Free Online Metronome — Accurate, 20–300 BPM

A metronome that doesn’t drift

Most “online metronomes” fire a click from a setInterval callback — and JavaScript timers can run tens of milliseconds late whenever the browser is busy, which is exactly when a click should land. This one is built differently: a look-ahead scheduler watches the Web Audio clock and places every click on the audio hardware’s timeline ahead of time. The result is a click that stays put at 20 BPM and at 208 BPM, with no accumulated drift, and keeps playing when the tab is in the background on desktop.

Who it’s for

• Instrumentalists practicing scales, exercises or repertoire — set the tempo, feel the accented downbeat, keep yourself honest.
• Students working up a hard passage — start slow, then let the tempo trainer raise the speed automatically every few bars.
• Anyone who needs a number — heard a song and want its BPM? Tap it out and send the tempo straight back here. Producers syncing delays can grab exact millisecond values from the BPM to ms calculator.

How to use it

1. Press Start (or hit Space). The first tap also unlocks audio on phones — no sound plays until you ask for it.
2. Set the tempo with the slider, the −/+ buttons, the number box, a preset, or Tap tempo. The page URL always carries the current BPM (?bpm=120), so a bookmark restores it.
3. Choose a time signature (the first beat of each bar is accented), a subdivision, a click sound and a volume.
4. Watch the pulse: the disc flashes every tick, the dots mark your position in the bar.

Settings are remembered on this device between visits — clear them any time via your browser’s site data (details).

Keyboard shortcuts

Space starts and stops. ↑/↓ nudge the tempo by 1 BPM, →/← jump it by 5. Shortcuts never fire while you’re typing in a field, and Ctrl/⌘ combinations are always left to the browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is this metronome accurate?

Yes — clicks are scheduled on the Web Audio clock, not on JavaScript timers. A look-ahead scheduler places each click up to ~120 ms in front of the beat, so the jitter that makes setInterval-based metronomes drift or stutter doesn't reach the audio. The timing ticker also runs in a background worker, so the click holds steady when the tab loses focus (though some mobile browsers still suspend audio for hidden tabs — an OS limitation, not a timing one).

Does it work on iPhone and Android?

Yes. Mobile browsers require audio to start inside a user gesture, which is why nothing plays until you press Start — that tap unlocks the audio engine. The layout is touch-sized (all controls are at least 44px targets), and while the metronome runs it asks the OS to keep the screen awake where the browser supports it.

What do the time signature and subdivision controls do?

Time signature sets how many beats make a bar — beat 1 is always accented so you can feel the downbeat; 6/8 clicks six eighth-note pulses per bar. Subdivision splits every beat into eighth notes, triplets or sixteenth notes with a quieter tick — useful for checking whether your 'straight' passages really are straight.

How do I set a tempo without the slider?

Several ways: press the Tap tempo button in rhythm, use the preset buttons (60–208 BPM), type a number into the BPM box, hit the arrow keys (↑/↓ for ±1, →/← for ±5), or open /?bpm=140 directly — the URL updates as you change tempo, so you can bookmark or share an exact speed.

What tempo should I practice at?

Start where you can play the passage perfectly three times in a row — usually 50–70% of the goal tempo — then step up a few BPM at a time. The tempo trainer automates that ramp, and the practice guide covers the method in detail.

Where do the Italian tempo names come from?

The label under the BPM number (Largo, Andante, Allegro…) follows the conventional metronome-scale ranges — the same words printed on mechanical metronomes. They're approximate by convention, not law: see tempo markings explained for the ranges and where they come from.

Does it cost anything or need an account?

Neither. It's free, there's nothing to sign into, and the sound is synthesized in your browser — nothing is uploaded or recorded. The site is supported by unobtrusive ads.