- Pomodoro apps side by side
- Eleven pomodoro timers to try
- Where to start for your situation
- Why short, frequent breaks are worth it
- Browser timers versus full focus apps
- Questions to ask before you pick a timer
- Signs a pomodoro timer could help
- My plain advice on choosing a pomodoro app
- Frequently asked questions
The best pomodoro apps time short bursts of focused work followed by short breaks, so you get more done without burning out. Some are simple browser timers, while others add task lists, analytics or routines. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Some days the hardest part of work is starting. A timer that says work on this one thing for the next few minutes, then rest, is a surprisingly effective way to get going.
The eleven apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the tool's own website, read this week. If you like planning your day around your energy, my energy mapping and time blocking cheat sheet works well alongside a pomodoro timer.
Pomodoro apps side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free account, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flocus | Aesthetic focus timer and workspace | A calm, good-looking workspace | Yes |
| Flow | Simple pomodoro timer for Apple devices | A simple timer on the Mac | Not stated |
| Focus Bear | Focus and productivity app for ADHD brains | ADHD-friendly routines and focus | Trial only |
| Focus Keeper | Pomodoro timer app | A classic phone pomodoro timer | Not stated |
| Focus To-Do | Pomodoro timer with task lists | Tasks and timers together | Not stated |
| Forest | Focus app that grows virtual trees | Keeping off your phone | Not stated |
| Marinara Timer | Online pomodoro timer in the browser | A browser timer with no install | Not stated |
| Pomofocus | Online pomodoro timer with tasks | A web timer with a task list | Not stated |
| Session | Pomodoro focus timer with analytics | Seeing where your focus goes | Not stated |
| Super Productivity | Open source task manager with pomodoro timer | Time tracking with an open source app | Yes |
| Tomato Timer | Online pomodoro timer | The simplest possible timer | Not stated |
Eleven pomodoro timers to try
Flocus
Best for: Visual thinkers who focus better in a pleasant space, with a customisable timer, themes and to-dos on one screen.
Flow
Best for: Mac and iPhone users who want a simple, beautiful pomodoro timer that stays out of the way.
Focus Bear
Best for: People with ADHD, or anyone who struggles to start, who want routines, breaks and focus sessions built in.
Focus Keeper
Best for: Anyone who wants a straightforward pomodoro timer on their phone with work and break sessions ready to go.
Focus To-Do
Best for: Busy freelancers who want their task list and pomodoro timer in one app so every session has a clear job.
Forest
Best for: People who reach for their phone too often and like the idea of growing a virtual tree while they stay focused.
Marinara Timer
Best for: Anyone who wants a classic 25-minute pomodoro timer in a browser tab, with custom and kitchen timer options too.
Pomofocus
Best for: Students and remote workers who want an online timer with a simple task list and templates for their usual sessions.
Session
Best for: Mac and iPhone users who want a pomodoro timer with analytics showing how much focused time they really get.
Super Productivity
Best for: Developers and freelancers who want an open source task manager with time tracking and a pomodoro timer built in.
Tomato Timer
Best for: Minimalists who want nothing more than a clean online pomodoro timer they can start in one click.
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Where to start for your situation
- Trying the technique in a browser tab: Tomato Timer or Marinara Timer.
- Tasks and timers in one place: Focus To-Do.
- ADHD-friendly routines: Focus Bear.
- Staying off your phone: Forest.
- Seeing your focus statistics on a Mac: Session.
Why short, frequent breaks are worth it
The Health and Safety Executive's guidance on screen work says to take short breaks often rather than longer ones less often. Its example is that 5 to 10 minutes every hour is better than 20 minutes every 2 hours.
That's the idea a pomodoro timer builds into your day. Instead of working until your eyes ache, you stop regularly, stand up, stretch and come back fresher. HSE also notes that break reminder software helps, but the responsibility for planning breaks stays with the employer.
Browser timers versus full focus apps
A browser timer is the quickest way to try the technique. You open a tab, press start and work. There's nothing to install and nothing to learn.
Full focus apps add task lists, statistics, routines or blocking features. They're worth it once the habit sticks and you want to see where your focused time goes each week.
Questions to ask before you pick a timer
- Can I change the length of work and break sessions?
- Does it link sessions to tasks?
- Will it work on my phone and my computer?
- Does it show statistics on my focus time?
- Can it play a sound or notification I'll notice?
- Does it work offline?
Signs a pomodoro timer could help
- You struggle to start big tasks. One short session lowers the bar.
- You work for hours without a break. Let a timer remind you.
- Your day disappears into small jobs. Give each session one task.
- Your eyes ache by mid-afternoon. Take short breaks more often.
Do you make a pomodoro or focus timer app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a pomodoro app
Start with the simplest timer you can find and use it for one week. If the rhythm suits you, move to an app with tasks or statistics. If it doesn't, adjust the session length before you give up on the idea, because a longer work block suits some kinds of work better.
Most of all, use the breaks. Get up, look away from the screen and move. If you're still choosing the rest of your toolkit, my list of productivity tools for students and solo workers covers the apps that sit around a timer.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pomodoro app?
A pomodoro app is a timer that splits your work into focused sessions separated by short breaks, usually with a longer break after a few rounds.
How long is a pomodoro?
The traditional session is 25 minutes of work followed by a 5 minute break, but most apps let you change both lengths.
Are pomodoro apps free?
Some are free or open source, and others offer free plans or trials. The free plan column above shows what each tool's own site says.
Does the pomodoro technique work for ADHD?
Many people with ADHD find short, timed sessions easier to start. Some apps are built specifically around ADHD-friendly routines.
Can I use a pomodoro timer with my to-do list?
Yes. Several apps include a task list, or link to one, so each session has a clear job.
What should I do during a pomodoro break?
Step away from the screen. Stand up, stretch, drink some water or look out of a window before you start the next session.
