A countdown that keeps the room calm.
Holdspace times your breaks, sessions and whole agendas. Share one link and everyone sees the same countdown, in their own time zone.
No card to start. Then pay once, or keep the free Basic version.
- No account
- Works offline
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android
Three ways to hold the time
Whether you are calling people back from a break or steering a full day, set it up in a few seconds and get back to your group.
Ends at
Count down to a clock time. See instantly what that moment is for everyone, wherever they are.
“We start again at 2:15.”
Duration
Minutes from now, in one tap. The digits turn amber in the last minute so nobody is caught off guard.
“Ten minutes, then we regroup.”
Agenda
Chain named segments together. A gentle chime marks each change, and the ring shows the whole session at a glance.
“Check-in, small groups, break.”
One link, every time zone
No more “is that my time or yours?” in the chat.
- Start a timer in the time zone you think in.
- Copy the share link and paste it into your call chat.
- Everyone sees the same countdown, with the end time shown in their own zone.
- 2:15 PMNew York
- 7:15 PMLondon
- 11:15 AMVancouver (you)
- 4:15 AMSydney, next day
Built for people who hold groups
- Check-in rounds
- Type the names, choose the time each, and Holdspace passes the turn from person to person, showing who’s speaking and who’s next. Everyone gets the same time.
- Breaks that bring people back settled
- Mark a break and your group sees your message, then a slow breathing cue in the last 30 seconds. A gentle return instead of an alarm.
- Your private facilitator view
- A second window just for you, with your notes for each part, the running order, and whether you’re ahead or behind. Your group only sees the clean timer.
- Ready-made agendas
- Start from a group therapy session, peer consultation, workshop, retrospective or training template, then make it yours.
- One more minute
- Add or take away a minute, pause, or skip to the next segment without starting over.
- Made for screen sharing
- Go fullscreen and the buttons fade away while you present. Light and dark modes suit bright rooms and projectors, and you can embed a live countdown on your own site.
- Sounds that don’t startle
- Choose a chime, a singing bowl or a soft bell, with optional warning tones at 5, 2 or 1 minute left.
- Works anywhere, even offline
- Install it like an app on your laptop, tablet or phone. The screen stays awake while it runs.
- Your colors
- Choose from seven calm palettes or pick your own to match your practice. Share links show the timer in your colors.
- Know how far over you are
- When time is up, your message appears and a quiet counter shows how long you have run over. Keyboard shortcuts keep your hands on the session.
Made for people who hold groups: facilitators, group therapists, coaches, trainers and teachers. Anyone who needs everyone back on time, without being the one watching the clock.
I built Holdspace for my AEDP facilitation team and our trainings, and later for our BIPOC Brainspotting trainings too. These sessions bring people together from different time zones and move through full agendas, with breaks, small groups and time to check in.
I wanted a timer that keeps that time steady and gentle, so the people facilitating can stay with the group instead of the clock. Holdspace grew out of the one we use in our own sessions, and now I’m sharing it with anyone who holds groups.
Private by design
The people in your sessions trust you. Holdspace is built so that trust stays with you.
- No account
- You never sign up or log in. There’s no profile and no password to keep track of.
- No tracking
- Holdspace has no analytics and no ads. It doesn’t watch how you use it.
- Your sessions stay on your device
- Agendas, names in a check-in round and your private notes are saved in your own browser, not on a server.
- You decide what you share
- A share link carries only what’s on that timer, such as segment names and your message for the group. Your private notes are never included.
How Holdspace compares
| Feature | Holdspace | Free online timers | Event timer subscriptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyone sees the time in their own zone | Yes | Rarely | Some |
| Agendas with named segments | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
| Check-in rounds | Yes | No | Not usually |
| Break screens with a breathing cue | Yes | No | No |
| Private facilitator view | Yes | No | Often |
| No account needed | Yes | Usually | No |
| Price | $39 once, free trial | Free, often with ads | Usually a yearly subscription |
Try it free. Pay once to keep it all.
Use every feature free for 7 days. After that, keep using Holdspace Basic at no cost, or unlock everything for good. No subscription.
Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android and Chromebook.
- Ends at and agenda timers, with ready-made templates
- Check-in rounds and a private facilitator view
- Break screens with a breathing cue
- Share links that convert to every time zone
- People you share with don’t need to buy it
- Three calm sounds and warning tones
- Seven color palettes or your own, light and dark
- Installs as an app and works offline
Holdspace Basic stays free after your trial: duration timers, share links, sounds, time zones and fullscreen.
Questions
Do the people in my session need to buy it too?
No. Anyone who opens your share link sees your live countdown in their browser, with nothing to install and no account.
What happens after the free trial?
Nothing breaks and nothing is charged. Holdspace becomes Holdspace Basic, which stays free: duration timers, share links, sounds and time zones. End times, agendas and colors wait for you to unlock them.
Is this a subscription?
No. You pay once and Holdspace is yours to use.
How do I unlock it after buying?
Your purchase email includes a license key. In Holdspace, open Settings, choose Enter license key, and paste it in. Everything unlocks straight away.
Will it work with Zoom, Teams or Google Meet?
Yes. Share your screen with Holdspace in fullscreen, or paste the share link into the chat so people can keep it open in their own window.
Is anything about my sessions stored online?
No. Holdspace has no account and no server storing your sessions. Your agendas, names and notes stay in the browser on your device. When you share a timer, its details, such as the names in a check-in round, travel inside the link itself, so share it only with your group. When you unlock Holdspace, your license key is checked with our payment provider.
What happens if I close the tab by accident?
Your timer keeps going. Open Holdspace again and it picks up exactly where it was.
Does it need an internet connection?
Only the first time. After that, the installed app works offline. Sharing a link with others needs them to be online, of course.
Will my group hear the sounds?
Your computer plays the sounds. If you share your screen with computer audio turned on, your group hears them too. Browsers keep sound off until you tap the page once, and Holdspace reminds people to do that.