Why it's a strong pick

Marinara does one job: the classic Pomodoro cycle. It is open source under the MIT license, so anyone can read the code instead of taking a promise on trust. The trade-off is scope. It has no task list and no site blocking that we can confirm, so pair it with something else if you need those.

What it does

Marinara runs focus intervals with short and long breaks from the browser toolbar. You set the durations yourself. It sends desktop and sound notifications when a session or break ends, and it keeps a running history of the sessions you have completed.

Key features

Your own intervals. Set the focus, short-break and long-break lengths. You are not stuck with one fixed block.
Toolbar controls. Start, pause and check the current phase without opening another tab or app.
Alerts. Desktop and sound notifications tell you when a session or break ends.
Session history. A record of completed Pomodoros shows how much focus time you have logged.
Open source. The code is public under the MIT license.

Who it's for

Marinara fits anyone who wants the classic Pomodoro method with no extras, tuned to their own interval lengths. It also suits people who like to be able to inspect the code. If you want a task list, Focus To-Do or Pomofocus goes further. For a visual nudge, see Forest.

What does Marinara do that a basic timer does not?

It lets you change the focus, short-break and long-break lengths, and it keeps a history of completed sessions. It also alerts you with desktop and sound notifications, so you do not need to watch the clock. That is the full list we can confirm. It stays a timer, not a planner.

Is Marinara open source?

Yes. Marinara is released under the MIT license, so its code is public and can be read. That lets anyone check how it works instead of trusting a claim. We have not audited the code ourselves, and open source alone does not tell you what the extension does with your data.

Does Marinara block distracting sites?

We could not confirm that it does, and our pages do not list site blocking for it. If you want blocking, LeechBlock NG is built for it, and Pomofocus lists a site blocker next to its timer. Marinara's own list is intervals, toolbar controls, alerts and history.

What permissions does Marinara ask for?

We did not find a permissions list we could check. Look at the install prompt in Chrome before you add it. Permissions can change between releases. We could not read the developer's privacy policy when we checked; read it before installing.

FAQ

Is Marinara free? Our pages list it as free. Check the store listing for the current terms.

Do I need an account? We could not confirm either way, so check the listing and the first-run screen.

What if I want something different? Our Marinara alternatives page sorts the other timers by what Marinara lacks.

Good to know

Marinara keeps to the basics. If you start wanting tasks, stats per task or blocking, you are better off with one of the other timers than with a longer wish list for this one.

Other productivity timers to compare

Marinara is one of 6 picks in our productivity timers guide:

Tomato Clock: An open-source Pomodoro timer. Tomato intervals, stats and a dark theme. No task list, no site blocking.
Focus To-Do: A Pomodoro timer and a to-do list in one extension. It works offline without an account. Sync needs one.
Pomofocus: A Chrome listing that pairs a Pomodoro timer with a task manager and a website blocker. Check the publisher name before you install.
Forest: A focus timer that grows a virtual tree. Leave a session early and the tree dies.
ActivityWatch Web Watcher: An open-source extension that logs your browser activity for the ActivityWatch time tracker.

See alternatives: Marinara alternatives

Also see: Best Chrome extensions for students