Free tools
Free Email Countdown Timer Generator
Add a live countdown timer to any email. Set your deadline, copy the image URL, paste into Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, or any ESP — done in 60 seconds.
How email countdown timers work
The mechanics behind live timers in email inboxes
Email clients cannot run JavaScript, so countdown timers are not animated components — they are images. The timer image URL points to a server that calculates the time remaining at the moment the image is fetched, then renders a fresh frame and returns it as a WebP image.
When you embed a Wafrow countdown URL in your email, every time a recipient opens the message their email client fetches the image from Wafrow's servers. Wafrow reads your deadline from the URL, subtracts the current time, and renders the correct hours, minutes, and seconds on the fly.
ESP compatibility
| Email client | Timer behavior | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Mail | Fresh render on each open | Most accurate |
| Gmail (web) | Cached at first open by Google's image proxy | Shows time remaining at first open; does not update on re-open |
| Gmail (iOS / Android) | Cached at first open | Same as Gmail web |
| Outlook (web) | Fresh render on each open | Works correctly |
| Outlook (desktop, Windows) | May block external images by default | Recipient must click "Download images" |
| Klaviyo inbox preview | Fresh render | Works correctly |
How to add a countdown timer to your emails
Step-by-step for every major ESP
Klaviyo
- Build your timer above and copy the image URL.
- In your email template, add an Image block.
- Switch to HTML source and paste your URL into the
src. - For evergreen timers, append
&ends_at={{ event.deadline | url_encode }}.
Mailchimp
- Copy your timer URL from the tool above.
- In the email builder, add an Image content block.
- Paste your URL as the image source in the properties panel.
- Set width to 600px for best rendering.
HubSpot
- Copy your timer URL from the tool above.
- In the email editor, insert an Image module.
- Switch to Source code and paste your URL into the
src. - Save and send a test to verify.
ActiveCampaign
Omnisend
Kit (ConvertKit)
Ridiculously good value
Simple, transparent pricing. Risk-free, cancel anytime.
| Free Plan | Lifetime License | Pay-As-You-Go | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
Freeforever |
$99one-time payment |
$0.01per image generated14-day free trial |
| Images Generated | 1,000 / month | 10,000 / month | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | 1 GB / month | 25 GB / month | Unlimited |
| Integrations | All 14 integrations | All 14 integrations | All 14 + Custom Webhooks |
| MCP Server | — | Included | Included |
| Support | Self-serve | Self-serve | Self-serve + dedicated |
| Get Started | Get Started | Get Started |
Features on All Plans
Use on email, whatsapp, mobile push & landing pages
MCP server for AI agents
6000+ fonts available
Generate Images using URL Parameters
Unlimited image and PDF downloads
Multi-lingual support for characters in arabic, hindi, chinese, japanese
Rest API and webhooks
Digital creative asset manager
Live slack and email support
Risk-free, cancel anytime, no lock-in
Wafrow cancellation is self-serve. No need to email us or callbacks from retention specialists. Straightforward and fair, the way life should be.
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As we bootstrap our way through this journey, we realize the value of your hard earned cash. Our endeavour is to make the starting plan as high value as possible. If you're a non-profit, we're happy to offer discounts. Just email us your credentials.
World-class support
Frequently asked questions
Do countdown timers work in all email clients?
Most modern email clients display the timer image correctly. Gmail proxies images through Google's cache, which means the timer shows the time remaining at first open rather than updating on every re-open. Apple Mail, Outlook web, and most mobile clients fetch the image fresh on each open, so the countdown reflects the actual time remaining.
What happens when the countdown reaches zero?
The image continues to serve "00:00:00". You can stop the offer on your landing page independently of the email timer.
How does a Wafrow countdown timer work in email?
The countdown image URL points to Wafrow's server. When a recipient opens the email, their client fetches the image at that moment. Wafrow calculates how much time remains until your deadline and renders a fresh image showing the correct hours, minutes, and seconds.
Can I use an evergreen countdown (per-recipient deadline)?
Yes. Use a URL parameter to pass each recipient's personal deadline. In Klaviyo: append &ends_at={{ event.deadline | url_encode }} to the image URL. Wafrow reads this value and renders the correct countdown for each person.
Is there a limit on how many times the image is served?
Free accounts include 1,000 image renders per month. Upgrade to a paid plan for higher volume.