Will the timer still alert me if the tab is in the background?

Yes, a browser notification fires at zero if you granted notification permission; otherwise an in-page beep plays when you return to the tab. Keep the tab open — pinning it in Chrome prevents accidental closes.

How is this different from the Pomodoro timer?

This is a flexible countdown from any duration (30 seconds, 45 minutes, 2 hours). The Pomodoro timer enforces the 25/5 focus-break cycle. Use the countdown for cooking, workouts, or meeting hard-stops; use Pomodoro for deep-work sessions.

Does pausing lose the remaining time?

No — pause freezes the remaining time, and resume picks up from exactly that point. You can pause and resume as many times as you want without drift.

Why use a browser-based timer instead of my phone's clock app?

For desk-bound work, the browser timer keeps your eyes on the screen — no need to pick up the phone (which often becomes a 5-minute Instagram detour). Browser timers also support more visible cues: large countdown digits, color shifts as time runs out, and audible alerts that play through your computer speakers rather than the muted phone in your pocket. For walking-around timers (cooking, exercise), the phone wins. Pick the surface closest to where you'll be when the timer ends.

Does the timer keep working without internet?

Yes, once the page is loaded. Everything runs in JavaScript on your device — there's no server call to maintain the count. You can disconnect from Wi-Fi, go offline, even use the timer on a flight. If you accidentally close the tab, you'll lose the timer state, so pin the tab in Chrome (right-click the tab → Pin) to prevent accidental closes.

What's a good timer length for cooking, workouts, or meditation?

Cooking: 7-9 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 12-15 for hard-boiled, 25-30 for roasted vegetables, 45-60 for braising. Workout intervals: 30-60 seconds work / 30 seconds rest for HIIT, 4 minutes for Tabata-style sets. Meditation: 10 minutes for beginners, 20 for intermediate, 45 for established practitioners. Speed-of-thought sprints (writing, brainstorming): 90 seconds to 5 minutes. The right length depends on the task; pick something short enough to commit to and long enough to make progress.

Productivity · Free tool

Countdown Timer

Create a free, full-screen countdown timer for any event and hear an alert when time runs out. Works instantly, no sign-up, no download.

Updated June 2026

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What it does

A free online countdown timer that works for any duration from seconds to hours. Type minutes and seconds, tap a preset, or both — then Start. Pause and resume mid-round, reset any time, and hear a short beep when the timer hits zero. It runs entirely in your browser and keeps going even if the tab is in the background.

Countdown timers are an underrated productivity tool. A visible deadline changes behavior — “I’ll draft this until the timer hits zero” beats a to-do list for getting unstuck. Use it for focused work sprints, cooking, speeches, workouts, or any moment when you want a hard stop instead of letting a task expand to fill all available time.

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<iframe src="https://freetoolarena.com/embed/countdown-timer" width="100%" height="720" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="Countdown Timer" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:12px;max-width:720px;"></iframe>

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How to use it

Enter minutes and seconds, or tap a preset (5m, 10m, 25m…).
Click Start. The timer counts down in large digits.
Use Pause/Resume if interrupted, or Reset to start over.
A beep plays at zero — the tab can be backgrounded while it runs.

When to use this tool

Cooking — eggs (7-9 min), pasta (8-12 min), tea steep (3-5 min).
Workout intervals — 30/30, Tabata (20/10), HIIT rounds.
Speech / presentation timing — practicing a 5-minute talk hits the time mark.
Meeting time-boxing — give an agenda item a hard 10-minute ceiling.
Meditation, breathing exercises, focused work sprints.

When not to use it

Multi-step recipes — use a multi-timer app like Cookpad or your phone's clock app.
Stopwatch (timing how long something takes) — use a stopwatch tool instead.
Calendar scheduling — set a notification or alarm in your calendar app.

Common use cases

Boil eggs to specific doneness (soft 6 min, medium 8 min, hard 12 min).
Pomodoro alternative when you want flexible session lengths (35 min, 90 min, etc.).
Holding a yoga pose for a target duration without watching the clock.
Running a debate format with strict 2-minute response windows.

Frequently asked questions

Will the timer still alert me if the tab is in the background?: Yes, a browser notification fires at zero if you granted notification permission; otherwise an in-page beep plays when you return to the tab. Keep the tab open — pinning it in Chrome prevents accidental closes.
How is this different from the Pomodoro timer?: This is a flexible countdown from any duration (30 seconds, 45 minutes, 2 hours). The Pomodoro timer enforces the 25/5 focus-break cycle. Use the countdown for cooking, workouts, or meeting hard-stops; use Pomodoro for deep-work sessions.
Does pausing lose the remaining time?: No — pause freezes the remaining time, and resume picks up from exactly that point. You can pause and resume as many times as you want without drift.
Why use a browser-based timer instead of my phone's clock app?: For desk-bound work, the browser timer keeps your eyes on the screen — no need to pick up the phone (which often becomes a 5-minute Instagram detour). Browser timers also support more visible cues: large countdown digits, color shifts as time runs out, and audible alerts that play through your computer speakers rather than the muted phone in your pocket. For walking-around timers (cooking, exercise), the phone wins. Pick the surface closest to where you'll be when the timer ends.
Does the timer keep working without internet?: Yes, once the page is loaded. Everything runs in JavaScript on your device — there's no server call to maintain the count. You can disconnect from Wi-Fi, go offline, even use the timer on a flight. If you accidentally close the tab, you'll lose the timer state, so pin the tab in Chrome (right-click the tab → Pin) to prevent accidental closes.
What's a good timer length for cooking, workouts, or meditation?: Cooking: 7-9 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 12-15 for hard-boiled, 25-30 for roasted vegetables, 45-60 for braising. Workout intervals: 30-60 seconds work / 30 seconds rest for HIIT, 4 minutes for Tabata-style sets. Meditation: 10 minutes for beginners, 20 for intermediate, 45 for established practitioners. Speed-of-thought sprints (writing, brainstorming): 90 seconds to 5 minutes. The right length depends on the task; pick something short enough to commit to and long enough to make progress.

See how this compares

Head-to-headPomodoro vs FlowtimePomodoro vs Flowtime method: fixed timer boxes vs flexible flow tracking, and which one actually gets more deep work done. Free browser-based Pomodoro timer included.

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