Meditation timer: sit in silence, with a soft interval bell

The MeditaDream meditation timer is for the days you want silence instead of a voice. Choose a duration, pick an interval bell or none, and press Start. A large countdown fills the screen, and a soft chime tells you when it is over.

A monk watches the sunrise from a monastery perched in the Himalayas

How does the meditation timer work?

MeditaDream meditation timer: 10:00 countdown, durations from 5 to 120 minutes and an interval chime every 1 to 10 minutes — Pick a duration from 5 to 120 minutes and a chime every 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes, or only at the end.

Tap Timer on the home screen, then choose how long you want to sit: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 minutes.

Under “Chime every”, pick a bell every 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes, or “Off — only at the end”. Press Start: the countdown begins, and you can stop at any time.

The bells still ring when your phone is locked.
It works offline: no account and no connection needed.
This meditation timer app is free, with no ads and no subscription.

A mindfulness bell app for silent meditation

In a meditation hall, a bell rings from time to time to bring everyone back to the present. The interval chime does the same on your phone.

Each chime is a single soft bowl, close to a Buddhist meditation bell sound. You hear it, you notice where your mind went, and you come back to the breath.

When you start, a bell every 2 minutes brings you back often. Later, a bell every 5 or 10 minutes leaves more room for silence.

Which timer settings for which goal?

The right settings depend on why you sit down. Here are three simple starting points.

To learn to meditate: 5 or 10 minutes, with a bell every 2 minutes.
To reduce stress at work: 5 minutes, with only the closing bell.
For a long silent sitting, as in zen practice: 20 to 45 minutes, with a bell every 10 minutes.

Timed ambience: one sound, then silence

Timed ambience screen: ambient sounds such as Woodland, After Rain and Ocean Waves, durations from 5 minutes to 1 hour and volume — One ambient sound on its own, from 5 minutes to 1 hour, then it fades out.

Timed ambience plays one ambient sound on its own, with no voice: woodland, after rain, ocean waves, a Chinese flute or a deep drone. For a Buddhist bell sound, pick Resonance, a singing bowl every four minutes.

Choose 5 minutes to 1 hour and set the volume. When the time is up, the sound fades out. It is a gentle way to fall asleep, or to read in calm.

A gentle meditation alarm

The Alarm reminds you to meditate at the time you choose, every day or only on the days you pick.

It is a soft notification, not a ringing alarm clock: a small invitation to take a few minutes for yourself.

Silent timer or guided meditation?

The timer suits you once you know what to do in silence: follow the breath, the body or the sounds around you.

If your mind wanders a lot, start with a guided session instead. The app has dozens of them, including short 4-minute meditations.

Practice for free

Every session is in the MeditaDream app: free, no subscription, no ads, no account, and it works offline.

✦ Discover the app

Frequently asked questions

Is the meditation timer free?

Yes. The timer, the alarm and timed ambience are free, like the whole app: no subscription, no ads, no account.

Does the timer work with the screen locked?

Yes. Start the timer, lock your phone and put it down: the interval bells and the closing bell still ring. Everything works offline.

Can I use it as a gong timer?

Yes, if you like a soft sound: the chime is a light bowl rather than a loud gong. It plays every 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes, and once at the end.

How long should a silent meditation last?

Start with 5 or 10 minutes a day. Add five minutes when the session starts to feel short. Sitting every day counts more than sitting long.