Countdown timer
The Timer element shows a countdown in a widget, in days, hours, minutes and seconds. It counts down either a fixed interval from when the visitor first sees the widget, such as 15 minutes, or to a fixed date, such as the end of a Black Friday sale. When it reaches zero while the visitor is watching, it can run an action and automations.
Available on: all platforms.
Interval vs date
| Interval | Date |
|---|---|---|
Counts down to | The visitor's first view of the widget plus the interval | A fixed date and time |
Same deadline for everyone | No, each visitor has their own | Yes |
After zero | A new countdown of the same length starts on the next view | Shows 00 on every unit |
Typical use | "Your offer is reserved for 15:00" | "Sale ends Sunday at midnight" |
Default | 2 minutes | — |
Interval
The countdown starts the first time the visitor sees the widget, on any page. When they see the widget again later, the timer continues from where that countdown is now, not from the beginning. Once a countdown has ended, the next view starts a new countdown of the same length, so a returning visitor always sees time remaining. The first view is remembered per browser: a different browser, device or a private window starts a new countdown.
Date
You pick the date and time in your own time zone (your browser's), and the deadline is that same moment for every visitor worldwide. A visitor in another time zone sees the correct time remaining. The countdown is calculated from the visitor's device clock, so a device with a wrong clock shows a wrong remaining time. Once the date has passed, the timer shows zeros. To stop showing the widget after the sale, set the widget's end date in its schedule.
When the timer reaches zero
If the countdown reaches zero while the widget is displayed:
- A widget event is recorded, unless the action is No action or Close widget and there are no automations.
- The automations run, then the action: Close widget, Go to step, Open URL or Spin the wheel (when a wheel is on the same step), with optional Conditional actions.
If the timer is already at zero when the widget opens (a date in the past), nothing runs.
Configuration
Settings tab:
Option | What it does | Values / default |
|---|---|---|
Deadline: Type | Interval or fixed date | Interval (default), Date |
Interval | Length of each visitor's countdown | 2 minutes by default |
Date | Deadline date and time | Picked in your browser's time zone |
Interaction tab: Action (default No action), Conditional actions and Automation. See Actions and Automations.
Style tab: background, border, size, layout (direction, alignment, gap), spacing and position for the whole timer.
Components
Component | What it is | Options |
|---|---|---|
Value | The digits (always on) | Typography, background, border, size, spacing |
Unit | Labels under the digits | Text for Days, Hours, Minutes and Seconds; can be turned off |
Separator | The character between units | Content (default :); can be turned off |
The timer's starting look follows the Countdown style in your branding (Boxed digits or Solid tiles) and the template you start from. See Branding.
Behavior details and limitations
- Which units are shown. Hours, minutes and seconds are always shown. Days are shown while at least one day is left, so the units always reflect the time remaining.
- The timer doesn't affect discounts. It's a visual countdown. To make a code actually expire, set an end date on the discount in your store. The coupon's Apply for time limit only controls how long the code is kept for auto-apply; it doesn't expire the code. See Coupon and discount codes.
- Zero must happen in view. The action and automations run only if the visitor has the widget open when the timer hits zero. A visitor who closes the widget first doesn't trigger them.
- Nothing resets an interval early. Changing steps, reopening the widget from its teaser or visiting another page doesn't restart it; it always continues from the visitor's first view.
Examples
- Reserved offer: a popup with a 15-minute interval timer, a coupon with auto-apply and Apply for 15 minutes, and timer action Go to step → "Offer expired".
- Sale countdown bar: a top bar with a Date timer set to the end of the sale and the widget's end date set to the same moment.
- Shipping cut-off: "Order in the next 02:13:09 for same-day dispatch" using a Date timer updated daily (or a Timeframe rule to show it only before the cut-off).