The short answer
A pomodoro to-do list is a task list you work through in timed focus rounds. Each task gets its turn on the timer, and you check it off when it is done. The list above does exactly that, and counts how many rounds each task took.
- Add today's tasks, not every task you have.
- Tap one to work on it, press Start.
- A finished round adds a count to that task.
- Tick it off, pick the next one.
What is a pomodoro to-do list?
It is a normal to-do list joined to a pomodoro timer. Instead of staring at a long list and hoping, you take one task at a time and give it a fixed block of focus, usually 25 minutes. Then a short break. Then the same task again, or the next one.
We make SayBriefly, one app for client work where the focus timer sits on the to-do list and tasks come in from your calls and email. The small list above is the web version of that idea, free for anyone.
A list says what. A timer says now.
How to use this pomodoro to-do list
- Add today's tasks. Type a task and press Enter. Three to six is plenty. The first one you add becomes your current task.
- Pick the one you are working on. Tap a task. It turns teal, and the timer shows "Working on" with its name.
- Press Start. 25 minutes by default. Use the presets for 5 to 60 minutes.
- Let the round count. When the timer finishes, a chime plays and that task gets a round added. Skipping a round does not count it.
- Check it off. Tick the circle when the task is done. The next open task becomes current.
- Keep a copy. Copy list puts it on your clipboard as plain text with checkboxes. Print opens a clean page. Clear done tidies up at the end of the day.
Why the timer and the list belong together
A timer on its own does not know what you are doing. A list on its own does not help you start. Put them together and three things change.
No blank start
The next task is already there when the break ends.
One thing at a time
Only the current task is on the clock. Everything else waits.
Honest numbers
Rounds per task show where your day really went.
Estimate your tasks in rounds, not hours
Hours are hard to guess. Rounds are easier: "this reply is one round, this proposal is three." After a week of counting, your guesses get good, because the list shows what each task actually took.
| Task size | Rounds | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 1 | Reply to a client email, book a call |
| Medium | 2 | Write a one-page brief, review a design |
| Large | 3 to 4 | Draft a proposal, build a page |
| Too big | 5+ | Split it into smaller tasks first |
Group small tasks into one round: three quick replies can share 25 minutes. Keep one "catch-all" round at the end of the day for everything that doesn't fit.
A day in rounds
Most people get 6 to 10 real focus rounds in a working day around calls and messages. Plan to that number and the list stops being a guilt pile.
An example day. Your list above works the same way.
Apps that put pomodoro and to-do together
If you want this in an app rather than a browser tab, a few do both. Here is what each one's own site says.
| App | Timer + tasks | Where it runs | Where tasks come from |
|---|---|---|---|
 Focus To-Do | Yes, built on the Pomodoro Technique | Phone, tablet, Mac, Windows, Chrome extension | You type them |
 TickTick | Yes, a Pomo timer inside a full task app | Phone, desktop, web | You type them |
 Pomofocus | Web timer with a simple task list | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux | You type them |
 SayBriefly | Focus timer on the to-do list | Mac, Windows | Your calls, email and projects, or typed and dictated |
Checked on each app's own website, September 2026.
Focus To-Do and TickTick are solid if you want a general task app with a timer, and TickTick adds habits and a calendar. Pomofocus is the quick web option. For Mac-only picks, see the best pomodoro timers for Mac.
When the list fills itself
Every tool above has the same first step: you type the list. For people who work with clients, that is where things slip. A promise on a call, a request buried in an email, a card on a project board. By the time you sit down to plan, half of it is gone.
SayBriefly is one app where calls, email, tasks, calendar, focus timer and dictation share one memory, tied to your client projects. Once you switch it on, tasks from calls and email land on one to-do list, each linked back to where it came from. Tasks with a time show up on your calendar. Then you pick a few and press play on the focus timer, and the app turns into a focus card with just those tasks.
From your calls
Meeting notes with no bot. What you promised becomes a task.
From your email
Gmail requests that need you, linked to the thread.
From your voice
Double-tap Shift and say it. The task lands on your list.
See the full SayBriefly to-do list app, or read more about the pomodoro timer and technique. Studying? Try the pomodoro technique for studying. Need a gentler start? See pomodoro tips for ADHD.
Questions people ask about pomodoro to-do lists
What is a pomodoro to-do list?
A to-do list where each task is worked in timed focus rounds, usually 25 minutes with a 5 minute break. You pick a task, start the timer, and check the task off when it is done. Many lists also count how many rounds each task took.
How do I use the pomodoro to-do list on this page?
Type a task and press Enter. Tap a task to make it the one you are working on, then press Start. When a focus round finishes, that task gets a round added. Tick the circle when the task is done.
Is my list saved?
Yes, in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us. If your browser blocks storage, the list still works but clears when you close the tab. Use Copy list or Print to keep a copy.
Is this pomodoro to-do list free?
Yes. The list and timer on this page are free and need no account.
How many tasks should I put on a pomodoro to-do list?
Fewer than you think. Most people finish 6 to 10 focus rounds of real work in a day. Add up your estimates and cut the list until it fits.
What if a task takes more than four rounds?
Split it. A task that needs more than four rounds is usually several tasks. Smaller tasks are easier to start and more satisfying to check off.
Which apps have a to-do list with a pomodoro timer built in?
Focus To-Do and TickTick both combine tasks with a pomodoro timer. Pomofocus is a web timer with a simple task list. SayBriefly puts the focus timer on a to-do list that is fed by your calls, email and projects.
Can I use this with Todoist or another to-do app?
Yes. Copy today's few tasks here, run them with the timer, and tick them off in your main app at the end. Or use an app that has both in one place.
Does the list work on my phone?
Yes, the page works in a phone browser. SayBriefly itself runs on Mac and Windows, with no iPhone or Android app.
