How to stop meetings from overrunning
Put a visible countdown in front of each speaker and hand the controls to someone who isn't presenting. Works for a 6-person standup, a biweekly all-hands, or a board meeting — in the room, on Zoom, or both. Free for small meetings, paid for events.
No credit card or signup required
How does the Huel CEO run an all-hands?
An iPad on the speaker's desk shows the countdown. Someone else on the Huel team holds the controller from a laptop and starts, pauses, or sends a "wrap up" message remotely. The CEO sees the time without looking at the clock — the audience doesn't see the timer at all.
“Trying to make sure presentations are interesting, and not overrun. We tried Stagetimer yesterday and it helped — an iPad in front of the speaker, remotely controlled by someone in our Huel team.”
CEO of Huel
Who else uses Stagetimer for meetings?
Adam Johns
Founder & Producer at Video Village Creative, Inc.
Alec Creighton
Owner/General Manager at Northeast Colorado Broadcasting
General Manager at Park Pixel AS
Founder & Creative Director at Southam Creative
Simple to use & easy to share
Stagetimer is a remote-controlled countdown timer that allows you to set, start, pause, and reset a timer from any device with a web browser. It is available as a web application, as well as standalone versions for Windows and Mac. It include the ability to share the timer via unique links, display customizable messages on the timer, and control the timer remotely. It is perfect for events, meetings, and presentations, and is simple and easy to use.
How do you keep a meeting on schedule?
Write the agenda as a list of timers — one per topic or speaker — and link them so the next one starts when the previous ends. Import from a CSV if it's already in a spreadsheet. The room sees whose turn it is and how long is left; nobody has to keep checking the clock.
- No ads
- Quick timer setup
- Reliable cues and timers
Do attendees need to install anything?
No. Stagetimer runs in the browser on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Android — share a link and people open it. The controller is one tab on the operator's laptop; the viewer is another tab (or full-screen window) on the meeting display. A desktop app exists for offline use.
- Clear numeric clock with a large font
- Instant messaging features
- No downloads necessary
How do you share the timer with the room?
Each room gets a short URL and a QR code. Send the viewer link to whoever runs the projector or shared screen; send the controller link to whoever runs the meeting. Need a co-host? Share the controller link with them too — multiple operators can drive the same timer. See Output Links for the full list.
- Assignable moderating powers
- Runs on multiple devices
- QR sharing capability
How do you tell a speaker to wrap up without interrupting?
Send a flash message — "5 minutes left", "wrap up", "we need to move on" — and it appears on the viewer screen in front of the speaker. Color-code by urgency. The audience doesn't see it unless you share the viewer with them; the message goes only to whoever is reading the timer.
- Live message delivery
- Customizable text formats
- Color-coded messages
Can the timer match your company brand?
Yes. Set the background color, upload a logo, pick the font and the timer style. Looks the part on a screen behind the stage at an all-hands or on a sales kickoff projector. The free tier ships with the Stagetimer brand; paid plans let you change everything.
- Gives your brand the spotlight
- Full control over the color scheme
- Allows for a more professional look
How do speakers pace themselves?
A progress bar runs underneath the digital clock — green while there's room, yellow as time gets tight, red when it's overrun. The ticker moves smoothly across so the speaker reads pace, not just the number. Each agenda segment can carry its own color so the next topic is obvious before it starts.
- Ticker to help speakers pace themselves
- Each timer segment is color-coded
- Progress bar for all members
Does it work for hybrid meetings across time zones?
Yes. All connected devices sync to the same server clock — within a few hundred milliseconds — so the countdown on the screen in London matches the one a remote speaker sees in San Francisco. Same link works for the room and for Zoom; no separate "virtual" build.
- Easier integration of foreign meeting attendants
- Time sync capabilities across time zones
- Works on-site and virtually
When is Stagetimer overkill for a meeting?
- You just need a tomato-shaped 5-minute kitchen timer. Any phone app does that — no need to share a link.
- You're running a 1:1 over Zoom. The little built-in meeting clock is enough; setting up a separate viewer is more work than the meeting.
- You need rundown software with cues, music, and lighting cues per row. That's Rundown Studio's job — Stagetimer covers the countdown part of a rundown, not the production rundown itself.
How much does it cost?
The free Starter plan covers up to 3 live connections — enough for a controller and two displays. For larger meetings, more rooms, or branding, pick a monthly plan (cancel anytime) or pay once for 10 days of full access if you just need it for a single event.
Prices shown in US dollars (USD)
Starter
Pro
Pro, subscription, billed annually
Premium
Premium, subscription, billed annually
Common questions about meeting timers
Can I program or schedule the meeting timer?
Yes.
You can program Stagetimer by scheduling multiple timers or linking them together so that one starts right when the other one ends. This feature is available on the web version, as well as the Windows and Mac versions. You can also start a timer at a specific time and date by clicking the gear icon on the individual timer, selecting the "Scheduled" trigger, and choosing a time and date. If the time has already passed, the date will be automatically set for the next day. This automation tool is useful for creating a series of timed events or presentations.
Can attendees send questions to the presenter?
Yes.
Simply share the link or QR code available on the controller page (right under the message column) and your audience will be able to send questions that will automatically turn into messages. You can then edit and reorganize the order of the messages and show them one at a time to speakers.
Can I use Stagetimer for free?
Yes.
You can use Stagetimer for free. The free version of Stagetimer allows you to use all of the basic features, including creating and running timers, scheduling timers, and linking timers together. However, the free version does not include access to the Pro and Premium features, such as additional customization options, importing and exporting timer data, and real-time control of timers from more than three devices at the same time.
What payment options are available?
We offer two ways to access paid features: a 30-day license with no automatic renewal (your account reverts to the free version when it expires) and a yearly subscription that renews automatically but can be canceled anytime. We do not currently offer a monthly subscription. Self-checkout payments can be made via credit card or PayPal, with a receipt generated automatically. For enterprise deals, payment via invoice is also available.
How do I contact support?
You can reach us at support@stagetimer.io for any technical questions or support inquiries.
Can I use Stagetimer with any device?
Yes.
You can use Stagetimer with any device that has an up-to-date web browser. This includes desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Stagetimer is a web-based application, so you do not need to download or install any software to use it. Simply visit the Stagetimer website in your web browser and you will be able to use all of the features of the web version. You can also use Stagetimer offline on a Mac or Windows computer by downloading the desktop app.
Can I share the event agenda with others?
Yes.
Every room comes ready with a shareable agenda link for your attendees to access anytime. You can also send collaborative links to team members and delegate administrative tasks during events.
Is Stagetimer available in languages other than English?
The Stagetimer interface is currently only available in English. Support is also provided in English only. However, the product is used by teams worldwide and the interface is designed to be intuitive regardless of language background.
What is the difference between Rooms and Live Connections?
A Room is where you create and manage a list of timers for your event. Live Connections are the number of devices connected to a room at the same time. On both Pro and Premium plans, you can create unlimited rooms. Pro allows up to 5 live connections per room, while Premium allows up to 50.