PodomodoA pomodoro timer app that starts from your task list
Updated · 5 min read · By Christoph Sacher
In short
Podomodo is a pomodoro timer app for iPhone and the web that is built into your to-do list. You pick the tasks you want to work on, set the session length on a circular dial (1 minute to 10 hours, 30 minutes by default), and start. You get a notification when time is up, and you check tasks off as you go.
Podomodo is a pomodoro timer app that lives inside your to-do list. Instead of starting a blank countdown and then wondering what to do, you pick the tasks for the session first, set the length on a circular dial, and start. When the time is up, you get a notification, and the tasks you finished are already checked off.
It runs on iPhone and in the browser, and your tasks sync between both in real time.
The problem with most pomodoro timers
The Pomodoro Technique is simple: work on one thing for a fixed block of time, then take a break. Most timer apps handle the "fixed block of time" part well. What they leave out is the "one thing."
So a typical session goes like this: you start the timer, open your to-do app, scroll through the list, pick something, maybe reconsider, and five minutes are gone before any real work happens. The timer and the plan live in two different places, and you are the glue between them.
There is a second problem. Many timers assume everyone works best in 25-minute blocks. Some tasks, like answering a few emails, need 10 minutes. Others, like writing or coding, need an hour or more before you even get going.
How Podomodo's pomodoro timer works
Podomodo connects the focus timer directly to your task list, and lets you choose any session length.
- Capture your tasks. Type anything into the "What's on your mind?" field and press enter. AI sorts it into a group (like Work, Home or Health) automatically.
- Pick tasks for the session. Choose the tasks you want to work on from your list. They line up in a "focus order," so you know exactly what comes first, second and third.
- Set the length on the dial. Drag the rainbow circular dial to anything from 1 minute up to 10 hours. The default is 30 minutes.
- Start the session. The screen stays awake while you work, so the countdown stays visible on your desk.
- Check tasks off as you go. Finish a task, tick it, and move to the next one in your focus order.
- Get notified when time is up. A notification fires at the end of the session. Take a break on your own terms, then start the next one.
If you need to jump to another screen mid-session, say to jot down a thought that just popped up, a mini timer bar stays visible so you never lose track of the clock.
Custom pomodoro length: why 30 minutes is the default
The original technique uses 25-minute blocks, and that still works well for many people, especially when starting a task feels hard. But there is no rule that says your focus has to fit into 25 minutes. We cover the trade-offs in detail in how long a pomodoro should be.
Podomodo defaults to 30 minutes: a little more runway than a classic pomodoro to get into a task, and still short enough to stay sharp. You can change it every session:
- 10 to 15 minutes for admin, quick replies or getting unstuck on a task you are avoiding.
- 25 minutes for the classic pomodoro rhythm.
- 45 to 90 minutes for deep work like writing, studying or programming.
- Several hours for long, low-intensity blocks, such as a study day where you only want one reminder at the end.
Podomodo vs a typical pomodoro timer app
| Typical pomodoro timer app | Podomodo | |
|---|---|---|
| Task list | Often none, or a separate simple list | Full to-do list with AI grouping and a priority group |
| Choosing what to work on | You decide after the timer starts | You pick tasks into a focus order before you start |
| Session length | Often fixed presets, 25 minutes by default | Any length from 1 minute to 10 hours, 30 minutes by default |
| Breaks | Often automatic short and long breaks | No automatic breaks; you start each session yourself |
| Checking tasks off | Usually in another app | In the same screen, during the session |
| Platforms | Varies by app | iPhone and web, with real-time task sync |
To be fair: if you want a strict, automated 25/5 cycle with long breaks every four rounds and session statistics, a dedicated timer app is the better fit. Podomodo does not have automatic break timers or session history charts. It is built for people who want the timer and the plan in one place.
Who this focus timer app is for
People who lose time deciding what to do
If the hardest part of your day is starting, a pomodoro timer with a task list helps. You make the decision once, when you build the focus order, and then you only execute.
Students and deep workers
A flexible session length suits long study blocks and focused writing or coding. See our guide on studying with the Pomodoro Technique for practical session plans.
People with ADHD or scattered attention
A short, visible list of two or three tasks, plus a countdown that keeps the screen awake, can make it easier to stay on track. Our page on Podomodo for ADHD goes deeper.
How the timer fits with the rest of Podomodo
The focus timer is the last step of a simple flow. You dump everything into the capture field, AI groups and orders it, you mark what matters as priority tasks in a gold group at the top, and then you pull a few of those into a focus session.
Because the timer is connected to the list, nothing gets copied by hand. And because tasks sync between iPhone and the web app, you can plan on your laptop and run the session on your phone, or the other way around.
Try the Podomodo pomodoro timer
Podomodo Pro includes the focus timer, the AI task organizer, habits and the web app. It starts with a 1-month free trial, then $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year (USD; prices vary by country), or a one-time $79.99 lifetime purchase. You can cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. There are no ads and no data selling. See pricing for details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pomodoro timer app for iPhone?
It depends on how you work. If you only want a countdown with automatic breaks, a dedicated timer app is enough. If you want the timer connected to your to-do list, so each session starts with a clear plan of which tasks you will finish, an app like Podomodo that combines a task list and a focus timer saves you from switching between two apps.
Can I change the length of a pomodoro?
Yes. The classic pomodoro is 25 minutes, but many people work better with longer blocks. In Podomodo you set the length with a circular dial anywhere from 1 minute to 10 hours. The default is 30 minutes, a little longer than a classic pomodoro. Pick whatever matches the task and your energy level that day.
Does Podomodo have automatic break timers?
No. Podomodo does not run automatic short or long breaks. You start each focus session yourself, so you decide when to rest and for how long. If you want a strict 25/5 rhythm, you can set the dial to 25 minutes and take your five-minute break before starting the next session.
Does the pomodoro timer keep running if I switch screens?
Yes. While a session runs, a mini timer bar stays visible on the other screens of the app, so you can check off a task or capture a new thought without losing track of time. The screen also stays awake during a session, and a notification fires when time is up.
Is a pomodoro timer with a task list better than a plain timer?
For many people, yes. A plain timer tells you how long to work but not what to work on, so the first minutes of a session often go to deciding. Choosing tasks before you start removes that decision and gives you a concrete finish line for the session.
Try Podomodo free for a month
Write everything down, let AI sort it, and focus on one task at a time. On iPhone and the web.
