro. The custom mode lets you name each period and set its length down to the second, and the kitchen mode is a plain countdown. The feature that sets it apart is sharing: you can share a running timer with teammates which helps a group work and break on the same schedule.

Best for: remote teams or study groups that want to run focus sessions together.

4. Focus Keeper

Key features:

• Adjustable sessions and breaks
• Auto start for the next session
• Progress charts
• App blocking

Focus Keeper, from PIXO, is a pomodoro timer for iPhone and iPad. It defaults to 25 minute sessions with a 5 minute break and a longer break after every four, all adjustable, and can start the next session automatically. Charts in the app show your focus time over recent days and weeks, and recent updates added app blocking. The app is free, and Focus Keeper Pro is sold as an in-app subscription starting at $3.99 a month or $34.99 a year in the US App Store.

Best for: iPhone users who want a focused, classic pomodoro app.

5. Forest

Key features:

• Virtual tree per session
• Deep Focus app blocking
• Browser extensions
• Sync across devices

Forest turns each focus session into a small game. You choose a session length and a tree species, and a virtual tree grows while you work. Leave to use another app and the tree dies. Finished sessions fill your forest, and Deep Focus blocks other apps while the timer runs. It runs on iPhone, iPad and Android, with Chrome and Firefox extensions, and syncs history across them. The core app is free, with occasional ads that never appear during a focus session; an optional Plus subscription removes ads and adds features, with prices that vary by region and store. Forest says it has funded more than 2 million real trees with the nonprofit Trees for the Future since 2014.

Best for: people whose biggest distraction is their own phone.

6. Flow

Key features:

• Interval focus timer
• Statistics and graphs
• App and web blocking (Pro)
• Apple Calendar sync (Pro)

Flow is a pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The free version includes the interval timer, several preset durations, statistics, break reminders and iCloud sync of your stats, with no ads and no sign-up. Flow Pro costs $1.49 a month (a cheaper yearly option is available in the App Store) and adds fully custom durations and cycles, app and website blocking, Apple Calendar sync and data export.

Best for: Apple users who want one timer across Mac, iPhone and Watch, with blocking when needed.

7. Focus To-Do

Key features:

• Pomodoro timer per task
• Subtasks, reminders, repeating tasks
• Project time reports
• Sync across devices

Focus To-Do combines a pomodoro timer with a full to-do list. Tasks can have due dates, reminders, subtasks, repeats and notes, and you start a timer on any of them. Daily, weekly and monthly reports show your focus time and how much went to each project, and data syncs between devices. It is available on Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Windows and as a Chrome extension. The app is free to download, with premium features sold as in-app purchases whose price depends on your store.

Best for: people who want their task list and pomodoro timer in one app on every device.

8. FocusMe

Key features:

• Website and app blocking
• Pomodoro mode
• Scheduled sessions
• Screen breaks

FocusMe is a distraction blocker first and a pomodoro timer second. It blocks websites and apps across your devices, lets you schedule focus blocks in advance, and includes a pomodoro mode and screen breaks. One licence covers up to 5 computers (Windows, Mac or Linux) and 2 phones or tablets (Android, iPhone or iPad). It costs $17.95 a month, $119.40 a year, or $449 for a lifetime licence, with a 14-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Best for: people who have tried softer timers and need hard blocking to stay on task.

9. Focus 10

Key features:

• Simple pomodoro timer
• Windows 10 and 11
• Free, no ads

Focus 10 is a simple pomodoro technique app for Windows, available free and without ads in the Microsoft Store. It has been in the store since 2016, was last updated in May 2026, and holds a 4.5 average from 296 ratings at the time of checking. It does one thing: run pomodoro sessions on your Windows PC.

Best for: Windows users who want a native timer with no account and no extras.

10. PomoDuctivity

Key features:

• Custom time periods
• Google Tasks integration
• Microsoft To Do integration
• Session and task statistics

PomoDuctivity is a pomodoro timer and task manager for Windows. You track time in customizable periods, pull tasks from Google Tasks or Microsoft To Do, and see statistics on completed tasks, intervals and minutes. A weekly and daily leaderboard adds a little competition. It is free in the Microsoft Store with optional in-app purchases.

Best for: Windows users whose to-do list already lives in Google Tasks or Microsoft To Do.

How to get more out of a pomodoro timer

The app matters less than how you use it.

1. Plan the pomodoros before you start.

   List the day’s tasks and estimate how many sessions each needs. Large tasks that need more than four or five pomodoros should be split.

2. Protect the session.

   Close chat, silence the phone, and write down anything that pops into your head instead of acting on it. Use a blocker if willpower is not enough.

3. Take the break away from the screen.

   Stand up, stretch or get water. Checking email is not a break.

4. Adjust the length to the work.

   25 minutes is a starting point. Deep technical or creative work may suit longer sessions, and admin tasks shorter ones.

5. Review your numbers weekly.

   Compare planned and completed pomodoros. Over a few weeks you will see how much real focus time your days hold, which makes your estimates more honest.

From focus sessions to timesheets: actiTIME

A pomodoro timer tells you how many focused sessions you completed. It does not tell your manager or client how many hours went into a project, and it does not turn those hours into a timesheet, a report or an invoice. If you work in a team that tracks time, the two tools complement each other.

actiTIME is time tracking software for teams, not a pomodoro app. Its Chrome extension has a one-click timer and tracks time in web apps automatically, then sends that time to your timesheet. In actiTIME itself you can compare estimated and actual time per task, see where the week went in reports, and get timesheets approved. Keep your favorite pomodoro timer for focus, and let actiTIME keep the record. Our guide to workplace productivity has more ideas for teams.

FAQ

What is a pomodoro timer?

A pomodoro timer is a countdown timer built for the Pomodoro Technique. It alternates focus sessions, usually 25 minutes, with short breaks, usually 5 minutes, and adds a longer break after every four sessions. Apps add task lists, statistics and distraction blocking on top of the basic timer.

Is there a free pomodoro timer?

Yes. Pomofocus, Focus 10, Flow, Focus Keeper and Forest all have free versions, and TomatoTimer and Marinara Timer list no price on their sites. Paid upgrades usually add blocking, custom cycles or detailed reports rather than the timer itself.

What is the best pomodoro timer for Windows?

For a simple native timer, Focus 10 is free and has no ads in the Microsoft Store. PomoDuctivity adds Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do integration. If you need blocking as well, FocusMe and Focus To-Do both run on Windows.

What is the best pomodoro timer for Mac and iPhone?

Flow covers Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch and adds blocking in Pro. Focus Keeper is a dedicated pomodoro app for iPhone and iPad, and Forest is the most playful option if your phone is the main distraction.

Is 25 minutes the best pomodoro length?

It is the default, not a rule. Most apps let you change it. Try 25 minutes for a week, then adjust based on how often you lose focus before the timer ends or feel interrupted by it.

Can a pomodoro timer track work hours?

Some can log completed sessions and time per task, which works for personal tracking. For hours you report to an employer or bill to a client, you also need a timesheet with projects, approvals and reports, such as actiTIME.

Choosing your pomodoro timer

Start with a free browser timer to see whether the rhythm suits you, then move to an app for your main device once you know which extras, such as blocking or task lists, you actually use.

If your team also needs to know where the hours go, start a free 30-day trial of actiTIME, or book a demo if you want a walkthrough.