Chain
A study timer with a streak worth keeping.
Knowing you should study was never the problem. Starting is. Chain makes starting the thing you get rewarded for.
Chain is a free study and focus timer for Windows and Android. Study for twenty minutes and the day counts: a new link on your chain. Every hour you put in earns XP, levels and rewards that stay yours. Plan revision in timed blocks, study in a quiet Reading Room with rain, and see when friends are studying too.
How students use Chain
Twenty minutes, every day
The daily bar is low on purpose. Twenty minutes is enough to keep the chain going on a bad day, and most days it turns into more once you've started.
Revision in blocks
Split one session into timed blocks, each with its own length and, if you like, its own subject. Short Pomodoro-style sessions with breaks work too. Every session counts toward your level.
A goal per subject
Give a subject or project a goal, like a thesis chapter or an exam, and watch your study hours build it up as a castle, from watchtower to crowned castle. The journal keeps a record of every session.
Study with friends, without a feed
Add friends to your Guild and you see who is focusing right now. No posts to scroll. Friends are optional.
Phone discipline on Android
On Android, switching to another app ends the session. Locking your screen is fine, so you can put the phone down and study.
Questions
Is Chain free for students?
Chain is free for everyone during beta, with no ads and nothing to buy inside the app.
Does it work on a laptop and a phone?
Yes: Windows 10 and 11, and Android, which is open for pre-registration on Google Play. With a free account the two sync, and a session can carry on from one device to the other. Mac and iPhone aren't available.
Does Chain block websites?
No. Pair it with a blocker if websites are your weak spot. Chain is the part that makes you want to come back tomorrow.
What if I miss a day during exams?
The streak resets. Your XP, levels, hours and rewards stay, and a new chain starts with your next session.
Start your chain
Free on the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and 11. Android is coming to Google Play: pre-register now.
Get it on the Microsoft Store Pre-register on Google PlayMore: Focus timers for Windows · Chain vs Forest · FAQ