Best Pomodoro Timer for Windows (2026): Free and Paid Picks

For most people, the best Pomodoro timer for Windows is the one already installed. Focus sessions in the Windows Clock app lets you set a session length and choose whether to include breaks, and it costs nothing. You only need a separate app if you want break reminders that interrupt you, or a timer that sits next to your notes and to-dos.

Quick answer: the best Pomodoro timers for Windows

• Windows Clock (Focus sessions): best for most people. It's a free, built-in focus timer with optional breaks, linked to Do Not Disturb.
• Stretchly: best for free, open-source break reminders that run from the system tray.
• Windows Clock plus Stretchly: best free combination. Clock times your focus blocks, and Stretchly reminds you to take breaks.
• Gubb: best if you want a countdown timer, scheduled full-window breaks, notes and to-do lists in one window. It is not a strict Pomodoro app.

We make Gubb, so weigh our view accordingly; we've tried to be fair to every app here. The list is ordered by how many readers each option suits, starting with the free built-in one.

How we chose

We looked at what matters for timed work sessions on a Windows PC:

• Runs on Windows as an installable app, not a web page or a Mac-only download.
• Handles breaks, either inside the session or as a separate reminder, because the break is half of the Pomodoro method.
• Gets your attention when time is up, through a notification, a reminder window or a full-screen break.
• Cost model: free, one-time or subscription.
• What else it does: some people want only a timer, others want their task list in the same place.

Some well-known Pomodoro apps (Session, Flow, Be Focused) are Apple-only. As of November 2026 we found no Windows version of any of them, so they aren't included here. If you also use a Mac, see our best Pomodoro timers for Mac.

Summary table

Windows Clock: Focus sessions

Focus sessions is a feature inside Microsoft's own Clock app, which also has alarms, timers, reminders and world clocks. You pick how long you want to focus and whether the session should include breaks. It's linked with Do Not Disturb (formerly called Focus Assist), so notifications stay quiet while you work.

How to start a session:

1. Press the Windows key, type Clock and open the Clock app.
2. Open Focus sessions.
3. Choose how long the session should last and whether you want breaks.
4. Start the session.

If you can't find the Clock app, it was probably uninstalled at some point. Reinstall it from the Clock listing on the Microsoft Store, and Focus sessions comes back with it. Microsoft's support page on Focus in Windows covers the Do Not Disturb side.

What it's good at: there's nothing to install or pay for, and it silences notifications while you focus. A 2025 review says it also connects to Microsoft To Do and Spotify. We couldn't confirm that on Microsoft's own pages, so treat it as a possible bonus.

What it lacks: it has no notes, clipboard history or other tools around the timer, and it exists only on Windows, so it won't follow you to a Mac. It's documented for Windows 11. Some sources say the Windows 10 Clock app has it too; if you're on Windows 10, open Clock and check whether Focus sessions is there.

Price: free as part of Windows (as of November 2026).

Pick it if you want a basic Pomodoro rhythm and fewer notifications, and you don't want another app on your PC. For many people this is enough.

Stretchly

Stretchly is a free, open-source app that reminds you to take breaks while you work. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD. On Windows you can get it from the Microsoft Store or install it with winget. It sits in the system tray and every so often shows a reminder window with an idea for what to do during the break. It has both short breaks and longer breaks.

What it's good at: getting you to stop. The break shows up as a window on screen rather than a notification you can swipe away. If that feels too pushy, an advanced preference makes breaks behave like normal windows, with a title bar, no always-on-top and the ability to minimize them. As of November 2026 it's actively maintained (v1.22.1 is the latest release on the official repo).

What it lacks: it is a break reminder, not a focus timer. It doesn't count down a work session or hold a task list. Some extras are reserved for people who contribute code, translations or money: Contributor Preferences (for example, showing the current time during breaks or hiding the tray icon) and preference sync. It's built on Electron, so downloads are on the large side.

Price: free (as of November 2026).

Pick it if your real problem is skipping breaks, not starting work. It pairs well with Windows Clock: Clock times your focus blocks, and Stretchly keeps the break habit going. For more options in this category, see our list of break reminder apps for Windows.

Gubb: timer plus break reminders

Gubb is our app: one small window with notes, to-do lists, clipboard history, voice-to-text into notes and a few utilities. It's on the Microsoft Store. For Pomodoro-style work it gives you two separate things, a Timer and Break Time reminders. They behave differently, so here is exactly what each one does.

The Timer (Countdown, Stopwatch, Pomodoro)

Move the pointer to the right edge of the note to show the button column, then choose Timer. The dialog has three modes: Countdown, Stopwatch and Pomodoro.

• Pomodoro and Countdown both start at 25:00. While the timer is stopped you can set min (0 to 999) and sec (0 to 59).
• Start / Pause and Reset control it. A progress bar shows elapsed time.
• The − (minimize) button turns the timer into a small floating pill at the bottom of the window, so you can keep writing while it runs. The timer also keeps running if you close the dialog.

What it doesn't do:

• Pomodoro mode works exactly like Countdown. It doesn't switch to a break when 25 minutes are up, and it doesn't count sessions. You start each round yourself.
• There's no completion sound, and the "Timer Complete" notification may not appear. Keep the timer pill in view instead of relying on an alert.
• Only one timer runs at a time, and it's lost when you quit Gubb.

Break Time reminders

This part works more like a dedicated break app. Turn it on under Settings ▸ Break Time ▸ Enable Break Timer, then click Save Break Settings. It's off by default.

When a break starts, the Gubb window goes full screen and stays on top, with a countdown, an eye-rest tip (such as the 20-20-20 rule) and two buttons, +1 Minute and Skip Break. Set the work duration to 25 minutes and you get a rhythm close to Pomodoro, with short micro breaks and a longer break after every few of them. The short breaks are seconds long (60 seconds at most), not the classic 5 minutes.

Limits to know:

• Only the Gubb window goes full screen. Other monitors stay as they are.
• Skip Break is always available, so nothing is enforced.
• Breaks run only while Gubb is open.
• If you change the work duration, it may not take effect until you turn the break timer off and on again, or restart Gubb.
• The separate micro-break and long-break switches aren't saved. Only the main on/off setting is.
• If you pinned the Gubb window on top, a break turns that pin off.

These details come from the Mac app. On Windows, some behavior, such as how notifications appear, may differ.

Price: the current Windows price is on the Microsoft Store listing. Gubb has no free tier.

Pick it if you already want a scratchpad with checklists and Kanban boards, and you'd like the timer and break reminders in the same window as your task list. Skip it if you want a timer that cycles work and breaks on its own. Windows Clock or Stretchly handles that part better, and both are free.

Comparison: what each Pomodoro timer does on Windows

How to choose

• If you just want to try the Pomodoro method, use Windows Clock Focus sessions. It's free and already on your PC. Our guide to what the Pomodoro technique is covers the method, and how many pomodoros a day helps you plan a realistic number.
• If you keep working through breaks, add Stretchly. A reminder window is harder to ignore than a notification.
• If you want one window for your list, your notes and your timer, try Gubb, and use Break Time for the scheduled breaks rather than expecting the Pomodoro mode to cycle.
• If you're studying, our Pomodoro timer setup for studying walks through session lengths and planning.
• If you need a plain countdown or stopwatch, not Pomodoro, see our roundup of timer apps for Windows.

FAQ

Does Windows 11 have a built-in Pomodoro timer?

Not under that name, but Focus sessions in the Clock app covers it. You set a focus length, choose whether to include breaks, and Do Not Disturb keeps notifications quiet while it runs.

Is Stretchly a Pomodoro timer?

Not exactly. It reminds you to take short and long breaks but doesn't time work sessions. You can pair it with Windows Clock to get both halves of the method.

Can I use Session, Flow or Be Focused on Windows?

As of November 2026 we found no Windows versions. All three are for Apple platforms only.

Does Gubb's Pomodoro mode switch to a break automatically?

No. It counts down like a regular timer, and you start the next round yourself. For automatic breaks, turn on Break Time in Gubb's settings and set the work duration you want.