See why 25MinuteTimer is the best free Pomodoro timer in 2025
Key Finding: 25MinuteTimer is the only completely free timer with website blocking, flow state protection, and 18+ features. Forest costs $3.99 but lacks desktop support. Pomofocus is free but basic with no audio notifications.
| Feature | 25MinuteTimer FREE | Forest App $3.99 | Pomofocus Free/$5/mo | Session $2.99/mo | TomatoTimer Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website Blocking | |||||
| Ambient Sounds | 5 sounds | 3 sounds | 3 sounds | 4 sounds | 2 sounds |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | |||||
| Health Reminders | |||||
| Analytics | Advanced | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| Data Export | |||||
| Offline Mode | |||||
| Account Required | Optional | Required | Optional | Required | Optional |
| Open Source | |||||
| Custom Themes | 5 themes | 2 themes | 1 themes | 2 themes | 0 themes |
The #1 way people get distracted during focus sessions is by visiting distracting websites. Only 25MinuteTimer and Session offer this critical feature. Research shows that website blocking can increase focus time by up to 40%.
Why pay for productivity? 25MinuteTimer offers more features than paid alternatives completely free. Over 3 years, using Forest ($3.99) costs you $11.97. Session ($2.99/mo) costs $107.64. 25MinuteTimer costs $0 forever.
25MinuteTimer includes 18+ productivity features, more than any competitor.
Your productivity data is personal. 25MinuteTimer is privacy-first with no tracking, no account required, and open source code. Forest and Session require accounts, storing your data on their servers.
25MinuteTimer: Developers, ADHD users, remote workers, anyone wanting maximum features for free
Forest: Mobile-only users who love gamification and virtual trees
Pomofocus: Users wanting simple, beautiful interface without advanced features
25MinuteTimer: Flow state protection, website blocking, 18+ features
Forest: Gamification, virtual tree growing, mobile app ecosystem
Pomofocus: Beautiful minimalist design, simple todo integration
25MinuteTimer: Web, desktop, mobile, PWA, offline support
Forest: iOS, Android only (no desktop/web version)
Pomofocus: Web only, no dedicated mobile app
18+ productivity features vs competitors' 3-10
No premium tiers, no hidden costs, no subscriptions
Open source, no tracking, no account required
Yes! 25MinuteTimer is 100% free with no premium tiers, no subscriptions, and no hidden costs. All 18+ features are available to everyone forever. We believe productivity tools should be accessible to everyone, not locked behind paywalls.
25MinuteTimer offers more features (18+ vs ~10), includes website blocking (Forest doesn't), is completely free (Forest costs $3.99), works on desktop (Forest is mobile-only), and is privacy-focused with open source code. Forest excels at gamification but lacks practical productivity features.
No! Unlike most competitors, 25MinuteTimer works immediately without sign-up. Your data is stored locally in your browser for complete privacy. No email required, no password to remember, no account to verify. Just open and start focusing.
Choose 25MinuteTimer if you want the most features, website blocking, desktop support, and complete privacy. Choose Forest if you prefer gamification over practical features and only use mobile devices. Choose Pomofocus if you want a simple, beautiful interface without advanced features. Choose Session if you need mobile app integration and don't mind paying $2.99/month.
25MinuteTimer is the only timer with flow state protection—a feature that detects when you're in deep focus and asks if you want to extend your session instead of forcing a break. Combined with website blocking, flexible timing (10-60 min), audio notifications, and complete privacy, it's the most comprehensive free timer available.
No signup, no credit card, no commitment. Start focusing in 5 seconds.