Pomodoro Timer
Boost your focus and productivity with the Pomodoro technique — 25 minutes of deep work, 5 minutes of rest, repeated for maximum output.
Add tasks and track how many pomodoros each takes
Customise your Pomodoro intervals
How to Use the Pomodoro Timer
Why Use the Pomodoro Technique?
Deep Focus
Short, timed intervals train your brain to concentrate without distraction.
Beat Procrastination
Starting a 25-minute timer feels easy — it removes the mental barrier to beginning.
Structured Breaks
Built-in rest periods prevent burnout and keep energy levels high all day.
Track Progress
Count pomodoros completed and see your total focus time grow session by session.
Task Management
Attach tasks to sessions so you always know what you're working on.
Fully Customisable
Adjust focus time, break lengths, and auto-start to match your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Running the Pomodoro Technique With a Simple Online Timer
The appeal of the Pomodoro Technique isn't really about the number 25 — it's that committing to a short, fixed block of focused work feels far more achievable than committing to an open-ended "work until it's done" session. A Pomodoro timer makes that commitment concrete: a visible countdown, a clear stopping point, and a built-in break on the other side of it.
The Structure Behind the Technique
The method, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, follows a simple cycle: 25 minutes of focused work, called a pomodoro, followed by a 5-minute break. After completing a set number of pomodoros — 4 by default — a longer break of 15 minutes follows before the cycle starts again. All of these durations, along with how many pomodoros trigger the long break, can be adjusted in the settings if the default 25/5/15 split doesn't fit your work rhythm.
What the Tomato Row Actually Shows
The row of tomato icons beneath the timer fills in as you complete pomodoros within your current cycle, resetting once a long break is triggered. It's a quick visual gauge of how close you are to your next longer break, at a glance, without needing to do the arithmetic of "how many have I done since the last long one" yourself.
Using the Task List Alongside the Timer
The Tasks tab lets you keep a simple list of what you're working on, each with a checkbox to mark it done. It's worth being clear that this list runs independently of the timer itself — checking a task off is a manual action you take when you finish it, rather than something the timer automatically updates as pomodoros complete. Think of it as a lightweight to-do list you keep open next to your focus sessions, not an automatic time-tracking log per task.
Why Structured Breaks Matter as Much as the Focus Blocks
It's tempting to treat the break as optional once you're in a flow, but the break is part of what makes the technique sustainable over a full day rather than just a single burst of focus. Skipping breaks repeatedly tends to erode the same concentration the technique is meant to protect — the short breaks exist specifically to prevent the kind of fatigue that makes a fourth or fifth pomodoro much harder to sustain than the first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the timer keep running if I switch to another browser tab?
The timer continues to run using your browser's own timing functions, so it should keep counting in the background. Some browsers do throttle inactive tabs to save resources, which can occasionally cause a very slight delay — the page title also updates with the live countdown, so you can check progress from another tab without switching back.
Does completing a pomodoro automatically add to a task's count?
No — the task list and the timer run independently. Tasks are a simple checklist you check off yourself; completed pomodoros aren't automatically linked to a specific task in the list.
Can I change the 25-minute default to something longer or shorter?
Yes — the Settings tab lets you set any focus duration, short break length, long break length, and how many pomodoros trigger a long break. The classic 25/5/15 split is a starting point, not a fixed rule.
Are my settings and stats saved if I close the tab?
Yes — your interval settings and task list are stored in your browser and will still be there the next time you open the page on the same browser and device, though they won't automatically carry over to a different device.
Related Tools and Resources
A few related tools suit slightly different focus styles than the fixed Pomodoro structure.
Use a Focus Timer for a single uninterrupted deep-work block without the built-in break cycle.
Try a Study Time Tracker if you want an open-ended stopwatch and a subject-by-subject log instead of fixed intervals.
A Daily Habit Tracker is useful for building a consistent daily focus routine over time, beyond a single session.
Use a Countdown Timer if you just need a plain single countdown without the Pomodoro cycle structure.
A Small Commitment That's Easy to Actually Start
The real value of the Pomodoro Technique isn't the specific numbers — it's that a 25-minute block feels small enough to start without much resistance, and the built-in break makes the next one feel achievable too. The timer's job is just to hold that structure so you don't have to think about it.
Reviewed by Kromo Tools Team
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