Pomodor vs TomatoBar
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Where they differ
- Pomodor is free. TomatoBar is free.
- Only Pomodor lists a web app.
- Only TomatoBar lists a macOS app.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- TomatoBar also covers menu bar app.
In commonFree planPomodoro timer
At a glance
| Pomodor | TomatoBar | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | The web app loads and runs without payment or an account, and neither its pages nor its code list a paid plan. Signing in with Google is optional. | Free and open-source software under the MIT license, downloaded from the project's GitHub releases. The repository lists no paid version. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Sasha Drmic | Ilya Voronin |
| Price read from | pomodor.app | github.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Pomodor
- People who want a plain Pomodoro timer in a browser tab
- Keeping the same timer settings on several devices
- Working offline once the app has been loaded
TomatoBar
- Mac users who want a plain Pomodoro timer at no cost
- People who prefer open-source software they can inspect or modify
- Scripting a timer from the command line or reading its log
Worth knowing
Pomodor
- The site's description mentions session labels and a stats page, but the app as loaded without signing in shows only a timer and settings.
- It is no longer open source: the GitHub repository is archived, and its README says updates now come from a closed-source repository.
- Google is the only sign-in method the app offers.
- It is a web app only; on phones and computers it is installed from the browser as a progressive web app.
TomatoBar
- macOS only. Version 3.0 and later need macOS Big Sur or newer; older macOS versions and the Touch Bar are supported only by releases before 3.0.
- The README describes no task list, reports or sync between devices; session history is kept only as a JSON log file.
- Homebrew marks its tomatobar cask as disabled since September 1, 2026 for failing the Gatekeeper check, though the README still gives the Homebrew command.
- The latest stable version, 3.6.1, is dated February 19, 2026. Before the 3.6 releases that month, the previous one, 3.5.0, came out in September 2023.
Key features
Pomodor
- Adjustable timer
- Work sessions run from 5 to 60 minutes, short breaks from 1 to 30 and long breaks from 1 to 45, over 2 to 15 rounds. The defaults are 25, 5 and 20 minutes across 4 rounds.
- Notifications and sounds
- A notification marks the end of each session, with eight notification sounds to pick from, among them Bell, Guitar and Fairy. Notifications can be switched off in the settings.
- Timer in the tab title
- The remaining time can be shown in the browser tab's title. The setting is on by default, alongside toggles for Autostart and dark mode.
- Google sign-in and sync
- Signing in with a Google account is optional. The site says it syncs your data, and the app saves your timer settings to your account.
- Offline use and install
- A service worker caches the app so that it can run without an internet connection once loaded, and it can be installed from the browser as a standalone app.
TomatoBar
- Adjustable intervals
- Set the length of the work interval, the short rest and the long rest, and how many work intervals make up a set before the long rest is taken.
- Menu bar timer
- Start and stop the timer from a menu bar popover. Showing the countdown in the menu bar, stopping after a break and launching at login are each a setting.
- Optional sounds
- Three sound effects, named Windup, Ding and Ticking, can each be switched on or off. Version 3.6.0 added volume controls for them.
- Break notifications
- A notification says when it is time for a short or long break and when the break is over. The break notification carries a Skip button.
- Global shortcut and URL control
- A global keyboard shortcut starts or stops the timer, and so does opening the tomatobar://startStop URL, for example from the command line.
- JSON event log
- Each change of timer state is written in JSON to a log file inside the app's container, which other tools can read to analyze how time was spent.
Plans
Pomodor
Pomodor$0
The whole web app: a timer with adjustable work, break and round settings, notification sounds, dark mode and optional Google sign-in.
TomatoBar
TomatoBar$0
The complete Mac app: adjustable intervals, three sound effects, break notifications, a global shortcut and a JSON event log.
