Pomodoro App Mac Free

Do you struggle to finish your tasks? (Are you mentally drained after working all day?) Download one of these 6 Pomodoro timers, so that you can enjoy more energy, focus, and drive!

Setting this limit makes it difficult to recommend the free version of this app. If you’re not willing to pay for your Pomodoro app, you won’t get much out of Focus Booster. Focus To-Do: Pomodoro app and task tracker Photo from Focus To-Do. Focus To-Do combines a Pomodoro timer with a to-do list. You can group your tasks up under. 6 Steps to Start Pomodoro Timer. Step 1: (optional) create a new named list, for example, “Sprint 1. Market research”. The “list” here can also be a project or an epic in agile methodology. Step 2: Add you tasks to current selected list. After input text, press “ENTER” to confirm. Step 3: The default estimation to a task is 1. Best Mac App: Be Focused (Free) Be Focused. This article is powered by Be Focused, a Mac-based Pomodoro Timer app—no really, I write on a MacBook, Be Focused is my go-to Pomodoro app, and I used it while writing this article. The product is super simple to use.

The Pomodoro method can help you complete todos, write faster, and do more—without the typical distractions that prevent you from getting things done (GTD).

Quick Links

6 Timer Apps on Mac (Pomodoro Friendly Apps)

What is the Pomodoro method?

The Pomodoro method is a way to have more energy, more focus, and work faster throughout the day.

The Pomodoro Technique was created by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980's as a way to boost productivity in highly creative fields of work.

In essence it's a productivity hack that harnesses the power of getting things done by eliminating distractions and adding accountability.

Download one of these 6 Mac apps to get started, and learn how you can easily apply the technique to 3x your creative output.

6 Timer Apps on Mac (Pomodoro Friendly Apps)

Finding a good Mac timer app is hard. Many on the App Store are out of date, buggy, crash, or are difficult to use.

Here are 6 different countdown timer apps that you can use on macOS High Sierra and Mojave.

1. Super Easy Timer (4.3 stars: ★★★★☆)

If you want a simple timer that is easy to change, download Super Easy Timer for Mac.

Use a Full Screen countdown timer
Use natural language to create timers by typing '25' or '25 minutes'
Minimize or hide the timer so it's less distracting

Download Now

Super Easy Timer from the Mac App Store (Limited 40% discount)

Free 7-Day Trial

You can try Super Easy Timer for free. Send the 7-Day Free Trial directly to your Inbox.

2. Tomato One (★★★★☆)

Tomato One (Free with ads, Disable ads for $1.99)

A minimal pomodoro timer app with Menubar support for starting, taking breaks, and tracking sessions.

3. BreakTime (★★★★☆)

BreakTime ($4.99)

Need more accountability?
BreakTime will prevent you from working after your 25 minute timer goes off. You can make it enforce the breaks, or give yourself permission to cheat.

4. Good Timer (★★★★★)

Good Timer ($0.99)

A minimal timer that you can customize with milliseconds and resize. The user experience is a bit harder to use because of the auto-hiding UI, otherwise, it's super compact after you start a timer.

5. Be Focused (★★★★★)

Be Focused (Free trial, $4.99 for full version)

A full featured pomodoro timer, but its user interface is more complex. Use this if you want metrics and if you want to see how many pomodoro's you complete.

6. Red Hot Timer (4.5 stars: ★★★★☆)

Red Hot Timer (Free trial, $4.99 for full version)

The text-based timer that inspired me to create Super Easy Timer. It crashed and locked up, which is why I originally created my timer, after buying Red Hot Timer.

The user experience is a bit clunky, and the developer may have fixed the crashes that I had with macOS High Sierra.

Usability and Productivity

There are things I like in each of these timer apps, but none of them work like I wanted, which is why I created Super Easy Timer (try the 7-day trial for free.

How to Do the Pomodoro Method

Pick a task and break it down into chunks of work
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Work uninterrupted for as long as the timer is going
Mark that you've completed one unit of work (tally on a calendar)
Take a 5 minute break (Every 4, take a 20-30 minute break)
Restart with a new task

Why the Pomodoro Method Works?

Doing tasks with total focus allows you to do deeper work (Read Cal Newports book: Deep Work). The timer is your accountability partner and keeps you focused and on track.

The challenging part of information work is that tasks are not always well defined, and they tend to take longer than we expect.

This can be frustrating for someone who just wants to finish a chunk of code, write the paper, or publish a new website.

The Pomodoro gives you a metric to use as you work on these creative endeavors, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment for a large task that might take weeks to complete.

The sense of accomplishment is the reason that you feel good, because you marked down a unit of work, and you got something done, even if it's just one small part of the big problem.

Break Up Large Tasks into Easy Pomodoros

The breaks should not be looked at as interruptions, but instead as a way to recharge and activate your subconscious mind to continue working on the problem.

While you take a physical break from your work, your mind will continue to work on the problem for you, doing the heavy lifting, so that you can work faster and more effectively.

It's ok even if you don't finish a task within the 25 minutes.

Why?

Because your mind hates open loops, and it'll keep thinking about the problem, giving you new insight, creating ideas, trying to finish the work when you're not actively thinking about the problem.

Most creative people make their discoveries away from the work bench, when they're on a walk, taking a nap, or relaxing.

The One Rule

When the timer is going you have a rule.

You don't stop working if the timer is active. (unless it's a real emergency).

While the timer is going you don't check email . . .

. . . you don't respond to texts
. . . you don't get into a discussion with co-workers
. . . you don't refill your coffee cup
. . . you don't talk to your boss
. . . you don't do anything that isn't the one task that you decided to work on when you started the work session.

Prepping for Your Next Pomodoro

Starting the Pomodoro method can be a little awkward at work or around your family who are used to having you always available.

Before you start, you'll want to tell your co-workers, your boss, or your family that you'll be busy for the next 25 minutes.

When you're done your work session, you can chat with them briefly during your 5 min break. If you need to, bribe your kids to be quiet until you're timer dings.

Your Energy Levels Are Higher With More Breaks

You can burn out your energy if you just work straight for 4 hours.

If you don't get out of your chair, your body is going to be fatigued from holding your posture, from not moving.

Your joints will be stiff, and your eyes will be tired.

Any creative task that requires mental energy is going to be taxing as well.

After a long day of non-stop coding I can feel pretty drained.

Every Tally is a Victory

Instead of being bogged down with not making progress on a specific goal. Reward yourself with completing units of work: Pomodoro sessions.

It's more accomplishing to feel that you've done the work when you've crossed off 10 tally's on your calendar, than it is to say I've finished task X.

The problem with finishing task X, is that it might require tasks A, B, C, D, E, and F.

Pomodoro Timer Windows 10

. . . and if you don't complete all those tasks in one day, then finishing task X is a failure . . .

. . . failure is not a good feeling.

Instead flip it around.

Feel accomplished because you completed the subtasks, even if that meant it took longer than you expected.

What should you do on your breaks?

Ideas for Effective 5 Minute Breaks

Stand up and stretch
Do some yoga poses (downward dog or touch your toes and hang for 30 seconds)
Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain
Blink 60-90 times over 1-2 minutes to prevent dry eyes
Roll your shoulders and try to touch your elbows together to relax your shoulders
Take a walk around your parking lot, trail, or side walk
Go to the bathroom
Read a 3-5 pages from a book
Eat a fruit or vegetable snack
Refill your water or coffee (just dont' get sucked into a conversation)
Do squats

Ideas for Effective 20 Minute Breaks

Go for a 20-minute walk outside (at noon to maximize your vitamin D)
Read a book in your favorite chair
Eat your lunch outside
Do a 20-minute yoga routine
Meditate for 20 minutes
Write about a different topic

Follow Me

Did you download any of the Mac apps? Have you done a pomodoro session yet?

Let me know below with a comment and follow me on Twitter..

Ever caught yourself procrastinating in the morning, only to feel overwhelmed at the end of the day?

These two fluctuating states trick you into thinking you can “make” more time for yourself. When at best, you can only organize it.

This is exactly what the Pomodoro Technique intends to do: break work into manageable chunks to keep your mind sharp and ready.

Below is a list of the best Pomodoro apps you can use to stay focused and boost your productivity.

Best Pomodoro apps to try out

Because of the method’s simplicity, you only need a kitchen timer and a notebook or piece of paper to keep track of your pomodoros. That’s it. Nothing less, nothing more. This doesn’t give you enough insight into timesheets, the nature of your interruptions, or how did you progress on each of your tasks.

To automate the system and customize it to fit your workflow in terms of session lengths, ticking sounds, alerts, and so on, try out these Pomodoro apps:

Paymo Pomodoro (Mac, Windows, Linux)

Paymo Pomodoro Timer – Desktop Widget

Best for: using the Pomodoro technique right within a project management software

The Paymo Pomodoro app is very close to the authentic Pomodoro experience. At its core, Paymo is one of the few project management software with native time tracking and probably the only one that allows you to track time using the Pomodoro technique. Just make sure to update your Desktop Widget to the latest version.

The interface is cleaner than most apps of its kind, featuring a default 25 minutes timer with 5 minutes and 15 minutes breaks. Of course, you can change their duration and choose whether to enable sounds when a work session or break ends from the Pomodoro settings.

Paymo’s timer respects the Pomodoro technique®, displaying 4 Pomodoros under the timer that form a healthy focus session. The long break will kick in after these are completed. If you stop the timer midway though, the visual progress on the current tomato will be lost. Don’t worry, the time entry will still be registered under Timesheets for accurate records.

Pomodoro timer – Paymo

Time reports make it possible to analyze past work sessions, but perhaps Paymo’s biggest advantage is its client and project orientation. This means you can turn all time entries into an invoice and bill clients at the end of the month from the same platform while still practicing the Pomodoro technique®.

Price:

Free, up to 10 users, 250 time entries, and 3 time reports
Small Office (starts at $9.95/user/month), unlimited time entries, and time reports
Business (starts at $15.79/user/month), unlimited time entries, and time reports

Start tracking time effectively with our free Paymo trial.

PomoDone (Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android)

PomoDone Desktop App

Best for: using the Pomodoro Technique with a separate task or project management software

PomoDone connects with a wide variety of project management tools, allowing you to directly import tasks and time entries from the ones that already have a time tracking module – like Paymo.

If you’re looking for remote, cloud-based all-in-one project tools that already have employee time tracking software with high reviews, here’s a list of software project management tools.

If you don’t use one, then you can add your own tasks directly into the app. Then clock in using their Pomodoro timer. A pretty robust one I have to say since you can customize your own session lengths, set auto breaks, and add up an interruption note so you don’t have to rely on a notebook anymore.

PomoDone also comes with a great Chrome Extension that embeds the Pomodoro tracker in certain project management apps and blocks distracting websites if you know yourself to be a slippery procrastinator (I sure am from time to time).

Price:

Lite plan ($2.29/month), with 3 integrations included
Ultimate plan ($4.01/month), with unlimited integrations and unlimited log access

Focus Booster (Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android)

Focus Booster Mobile App

Best for: freelancers who do client-related work

Focus Booster seems to be a Pomodoro app that’s more oriented towards freelancers and agency owners since you can choose which client to track time for. All Pomodoro sessions get automatically logged under a timesheets area, with the possibility to create manual entries on your own. The best part? You can actually export them into a CSV format so it’s much easier to invoice your client at the end of a month or project.

Data nerds, you’re in for a treat. In terms of analytics, you have complete visibility into how you’ve spent your time over a certain period thanks to the Reports Dashboard. This one also includes stats regarding your profitability and percentage of tracked time per client, so you know which client brings in more cash.

I also like how you can save incomplete sessions and resume them when ready, a feature that will serve well first-time Pomodoro users and hybrid fans.

Price:

Free, but limited to 20 sessions
Individual plan ($2.99/month), with 200 sessions and extended settings
Unlimited plan ($4.99/month), with unlimited sessions and invoicing

Focus Keeper (iOS)

Focus Keeper tracker and chart views

Best for: iOS users

The Focus Keeper Pomodoro app features a red background that lets you change the length of the Pomodoro through a simple swipe (breaks have a blue one). And a ticking sound to know it is focus time.

You can also set a goal in terms of the number of sessions you wish to accomplish each day, which I find very helpful. Too bad you can’t name them to know what you’re working on. The app has a notification center though to remind you about your session if you browse other apps on your phone.

There are many ways of customizing this app, from different themes to sounds and alarm levels for each session, short, and long break. Charts over the past 14 and 30 are days are there to help you monitor your productivity, limited to only the past 3 days with the free version.

The Pro one brings 10 premium ticking sounds to get more productive or relaxed, depending on the moment of the Pomodoro cycle, and a full view of your stats.

Price:

Free, limited charts for the past 3 days
Pro ($1.99/month), unlimited charts plus 10 ticking sounds

Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To Do List (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android)

Focus To-Do Mobile App

Best for: Android users

As the name states, Focus To-Do is an all-in-one Pomodoro timer and to-do list. Quite practical, as you can create projects to better categorize sessions, as well as set task priorities for a clear picture of what to work on first. It’s a bit unclear how many projects I’m allowed to create since the app introduces you to a free trial of the premium version.

Other than that, I like the “Forest” feature which gamifies the whole user experience and lets you contribute with your actions at growing a plant. If you don’t complete the daily challenges, you guessed it, the plant dies. An interesting way to build up motivation and stick with the Pomodoro Technique.

This Pomodoro timer also comes with a trend chart of all your completed to-dos and statistics over how you’ve spent your time for each project.

Price:

Free
Premium (£2.99/3 months), with unlimited projects, app whitelist, daily/weekly/monthly report, repeating tasks, reminder tasks

Marinara Timer (Web)

Shareable links in the Marinara Timer

Best for: teams who want to share their online Pomodoro timers

If you’re looking for a simple Pomodoro app that doesn’t require any setup whatsoever, not even signup, then Marinara Timer is the way to go. Just open it in a separate web browser tab and pin it there.

In terms of options, you’re lucky enough. The team behind this app thinks the Pomodoro method is a bit too rigid, that’s why they made three timers available:

A traditional Pomodoro with the 25-5 minutes cycles
Custom one, where you can change the length of each work session and rename them
Kitchen one, where you set a time limit and let it run backward

What sets it apart though is the ability to share your timer through a URL. In case you wish to synchronize work with your team and take a break together, or just share your Pomodoro clock with a manager. There are two links, an admin one, and a viewer link, to avoid stepping on each other’s feet and make sure no timer is stopped by accident. A cautious feature indeed!

Price: Free

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use an app, you can just run a Pomodoro timer on Youtube while you work or study. The only disadvantage of this is that you won’t have historic data of your sessions.

What is the Pomodoro Technique?

The Pomodoro Technique was invented by Francisco Cirillo in the late ’80s as a means to study more efficiently. He used a kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato (“Pomodoro” in Italian), forced himself to study for exactly 25 minutes, then took a break of 5 minutes. And it worked!

Cirillo discovered that to stay focused you have to work with time, not against it. To follow his advice, divide your projects and tasks into short sprints and reward yourself with regular breaks to recharge before the next sprint. This will boost your productivity and keep the creative juices flowing, without relying too much on your willpower.

Pomodoro App Mac Free Download

Is this it? Frankly, yes. And that’s why the Pomodoro Technique is so attractive. You only need a timer and a paper to keep track of your pomodoros and focus single-mindedly on a task.

I’d argue that the length of a work session and break can vary since it takes approximately between 5 and 15 minutes to achieve a flow state.

But here’s how the basic process looks like:

1. Choose a task you want to work on.

2. Set the Pomodoro timer to 25 minutes, the standard Pomodoro duration.

3. Work on the task until the Pomodoro timer rings, then put a checkmark on a paper.

4. Take a short break of 5 minutes to do something non-work-related like stretching or making a call.

5. Take a longer break of 20-30 minutes after every 4 pomodoros. This will help you regroup your thoughts and rest before the next batch of pomodoros.

How the Pomodoro Technique works

Notice a couple of things here. You need to approximate how many pomodoros it takes to finish a task. This information is not readily accessible but, through some trial and error, you should get the hang of it.

You also need to set up a timetable. Block your most important pomodoros for when you’re most creative (for me it’s the afternoon) and leave the rest for when you tend to get distracted. The point is to have a clear limit and motivate yourself enough to push things forward, as well as a clear boundary between work and spare time.

As for the Pomodoro, know that it is a non-negotiable time unit. This means that whenever an emergency or colleague bumps in with a request, you have to either end the Pomodoro right then or protect it from outside distractions until completed. In most cases, you can get by telling your colleagues to reach out in 10 minutes. Otherwise, use the “inform, negotiate, schedule, call back” approach proposed by Cirillo:

Inform the other person that you’re in the middle of something important.
Negotiate with them a time to address the issue.
Schedule it.
Call back or give them a nudge when the Pomodoro is over.

For distractions that are internal by nature as a new idea or article to read, write it down on your paper and proceed with your work until the Pomodoro timer rings.

The benefits of using the Pomodoro Technique

To get a taste of how your life will look like after using the Pomodoro Technique, here are a few benefits to consider:

Improved concentration power

Not all of us can focus for extended periods of time. But everyone can make a little effort to put their heads down for 25 minutes, work, and take a break after.

In fact, a couple of researchers discovered that brief breaks actually improve the overall concentration power or vigilance as they call it. They actually reset it, allowing you to start with a clean slate. Much like the bonus parts in most video games.

The Pomodoro Technique rests on the same principle. After each Pomodoro, take full advantage of your break to recharge and keep your mind fresh for the next session of work. You’ll reduce the number of mistakes caused by a lack of concentration and avoid burnout in the long run.

Decreased back pain

Ever wondered why everyone is so obsessed with making 10,000 steps each day? As cliche as it may sound, sitting is the new smoking. I’m referring here to the health risks associated with excessive sitting, like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Which, according to this study, can’t be compensated by occasional leisure activities even if they exceed the minimum level of physical activity recommended.

In this context, the Pomodoro method becomes your greatest ally for slipping in more movement throughout the day. Use the five-minute break to do a stretch, fill up your water bottle, or just chat with a coworker in the lobby area. Your back and shoulders will thank you later.

Get rid of the perfectionist mindset

This is the creator’s curse, also known as Parkinson’s Law, which I talked about in another article. According to it, work expands to fill the time available for its completion. To put it simply, if you have to complete a one hour task in two days, you’ll probably take the full two days. That’s because perfection sets in, making you fine-tune the task until the very end.

By all means, do what you need to do to create your best work. But don’t get stuck in endless revisions and ship it! Use the strict time limit of a Pomodoro as a race to get things done and free up more time for other creative endeavors.

Are Pomodoro apps for everyone?

No, not really. The method is best suited for creatives, those who need to ship work and have deadlines in place for them: designers, developers, copywriters, and so on. For them, the boxed sprints might catalyze productivity while also making sure they don’t waste too much time and effort on trivial things.

It’s not advisable to use a Pomodoro timer when you are engaged in fast-paced projects where changes can occur at any minute. Or when you’re someone who requires a lot of input from others, like a team leader or sales ops manager.

But what about if you’re a customer support rep or someone who has to do continuous work as it comes in? You can still hack the method and run a few pomodoros back-to-back until you finish the self-imposed target: 50 tickets in one hour, 30 emails in under 30 minutes, you name it. Do a break, then pick up work from where you left it. It’s as simple as that.

If you are a freelancer or own a small business, Pomodoro apps can help your employees keep track of their time. And those time entries add up. At the end of the workweek, you have the necessary timesheets to create invoices. We’ve tested and reviewed the best invoicing software for small businesses in 2021 if you need such a module in your work.

How does the Pomodoro Technique work with other productivity methods

In essence, a Pomodoro focuses more on doing tasks in a timely manner as opposed to planning them. That’s why it’s better to combine it with other productivity methods. It’s fundamental to time tracking, especially if you work in a team and you want everybody on board with their tasks.

Like the Getting Things Done (GTD) method. Use it to process and organize work, then rely on the Pomodoro Technique to actually get things done. It also works well with the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to prioritize tasks before actually doing them, as well as the Kanban method which relies on continuous delivery and improvement of your workflow. A practice that is also encouraged by Cirillo who insists on spending the first and last 5 minutes of a Pomodoro session to recap and review work. For improvement purposes, again.

Note

Don’t overdo this part or else you’ll ruin the simplicity provided by the Pomodoro method.

Final thoughts

With the existing theory and best Pomodoro apps at hand, you should already be able to use the method on your own. Yes, it will take some time to get the hang of it, but you can only reap its benefits if you try it firsthand.

Free Pomodoro Timer App Mac

Before we part away, remember that the Pomodoro method is just that – a way for you to get into the zone and recharge your energy with regular breaks. If you happen to be halfway through your work and the Pomodoro timer has ringed, stop it, continue with your task, and take a break only after you’ve finished it.

Under all conditions, don’t try to push it if it doesn’t work for you. To put it Ryan Holiday’s words:

What we need is something sustainable. Something balanced. Something deliberate without being forced. Purposeful without being obsessed with productivity.

Pomodoro Timer App For Windows

Jump to Section

Best Pomodoro apps to try out
Pomodoro Technique definition
The benefits of using the Pomodoro Technique
Are Pomodoro apps for everyone?
How the Pomodoro Technique works with other productivity methods