A meditation timer
that holds the time
so you don't have to.
One to ninety minutes. Authentic singing bowl and bell sounds. No account, no ads, works offline. This is the same timer built into the StillMind app, free for anyone with a browser.
A meditation timer is not a countdown. It's a container. You pour your attention into it for ten or twenty or forty minutes, and the bell tells you when the container is full. That's the whole job. The timer holds the time so your mind doesn't have to, which means your mind can do the thing it actually came here to do.
Without a timer, there's a loop. You settle in. A few minutes pass. You wonder how long it's been. You resist checking your phone. You check anyway. You've lost the thread and you spend the next two minutes rebuilding it. A good free meditation timer doesn't add anything to your practice. It removes that loop entirely.
Everything your practice needs. Nothing it doesn't.
Real bells, not alarms
Singing bowl and meditation bell recordings, captured from actual instruments. The difference between a synthesized chime and a real bell is the same difference between a photo of a lake and standing next to one. Your nervous system can tell.
Customizable intervals
Set interval bells at any frequency. Useful for breathwork transitions, posture check-ins, or switching techniques mid-sit. Soft enough to guide without pulling you out.
One to ninety minutes
Set any duration. Quick presets for common lengths so you're not fiddling with a slider when you could be sitting.
Works completely offline
Runs in your browser. No account, no server connection, no data sent anywhere. Your practice works on airplanes, in cabins, during internet outages, wherever you are.
Distraction-free by design
No notifications, no pop-ups, no upsells mid-session. Start the timer, keep the tab open, and sit. The closing bell sounds when your time is up.
Set. Sit. Rise.
Set
Choose your duration, pick a bell sound, set an interval if you want one. Takes about five seconds.
Sit
Press begin. The opening bell sounds. Close your eyes and practice however you practice.
Rise
The closing bell brings you back. If something's there, write a line about the sit. If nothing's there, close the tab. Both are fine.
The bell is the only part of the timer your nervous system actually touches.
Every meditation tradition has its own instruments for a reason. The bell marks a boundary: everything before it is preparation, everything after it is practice (or return). We picked deliberately.
The long, decaying resonance gives your attention a sound to ride down into stillness. The tone fades, and your focus fades with it, which is exactly the transition a meditation opening needs.
Cleaner, more defined. A single strike with a clear beginning and end. Useful when you want a crisp signal for shorter sits or interval markers.
I have never really had the habit of meditating but this is so simple and intuitive that it's perfect for my chaotic mind. I actually look forward to my mornings now.— gabikrawczyk, App Store Review
If you want more than the timer.
Questions people ask.
Is this really free?
Yes. No trial, no feature gates, no account required. The timer runs entirely in your browser with no data sent to any server. It will stay free.
What bell sound is best for meditation?
The singing bowl has a long, fading resonance that helps your attention settle gradually. It's the most popular choice for a reason. The meditation bell is crisper and more defined, better for short sits or interval markers. Try both. The one that lets you close your eyes without thinking about the sound is the right one.
How long should I meditate as a beginner?
Five minutes. Not ten, not twenty, not "as long as feels right." Five minutes is short enough to finish every day and long enough to experience what settling in actually feels like. Build the habit first, then extend the duration. Most people who quit meditation started too ambitiously.
Do interval bells interrupt the meditation?
They can, if they're harsh. The interval bells here are softer than the opening and closing bells, designed to register without startling you. Think of them as a gentle tap on the shoulder, not a shout. Many practitioners find intervals helpful for posture resets, breathwork transitions, or simply knowing time is passing without checking a clock.
Does the timer work if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer uses wall-clock time, so it catches up correctly when you return to the tab. On mobile, keep the browser tab in the foreground for the closing bell to sound reliably. For background and lock-screen support, the StillMind app is built for that.
Can meditation timers work offline?
This one does. It runs entirely in your browser with no server connection. Once the page loads, you can disconnect from the internet completely and the timer keeps working. Useful for airplane mode, retreats, or anywhere without reliable signal.
Do I need a meditation timer or can I use my phone's clock?
You can use your phone's clock. But there are two problems. First, the alarm sound. Your phone's default alarm is designed to get your attention aggressively, which is the opposite of what you want at the end of a meditation. Second, the phone itself. Opening the clock app means seeing notifications, badges, and messages. A meditation timer gives you a bell without the noise.
Can I use it for yoga or breathwork?
Yes. Interval bells are particularly useful for breathwork (marking transitions between inhale/hold/exhale phases) and yoga (timing holds or signaling pose changes). Set the interval to match your cycle length and the timer does the counting for you.
A timer that serves your practice. A journal that listens.
Free forever. No credit card. Works offline. Your journal stays on your device.