10 Best Pomodoro Timer Apps in 2026 (Free & Paid)

Most people don’t quit the Pomodoro Technique because it fails. They quit because the timer is easy to ignore, or because they sit down with no clear task.

A good app fixes one of those two problems. Some keep the clock on your screen the whole time. Some attach every session to a task. Others are free and start in one click.

This guide covers 10 Pomodoro timer apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the web. It includes a few focus timers that work like Pomodoro apps, such as Forest and the built-in Windows tool. Each entry shows who it suits, where it falls short and how it’s priced.

What is a Pomodoro timer app?

A Pomodoro timer app runs the Pomodoro Technique for you. Francesco Cirillo created the method in the late 1980s. He used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, and “pomodoro” is Italian for tomato.

The idea is simple. You work for 25 minutes, then rest for 5. After four rounds, you take a longer break. Our guide on how the Pomodoro Technique works explains each step for beginners.

A timer app handles the small jobs:

• Switches between work time and break time
• Counts your finished sessions
• Alerts you when time is up

Some apps do more, such as task lists, time estimates, stats and distraction blockers. Others stay basic on purpose.

What to look for in a Pomodoro app

• A timer you can keep in view. A clock hidden in a tab is easy to forget.
• A link to your tasks. Sessions feel clearer when each one has a job.
• Custom session lengths. The classic 25/5 split doesn’t suit everyone.
• Alerts that ring on time. Some apps miss alerts when the screen is off or the tab is hidden.
• Simple stats. Session counts show you what a normal day looks like.
• A price that fits. Free is enough for many people.

We picked these 10 apps after reading each one’s official pages, feature lists and user reviews. The list covers free and paid options, desktop and phone, and simple and task-based tools. You can read how we score software on our rating methodology page.

The 10 best Pomodoro timer apps

1. Blitzit: best for turning a task list into focus sessions

   

   Best for: people who ignore their timer
   Platforms: Windows and Mac (mobile apps are still early)
   Pricing: Paid. There is a 7-day free trial and no free plan.

   Blitzit is a task list and a timer in one app. You write your tasks and guess how long each will take. Then you press “Blitz,” and the list shrinks into a small countdown that stays on top of your other windows.

   That’s the whole idea. You can’t hide the timer behind a browser tab, so the clock stays in front of you.

   What we like

   • The timer stays in view, which solves the problem of ignoring the clock.
   • Time estimates. You see how long a task really took next to your guess, which helps when you struggle to judge time.
   • Custom session lengths. Use the classic 25 minutes, or set longer blocks for deep work.
   • Google Calendar and Notion sync.

   What to know before you pay

   • No free plan. You get 7 days, then you pay.
   • It’s desktop-first, so pick another app when you plan to run the timer mostly from your phone.
   • Some reviewers find the countdown stressful, so try a gentler timer first when a running clock makes you anxious.

   Skip it if: you want a free tool, a phone-first app, or calm background sounds.

   Prices change often, so check current plans and offers in our Blitzit review, pricing and alternatives. Ready to test it? Start Blitzit’s 7-day trial.

2. Pomofocus: best free timer in your browser

   

   Best for: a quick, free timer with nothing to install
   Platforms: Any browser, on desktop or mobile
   Pricing: Free, with an optional paid upgrade

   Pomofocus runs in a browser tab. You set your work and break lengths, add a few tasks, and press start.

   It’s fast and simple, which is why it appears in so many “best Pomodoro” lists.

   The catch is that it lives in a browser tab. On a phone, a hidden tab may not alert you on time, so test it before you rely on it for a full workday.

   Skip it if: you need reliable phone alerts or a timer that stays in view.

3. TickTick: best all-in-one task manager with a timer

   

   Best for: people who want tasks, a calendar and a timer in one place
   Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Mac and Windows
   Pricing: Free, with a paid Premium tier

   TickTick is a full to-do app, and the focus timer is one of its features. You can start a session from any task.

   That works well when you already need a task manager. It’s too much when you only want a clock.

   Skip it if: you want a light timer and nothing else.

4. Focus To-Do: best for tasks and timer across devices

   Best for: people who want a task list and timer that sync between phone and computer
   Platforms: Several desktop and mobile platforms
   Pricing: Free, with paid features

   Focus To-Do puts a Pomodoro timer next to a simple task list. You pick a task, start the timer, and the app counts your sessions.

   It’s more than a timer and lighter than a full planner.

   Skip it if: you don’t need syncing across devices.

5. Forest: best for staying off your phone

   

   Best for: people whose biggest distraction is their phone
   Platforms: Mobile, plus a browser extension
   Pricing: Paid on most platforms

   Forest grows a virtual tree while you focus. Leave the app and the tree dies. That small penalty keeps some people off their phones.

   Forest is not a strict Pomodoro app. It’s a focus timer with a default session of 25 minutes.

   Skip it if: you need task lists, reports or a desktop tool.

6. Be Focused: best simple timer for iPhone

   

   Best for: iPhone users who want a free, no-fuss timer
   Platforms: iPhone
   Pricing: Free to start

   Be Focused is a simple Pomodoro timer built for the iPhone. It keeps the timer and your task list on one screen, with no setup.

   Skip it if: you use Android or Windows, or you want detailed reports.

7. Toggl Track: best for tracking your time too

   Best for: freelancers and anyone who bills by the hour
   Platforms: Web, desktop and mobile
   Pricing: Free for basic use, with paid plans

   Toggl Track is a time tracker first, with a Pomodoro-style focus timer added. You can time your focus sessions in the same place where you log your hours.

   Skip it if: you don’t need time tracking.

8. Focus Keeper: best visual timer

   

   Best for: people who like to see time pass
   Platforms: Mobile
   Pricing: Free version with paid upgrades

   Focus Keeper shows a colorful timer wheel that fills as you work. It also has simple goals. The wheel makes it easy to see how much time is left at a glance.

   Skip it if: you need a desktop timer or a full task manager.

9. Pomotroid: best plain desktop timer

   

   Best for: people who already use a task app and only want a clean timer
   Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
   Pricing: Free

   Pomotroid is a simple desktop timer with no account and no cloud sync. It has a large countdown and color themes.

   It won’t manage your tasks. It only keeps time.

   Skip it if: you want tasks, reports or syncing.

10. Windows 11 Focus Sessions: best built-in free option

    Best for: Windows 11 users who don’t want to install anything
    Platforms: Windows 11
    Pricing: Free, built in

    Windows 11 has focus sessions inside the Clock app. They work with Do Not Disturb and Microsoft To-Do.

    It’s basic, but it’s already on your computer. It’s a good way to try the method before you pick a paid app.

    Skip it if: you use a Mac, or you want detailed stats.

Comparison table

Free or paid: what do you give up?

A free timer is enough when you already know what to work on. Pomofocus, Pomotroid and Windows Focus Sessions do that job well.

Paying makes sense when you need more than a clock, such as task lists, time estimates, sync and reports.

Here is how Blitzit compares with a free browser timer like Pomofocus:

Ask yourself one question: “Do I fail because I forget to start, or because I ignore the timer?” A visible timer like Blitzit’s is worth the cost when your answer is the second one.

Which app fits your situation?

• ADHD or trouble with time: Pick a timer you can’t ignore, and keep sessions short. Blitzit and Focus Keeper are good starting points, and our article on the Pomodoro Technique for ADHD explains what to expect.
• Students: Choose something simple and cheap. Pomofocus and Focus Keeper fit well, and you can pair them with these tips on using the Pomodoro Technique for studying.
• Working from home: A desktop app with a visible timer works best. Fixed start times help too, and our guide to staying focused at home with the Pomodoro Technique shows how to set them.
• Computer all day: Blitzit and TickTick both keep your tasks and timer in one window, so you don’t switch apps between sessions.
• iPhone or Android: Be Focused suits iPhone. Forest, Focus Keeper, TickTick and Focus To-Do work on Android.
• Putting things off: Starting is the hard part, so pick an app that begins a session in one tap. Pomofocus and Windows Focus Sessions are the quickest to open.

Set up your first week

An app won’t help without a plan for your sessions. Try this:

1. Day 1: Pick one app. Don’t switch for a week.
2. Day 1: Write your top 3 tasks and guess how long each will take.
3. Days 2–3: Try the classic 25/5 split, then test longer blocks if it feels too short.
4. Days 4–5: Compare your guesses to the real time. Adjust.
5. End of week: Keep the app, or switch to a different type.

Once your guesses get closer to reality, give each task its own slot in your day. Our guide on time blocking with a Pomodoro timer shows you how.

FAQs

Final verdict

Choose Pomofocus, Pomotroid or Windows Focus Sessions for a free start, and TickTick or Focus To-Do for tasks and a timer together.

Choose Blitzit when your main problem is ignoring the timer. It’s paid and desktop-first, but it’s built for exactly that.