8 Best WordPress Countdown Timer Plugins to Grow Sales (Free and Paid) in 2024
One of the most effective methods to generate excitement for forthcoming events is by incorporating countdown timers into your WordPress website. This functionality serves the purpose of instilling a sense of urgency, thereby stimulating user engagement and prompting visitors to undertake desired actions.
Thankfully, there is an ample selection of WordPress countdown plugins tailored to this specific requirement. In order to assist you in determining the most suitable option, we will meticulously examine the top eight countdown plugins available, meticulously assessing their capabilities and pricing.
Primarily, let us commence this comprehensive WordPress tutorial by delving into the essential features that a remarkable WordPress countdown plugin must encompass.
The Top 8 Countdown Timer Plugins for WordPress
Enhance the sense of urgency and increase user engagement on your website with our curated list of the finest WordPress countdown timer plugins available.
1. WordPress Countdown Widget
Downloads: Over 10,000
Rating: 4.4/5
Ideal for: Personal websites and blogs
Price: Free
Designed to simplify the creation of countdown timers, this exceptional free plugin boasts intuitive customizable shortcodes and widgets that can be seamlessly integrated into any area of your website. Its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface ensures that even individuals without technical expertise can effortlessly utilize its features. You can also personalize the plugin using CSS, and the documentation on the official site provides comprehensive guidance on how to maximize its functionalities.
Key Features:
a) User-friendly customization: Easily adapt the timer’s format, color, font size, border width, and timezone.
b) Standard timers: Perfect for generating anticipation for upcoming events.
c) Theme insertion: Convertible shortcodes that can be utilized on your WordPress theme.
Cons:
Basic customization options: Lack of advanced features and intricate designs.
Update:
This plugin has been closed as of October 6, 2022 and is not available for download. Reason: Guideline Violation.
2. Countdown Builder
Downloads: Over 10,000
Rating: 4.5/5
Ideal for: Personal websites and blogs
Price: Freemium (paid plans start at $23.98 per license)
Countdown Builder is an uncomplicated plugin that offers an intuitive interface for creating countdown timers. This freemium plugin provides numerous options, including WooCommerce and sticky countdown timers. With the free version, you also have the ability to create a “coming soon” page featuring custom text. Upgrading to the Pro version, available at a price range of $23.98 to $94.96 per license, enables you to display custom text or redirect website visitors to a specific URL upon timer expiration. Pro users also enjoy access to customer support and future updates.
Key Features:
a) Mobile compatibility: Choose to hide or exclusively display countdown timers on mobile devices.
b) Popup countdown timer: Attract attention with eye-catching circle and flip-lock countdown popups.
c) Subscription form: Streamline the subscription process and encourage sign-ups.
Cons:
Limited advanced features: Evergreen countdown timers, color customization, progress bars, and popup functionalities are only available with the Pro plans.
3. Ultimate Blocks
Downloads: Over 50,000
Rating: 4.9/5
Ideal for: Personal websites, blogs, businesses, and multimedia sites
Price: Free
Ultimate Blocks is a robust blocks plugin for Gutenberg, offering an extensive range of blocks to enhance your website. Amongst its impressive features is the countdown timer block, allowing you to seamlessly incorporate stunning countdown timers into your posts and pages. This plugin provides significant customization options, including a selection of three unique countdown styles. You can also designate the largest and smallest timer units and customize the timer’s appearance. Best of all, Ultimate Blocks is entirely free, enabling you to add countdown timers to your website without incurring any expenses. It is particularly advantageous for bloggers, affiliate marketers, and business website owners. Additionally, the plugin includes other Gutenberg blocks, negating the need for installing additional plugins on your site.
Key Features:
a) High customizability: Choose from three countdown timer styles.
b) No shortcodes required: Seamless compatibility with Gutenberg, as it functions as a block-based plugin, eliminating the need for shortcodes.
c) Free of charge: Incorporate countdown timers into your site without any financial investment.
Cons:
Absence of evergreen timer functionality: Presently, the plugin does not support the creation of evergreen countdown timers.
4. Countdown Timer – Widget Countdown
Downloads: Over 10,000
Rating: 4.6/5
Ideal for: Personal, multimedia, business, and eCommerce websites
Price: Freemium (paid plans start from $13 per license)
This WordPress countdown plugin enables the creation of an unlimited number of timers, allowing for customization of the action to be executed or the display of custom messages after expiration. Similar to other plugins mentioned, Countdown Timer generates shortcodes and can be utilized as a WordPress widget. Investing in the Pro version, priced between $13 to $45 per license, is worthwhile for those seeking to add animation styles to their countdowns or personalize their appearance. Pro users also receive lifetime premium support.
Key Features:
a) Animation effects: The Pro version provides access to 39 countdown animation effects.
b) Unlimited countdown timers: Generate multiple timers for placement on posts, pages, and sidebars as desired.
c) Countdown timer actions: Choose to execute an action, display a message, or hide the countdown upon reaching zero.
Cons:
Limited free customization options: The ability to change text color, background color, border radius, and font family is only available with the Pro version.
5. Countdown Timer Ultimate
Downloads: Over 20,000
Rating: 4.7/5
Ideal for: Personal, business, and eCommerce websites
Price: Freemium (paid plans start from $99 per license)
Countdown Timer Ultimate offers a comprehensive array of features to create scheduled, recurring, and evergreen timers. With 13 customizable countdown styles featuring lightweight and responsive designs, this plugin provides ample flexibility. Additionally, you have the freedom to determine the action to be taken after each timer counts down to zero. Compatible with popular eCommerce and page builder software, Countdown Timer Ultimate even supports the integration of digital coupons for seasonal promotions and flash sales. The plugin is also translation and RTL-ready, making it ideal for websites targeting an international audience. By upgrading to the Pro plan, priced at $99 per year or $199 per license, you gain access to Essential Plugin addons, chat support, and premium features focused on utility, marketing, website customization, and security enhancements.
Key Features:
a) Unlimited countdown timers: Generate and display as many timers as desired using shortcodes or widgets.
b) Scheduled timer: Set up countdowns between fixed dates to promote upcoming sales or events.
c) eCommerce coupon integration: Embed countdowns within digital coupons to encourage sales and create a sense of urgency.
Cons:
Limited free features: Advanced functionalities such as custom CSS support, recurring timers, and eCommerce coupon integration are exclusive to the Pro version.
6. HurryTimer
Number of Downloads: Over 20,000
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Ideal for: Personal, business, multimedia, and eCommerce websites
Price: Freemium (Paid plans begin at $39 per year)
Despite its freemium model, HurryTimer’s free version offers advanced functionality to create both standard and evergreen countdowns. With the use of cookies and IP detection, the plugin enables the creation of evergreen campaigns that can be manually or automatically restarted. Additionally, it provides a range of expiration actions to drive traffic and enhance the overall customer experience.
Noteworthy features available in the Pro version include a recurring countdown timer, integration with WooCommerce coupons, and a live design customizer. By investing in a Pro plan, ranging from $39 to $129 per year, users can showcase the countdown timer prominently in their main menu for maximum exposure and receive 24/7 assistance through prioritized email and chat support.
Key Features:
Evergreen countdown timer with auto-restart: Rewind the timer upon subsequent visits, instilling a fear of missing out (FOMO).
WooCommerce integration: Update product stock status or hide the “Add to cart” button when the countdown expires.
Multiple expiration actions: Trigger multiple actions when the timer reaches zero.
Cons:
No free support: Access to priority support requires the purchase of a license.
7. SeedProd
Number of Downloads: Over 1,000,000
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Ideal for: Personal, business, multimedia, and eCommerce websites
Price: Freemium (Paid plans begin at $39.50 per year)
SeedProd is an exceptional website builder plugin for creating captivating landing pages. Upon installation, users can immediately leverage a variety of pre-built themes and landing page templates, ranging from Thank You pages to login pages. Customizing these templates is hassle-free thanks to the intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
What sets this WordPress plugin apart is its easy activation of a countdown feature during the coming soon mode with just a single click. This enables users to create anticipation by promoting their site through a landing page before its official launch, complete with an accompanying countdown timer.
While the Pro plans may have higher price points compared to some alternatives on the market, ranging from $39.50 to $239.60 per year, they offer additional features that may eliminate the need for other plugins. These features include access control, email marketing integration, and domain mapping.
Key Features:
Extensive options for blocks and pre-built templates: Effortlessly create various pages within minutes, without the need for coding.
Revision history: Track and revert changes made to your pages with a single click.
Maintenance mode: Limit access to the website until it is ready to go live.
Cons:
No evergreen timer: Due to SeedProd not being a native WordPress countdown timer plugin, visitor detection for personalized timers is unavailable.
8. OptinMonster
Number of Downloads: Over 1,200,000
Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Ideal for: Personal, business, multimedia, and eCommerce websites
Price: $9 to $49 per month
OptinMonster is widely regarded as the leading plugin for lead generation. Among its many powerful features is the countdown timer, allowing users to create both static and dynamic timers for various purposes.
By leveraging this WordPress plugin, users can generate multiple timers in the form of popups and floating bars, maximizing exposure. The plugin utilizes visitor location, device information, and cookies to deliver targeted campaigns. It also provides in-depth analysis of marketing strategies to optimize success rates.
OptinMonster offers pricing plans ranging from $9 to $49 per month. Notably, the countdown timer feature is exclusively available in the Pro and Growth plans, priced at $29 to $49 per month. All purchases come with a 14-day money-back guarantee for added reassurance.
Key Features:
Drag-and-drop builder: Create campaigns using pre-made templates or build from scratch, with over 26 animations and sound effects available.
Exit-intent technology: Display targeted campaigns based on visitor behavior, reducing cart abandonment.
Timed display control: Strategically time the appearance of campaigns to maximize conversions.
Cons:
Paywall barrier: Access to the countdown feature requires at least a Pro plan subscription.
What to Consider in a Countdown Timer Plugin
When compiling our list of WordPress plugins, we took the following factors into consideration:
Ease of use: The plugin should be easily configurable and usable even for those with minimal coding knowledge.
Price: Offering free, freemium, and premium options ensures accommodating various budget levels.
Key features: Each plugin on our list provides the necessary tools for creating and customizing countdown timers.
Compatibility: All plugins have been tested and confirmed to be compatible with the latest versions of WordPress and PHP.
Please feel free to install these WordPress plugins and try them out for yourself to form your own assessment. However, it is recommended to select only one, as having too many plugins can potentially slow down your website.
Additionally, aside from adhering to best practices for choosing plugins, it is essential to consider the hosting provider you use. Opting for premium WordPress hosting helps avoid any performance issues with your website.
Conclusion
The inclusion of a countdown timer can have a substantial impact on your marketing strategies. This feature allows website owners to optimize their SEO efforts by creating landing pages, even during maintenance mode. Likewise, eCommerce websites can employ countdown timers to boost conversions and mitigate cart abandonment.
Based on our evaluation, we highly recommend the following plugins:
For the best free countdown plugin for WordPress, consider Ultimate Blocks and Countdown Builder.
For premium WordPress countdown plugins, HurryTimer and OptinMonster are exceptional choices.