Add a Pomodoro timer to your stream in two minutes. Choose a layout and colors above, copy the link and add it to OBS as a browser source. The overlay has a transparent background, moves between focus and breaks on its own, and can be synced with a study room so your viewers can focus with you.
Add the timer to OBS Studio
It takes a couple of minutes, and the same link works in Streamlabs Desktop (Browser Source), Twitch Studio, XSplit and any streaming software that can show a web page.
- 1Copy the linkSet up the overlay above, then click Copy.
- 2Add a browser sourceIn OBS, click + under Sources, choose Browser and give it a name such as "Pomodoro".
- 3Paste the URL and the sizePaste the link in the URL field and enter the recommended width and height shown under the link.
- 4Place itDrag the source to a corner of your scene. The background is transparent, so only the timer shows.
- 5Keep it runningLeave "Shutdown source when not visible" unchecked so the timer keeps time when you switch scenes.
Two ways to run the timer
Standalone: the overlay runs its own Pomodoro cycle (25/5, 50/10, 52/17, 45/15 or 90/20) and moves between focus and breaks by itself. Turn on "Start automatically" and the countdown begins as soon as the source loads. To pause or skip, right-click the source in OBS and choose Interact.
Synced study room: create a room above, open it in your browser and control the timer from there, with your tasks, sounds and stats. The overlay mirrors the room live. Viewers who enter the room code on pomodoro-focus-timer.io join your sessions, and the overlay can show how many people are focusing together.
Make it readable on stream
- Use light text with the frosted background over busy scenes or camera footage; dark text suits bright, minimal layouts.
- The bar fits in a corner, the ring next to a webcam frame, and the big layout on a study-with-me scene where the timer is the main thing on screen.
- Pick a palette that matches your channel. The accent color changes between focus and breaks, so viewers know when you're back.
- Add a caption such as "Study with me · Day 12" or the subject you're working on.
- The overlay scales with the size of the browser source, so you can make it bigger in OBS without blurry text.
Why a Pomodoro timer works on study streams
Study-with-me and coworking streams are popular because many people find it easier to start and keep going when someone else is working too, even on a screen. A visible timer gives the whole chat the same rhythm: everyone focuses at the same time and talks during the breaks.
It also protects your own focus. Breaks become the moment to read the chat, answer questions and stretch, and viewers who arrive in the middle of a session can see when you'll be back.
How the Pomodoro timer works
Four simple steps. No account, nothing to install: it runs right here in your browser.
- 11
Pick what to work on
Add a task and estimate how many pomodoros it needs. The active task is credited automatically when a session ends.
- 22
Start the timer
Press Start (or the Space bar) and give the task your full attention until the bell rings.
- 33
Take a real break
Step away from the screen for 5 minutes. Stretch, drink some water, rest your eyes.
- 44
Repeat, then rest longer
After four pomodoros, take a longer 15–30 minute break. Your stats and streak update on their own.
Everything you need to focus. Nothing you don't.
A calm, distraction-free timer with the tools serious students and makers actually use.
Pomodoro, Flowtime & countdowns
Classic 25/5, 50/10 or your own durations, a count-up Flowtime mode and simple countdowns, exact even in background tabs.
Ambient sounds & lofi
Layer rain, café or forest sounds, brown noise or 40 Hz binaural beats, and add lofi radio or your own Spotify playlist.
Tasks, projects & templates
A to-do list under the timer: pomodoro estimates, notes, subtasks, projects and reusable templates. See when you'll be done.
Stats, streaks & badges
Daily goal, charts, a year heatmap, time per project, session history with CSV export and 100+ badges to unlock.
Study rooms with friends
Create a room, share the link and focus on one shared timer. See who's working and cheer each other on.
Floating timer
Pop the timer out into an always-on-top mini window while you work in other apps.
Scenes, clocks & themes
Dial, flip clock or kitchen timer. Animated scenes or your own photo, snow or sakura effects, light, dark and any colour.
Keyboard shortcuts
Space to start, R to reset, S to skip, F for fullscreen. Your hands never leave the keyboard.
Private by design
No sign-up, no ads, no tracking of your work. Your tasks and stats stay in your browser, exportable anytime.
Related timers
Each timer below is the same full-featured app, preset for a specific method or duration.
Methods
Countdown timers
Frequently asked questions
Is the OBS Pomodoro timer free?
Yes. The overlay, the study rooms and the full timer are free, with no account and no watermark.
Does the overlay have a transparent background?
Yes. Only the timer is drawn. You can add a frosted panel behind it for readability, or keep no background at all.
How do I control the timer during the stream?
In standalone mode, right-click the browser source in OBS and choose Interact, then click or press Space to start and pause, S to skip and R to reset. With a synced study room, you control everything from the room page in your browser and the overlay follows.
Can my viewers join my sessions?
Yes, with a synced study room. Show the room code on the overlay: viewers who enter it on the website get the same timer and appear in the room, and the overlay can show how many people are focusing.
Will the timer reset when I switch scenes?
No. The standalone timer remembers where it is, even if OBS reloads the source, and catches up with the sessions that ended while it was hidden.
Learn to focus better
Science-backed guides on the Pomodoro Technique, studying and deep work.
How Long Should You Study Without a Break?
The short answer first, then the nuance: what studies on study breaks actually found, how long a break should be, the signs you need one, and how to find your own rhythm.
12 min readThe Science Behind Pomodoro: What Research Does and Doesn't Show
An honest look at the evidence: the few studies that tested the Pomodoro Technique, what research on breaks and attention suggests, and the popular claims that don't hold up.
12 min readHow to Use the Pomodoro Technique at Work
A practical guide for knowledge workers, freelancers and remote workers: plan your day in pomodoros, estimate tasks, handle interruptions and meetings, and protect your focus.