Simple. Silent. Precise.
Timefully: A Zen Timer as Minimal as the Practice Itself
Zazen asks you to sit with nothing extra. Your timer should do the same. Timefully provides a clean bell to begin, silence during your sit, and a gentle bell to end. Nothing more.
What is Timefully?
Timefully is a simple, distraction-free meditation timer for self-directed meditators — people with an established practice (Vipassana, Zen, mindfulness, mantra, Heartfulness, breathwork) who don't want guided audio or a social feed. The timer is free, with no account, ads, or trial limits, on iOS, Android, and the web. Timefully Pro adds statistics, mood tracking, tree growth, and sync for $2.99/month, $11.99/year, or $24.99 once (lifetime). It is rated 4.8★ across 2,000+ App Store reviews, used by 40,000+ meditators, and built in Sweden.
What Is Zazen?
Zazen (“seated meditation”) is the core practice of Zen Buddhism. In the Soto tradition, practitioners sit in shikantaza — “just sitting” — with attention to posture and breath, letting thoughts arise and pass without engagement. In the Rinzai tradition, practitioners may work with koans (paradoxical questions) during their sits.
Standard Zazen rounds at a zendo are typically 25 or 40 minutes, separated by kinhin (slow walking meditation). A home practice usually includes one or two rounds. The bell (keisu) marks the beginning and end of each period.
Set Up Your Home Zazen Practice
Whether you sit one round or two, Timefully's segments let you replicate the structure of a zendo session at home.
- First sit: 25 or 40 minutes of Zazen
- Kinhin interval: 5–10 minutes of walking meditation
- Second sit: another 25 or 40 minutes (optional)
- Bell: choose a deep singing bowl or gong tone
- Save as a preset for daily one-tap practice
Single Round (25 min)
Double Round with Kinhin
Why Zen Practitioners Choose Timefully
Traditional bell (keisu)
Start and end each round with a resonant bell tone. Choose from singing bowls and gongs that echo the sound of a zendo.
Round-based structure
Configure 25- or 40-minute Zazen rounds. Use the segment structure for sitting, kinhin (walking meditation), and another sit.
Complete silence
No guided audio, no music. Between the opening and closing bells, the timer is completely silent — just like a zendo.
Track your sits
See your daily practice history, total sitting hours, and consistency streak. Zazen thrives on regularity.
Precise timing
Down-to-the-second accuracy for each round. The timer counts silently — you focus entirely on posture and breath.
Offline practice
No internet required. Put your phone in airplane mode, set the timer, and sit. Nothing between you and shikantaza.
Trusted by Zen Practitioners
“I use it every day and I love it. I tried almost all others and they don't stand close.”
“Hands-down the best app available.”
“A must-have! The perfect DIY meditation app.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a zazen timer be set for?
Common rounds are 25 or 40 minutes. Timefully lets you save both as presets and chain segments for kinhin (walking) between rounds.
Can I use traditional bell sounds?
Yes — Tibetan bells, singing and prayer bowls, and a crystal bowl are included; interval bells can mark the start and end of each round.
Is the zen timer free?
Yes, on iOS, Android, and in the browser, with no account required.
Can I set up kinhin intervals between sits?
Yes. Use Timefully's segment feature to alternate between Zazen sitting periods and kinhin walking meditation intervals, with transition bells marking each phase.
Sit. Breathe. Begin.
Download free on iOS or Android, or try the online Zen timer right now — no sign-up required.
Explore More Meditation Styles
Timefully supports every meditation tradition. Find the timer that fits your practice.