How the Pomodoro works
The Pomodoro technique is simple: focus on one thing for a set time, take a short break, and repeat. Notchiko runs the whole loop for you. Start a Pomodoro and it goes from focus to break to focus on its own, with a soft chime and a notification (if you allow them) when each part ends.
Start one from the timer button when you hover over the notch, from Notchiko's menu bar icon, or in Settings › Pomodoro.
Right in your notch
While a Pomodoro runs, its Chiko takes the first spot by the notch with the time left underneath, so you can see how long is left without opening anything. Hover over the notch and its card shows the time, whether you're focusing or on a break, and a progress bar. Click the card for Pause, Resume, Skip, Reset, and Stop.
You can pick the Pomodoro's own Chiko, like the Coffee Cup for morning focus or the Books for study sessions. Your countdowns, birthdays, and clocks stay right beside it.
Focus lengths and breaks
- Classic, 25 minutes of focus and a 5-minute break, is included free.
- With Notchiko Lifetime, choose Short (15 and 5), Long (50 and 10), or your own lengths: focus for 1 to 120 minutes and break for 1 to 60.
- Lifetime also adds long breaks after every few focus sessions: every 4 by default, and you can pick 2 to 5.
It keeps time even when your Mac sleeps
Notchiko remembers when the current part of your Pomodoro ends rather than counting down second by second, so the time stays right through a busy Mac, sleep, and even quitting and reopening the app. If a session ran out while your Mac was asleep, it moves on to the next part from when you're back, instead of replaying everything you missed.
A native Mac app
Notchiko is built in Swift for macOS, works offline, and has no account or tracking. On Macs without a notch, it shows as a small floating pill you can put at the top, sides, or bottom of the screen. It needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The free version includes the Classic Pomodoro; Lifetime is a one-time $4.99.