The ultimate free meditation timer round-up

Written by Pierre // October 8, 2011 // Tools // No comments

When meditating, one practices to focus on specific details like sounds, the breath, the body, sensations, observe the thought stream and so on. As a result, keeping track of time can be a real challenge for a beginner. One just gets out of clock time, not clearly knowing where one is in the meditation process. Unfortunately, having no teacher to ring the bell at the right time can actually make you loose focus on meditation itself, increase worrying, thoughts, having you watch and think about the clock itself rather than the actual object of meditation. In a word, a simple clock can just ruins your daily practice.
In this article, I have packed links to FREE timers, being Iphone App, online application, MP3 to play online or to download, that will keep time tracking for you. Thus, you will be able to fully focus on the practice of meditation.

Downloading free meditation timers tracks in MP3 or playing in streaming

The buddhist book editor wildmind.org offers a series of timer MP3 tracks to play or download on its page. Click to play them, right click (crtl+click on a Mac) and “Save Link As” to save the MP3 on your computer.

10 minutes timer by JetCityOrange (only bell ring at the end)
20 minutes timer by JetCityOrange (only bell ring at the end)
15 minutes timer by JetCityOrange (only bell ring at the end)
20 minutes timer by JetCityOrange (only bell ring at the end)

insightmeditationcenter.org offers 6 streaming or download meditation MP3
To the download page

Online application

m.jetcityorange.com online free Timer
5 minute intervall online timer (flash) by JetCityOrange, from 5 to 60 minutes.

Another online free timer (includes “preparation time”, “meditation time” and “interval” so that is really usefull) : http://www.onlinemeditationtimer.com/

Washington mindfulness community offers us one more timer, that has several settings (type of bell, interval, random…):

YourMeditation timer
Same functions as before, with more choice of sounds (TibetanBell, LunchGong, ShipsBell, ChurchBell, GongASoft, GongBSoft, GongCSoft, GongEb, GuitarAm, PianoMood, PianoMood2, ZenA,
ZenE,GobletG,Wave,LunchGong).
The coolest option is that you can EXPORT the file as an MP3 for free.Get yourMeditation timer here.

Timer computer programs:

Free meditation timer for Macintosh by Will Henderson: Meditation Timer 1.2 (free or donation). Basic application that does its job, but no “fancy” functions to customize your meditation.

BuddhaBell Meditation Timer for PC / Windows
BuddhaBell Meditation Timer. The graphic design and the sounds are really awful, but it is better than nothing.

The mindful clock program.exe for Windows/PC (Another disgrace to design for Windows):
Very simple window, with the ring time and a start button.

Free Iphone Timer app

Zazen Lite – FREE Zen Meditation Timer & Mindfulness Bell

Free Android Timer app

Zazen Meditation Timer: can be dowloaded for free at Android Market (click the picture)

Insight Timer Free (Android)
Another free Android app.
(click the picture to go to the page)

Meditation Timer 4.1.0 for Windows mobile
A basic version, but free. Click on the picture to go the download page,

Using a traditional alarm clock

If really you have nothing else, you can use you alarm clock or the timer on your mobile telephone, even though this is, I think, the least “pleasant” item of this list.

Iphone timer