How to add a custom countdown timer to your Shopify store, for free

Adding a countdown timer to your Shopify store is a quick and effective way to drive sales by creating urgency. Countdown timers come in various styles, from large page-wide banners on your homepage or collection pages 👇

…to floating bars and smaller timers placed in specific sections like product pages or sign-up forms.

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through adding a countdown timer using the free GSC Countdown Timer app. We’ll cover both evergreen and fixed-date countdowns so you can create the perfect setup for your store. You’ll be able to add a timer to any page of your store, including the homepage, product pages, and shopping cart page.

Guide to adding a countdown timer to a Shopify store

Before you get started, install the GSC Countdown Timer app from the Shopify App Store. It’s free and requires no coding or technical skills.

Step 1. Select a countdown timer type

Once the app is installed, open it through your Shopify admin dashboard and proceed to Create widget.

You’ll see three options for different timer types: a small timer, a page-wide timer bar, and a large timer. The preview images will give you an idea of what each timer type will look like on a store page.

For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll proceed with a large countdown timer to create urgency on the homepage of your Shopify store.

Step 2. Select a timer preset

In the General tab of the settings menu, choose a preset from the gallery. Presets only serve as a foundation, and you can adjust every element, including the fonts, text colors, and layout to align the timer with your store’s branding.

At this stage, you can also set up fonts for your countdown timer by selecting the desired fonts from the list or allowing the app to apply your store fonts. Note that in the latter case, the fonts will not display in the editor but will appear correctly on your live store.

Step 3. Set up the timer’s content and appearance

Next, go to the Content tab to customize the overall look of the countdown timer widget.

The first two Components allow you to edit the text of the timer's title and description. The Timer component’s settings allows you to fine-tune the actual countdown appearance: select a layout, configure the style of the digits, change the label settings, and adjust the width for desktop and mobile devices.

In addition to the countdown, you can add a coupon code or an action button to boost customer engagement. For example, you can use a button to take visitors to a specific page, such as a sale page or product page.

Placing a coupon code makes sense if the countdown is directly related to a limited-time discount. When customers click on the coupon code, it will be copied to the clipboard and applied at checkout automatically.

While tweaking the appearance of your Shopify countdown timer, remember to use the mobile preview mode to confirm it looks good on smaller screens, too.

Finally, using the Background section in the settings menu, you can upload a background image or choose a solid color for the countdown timer. This stage of customization is crucial to ensure that the timer will align with your store’s aesthetics.

Consider adjusting the overlay opacity to make the text and the digits on the timer more contrast with the background.

Step 4. Choose between evergreen and fixed-date timer modes

The last tab in the settings menu is called Timer, and that’s where you decide whether the countdown will be evergreen or with a fixed date. Here is the difference between the two modes:

An evergreen timer counts down a certain period, starting fresh for each customer. A fixed-date timer counts down to a set date or time.

The use cases for these two timers are slightly different, too.

Evergreen timers encourage quick action, creating urgency for limited-time discounts or indicating how long a shopping cart is reserved.

When setting up an evergreen timer, you’ll need to indicate a desired period of time – usually minutes or hours – and the countdown will be triggered each time a store visitor views it.

Fixed-date timers build anticipation by showing how many days or hours are left to a Black Friday sale, Christmas promo, or a new collection release.

When setting up a fixed-date timer, you’ll need to specify an appointed date and time. The countdown will be going on independently from the customers who view it.

Remember to choose what happens when the timer expires. For example, if you select “Do nothing”, the timer will remain visible even after the countdown is over; if you select “Hide timer”, it will disappear from the page once the countdown is over.

Step 5. Display the timer on your store

Once you’ve saved all of your countdown timer settings, copy the timer ID.

Then, open your Shopify theme editor, find the page where you want the countdown timer to appear, and add an app block for the GSC Countdown Timer app.

Paste the timer widget ID you copied earlier into the corresponding field to display the countdown timer.

Save changes in your Shopify theme editor, and your countdown timer is ready to go live in your store.

Add a countdown timer to your Shopify store in 3, 2, 1…

By experimenting with placement, design, and messaging, countdown timers can enhance the shopping experience for your store visitors and drive higher conversions.

Countdown timers are ideal for product launches, flash sales, limited-edition releases, and engagement campaigns like giveaways. Try the free GSC countdown timer for Shopify during your next promo campaign, and see the impact it can have on your store!