How It Works
Creating a countdown timer takes less than 60 seconds. Here's the magic behind it.
Create Your Timer
Sign up for free and use our intuitive timer builder. Set your countdown date, choose a style, customize colors and fonts, and pick your preferred layout.
Copy the Embed Code
Once your timer looks perfect, we generate an HTML embed code and a direct image URL. Copy whichever one fits your platform.
Paste Into Your Email or Website
Drop the code into your email template, newsletter builder, or website HTML. It works as a standard image — no JavaScript needed.
Watch It Count Down in Real-Time
Every time someone opens your email or loads your page, our server generates a fresh animated GIF showing the exact time remaining. It's always accurate.
The Technology Behind It
Traditional images are static — they look the same every time you open them. Our countdown timers work differently.
When your email client or browser requests the timer image, it hits our server. Instead of serving a pre-made file, our server:
- Calculates the exact time remaining between now and your target date
- Renders a custom animated GIF with 30 frames (one per second) showing the countdown
- Deliversthe GIF with no-cache headers so it's always fresh
The GIF animation loops, and because email clients typically don't cache images aggressively, each open shows an up-to-date countdown. This creates the effect of a real-time timer — all using nothing more than a standard image tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the countdown work in emails?
When someone opens your email, their email client requests the timer image from our server. At that moment, we calculate the exact time remaining and generate an animated GIF that counts down for 30 seconds. If they close and reopen the email, a new GIF is generated with the updated time. This gives the appearance of a "live" countdown.
Does it work in all email clients?
Yes! Since our timers are animated GIFs (standard image format), they work in virtually every email client — Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail, and more. No JavaScript or special rendering required.
Can I use it on websites too?
Absolutely. The same image URL works on any website. Just embed it as an <img> tag. For websites, each page load fetches a fresh GIF with the current countdown.
What happens when the timer expires?
When the countdown reaches zero, the timer displays your custom "expired" message (default: "Time's Up!"). You can customize this message in the timer builder.
What's the difference between Fixed, Evergreen, and Cyclic timers?
Fixed timers count down to a specific date — everyone sees the same deadline. Evergreen timers give each viewer their own countdown from when they first open the email — great for personalized urgency. Cyclic timers automatically reset when they expire — perfect for recurring promotions.
Is there a limit on views?
Our free tier is generous. Each time the timer GIF is loaded counts as one view. You can track your view count in the dashboard.