Debate timerevery speech, to the minute.

A free debate timer. Set the speech length, and Tapsle counts each minute and sounds at the end, so the chair can mark protected time and speakers know when to wrap up.

Free · no account · works offline

Start a debate timer

Pick a format, or start blank.

⇄British Parliamentary→ 7 minutes ◎World Schools→ 8 minutes ▲Public Forum→ 4 minutes ◆Model UN→ 1 minute ↩Reply speech→ 4 minutes ✎Classroom→ 3 minutes + Blank counter

Opens Tapsle with the counter ready. It saves as you tap.

What is a debate timer?

A debate timer keeps every speech to its limit and helps the chair signal protected time, when points of information are not allowed. In Tapsle, set the timer to add one every minute with the speech length as the target. The count shows the minute the speaker is in, and the sound marks the end.

Speech lengths of any format
The minute on screen for protected time
A sound at the end of the speech
Pause for points of order

Timer mode, in Tapsle

Any counter becomes a debate timer.

Open a counter’s settings, switch Counting to Timer and set the schedule. Tapsle adds to the count on every interval, plays your sound, and stops at the target. Pause from the card whenever you need to.

British Parliamentary

5of 7

Timer · +1 every 1 min

Next in 0:22

Counting by the timer. Pause to correct.

Counter settings

CountingManualTimer

Add 1 every1 minute

Target7

Manual counting while running

How to use Tapsle as a debate timer

1
Pick a formatBritish Parliamentary, World Schools, Public Forum or Model UN, or a blank counter.
2
Set the speech lengthIn the counter settings choose Timer, add 1 every minute, and set the target to the speech length.
3
Signal protected timeWhen the count reads 1, points of information open. When it reaches the last minute, they close.
4
End on the soundThe timer stops at the limit. Reset for the next speaker.

Protected time, made visible

In British Parliamentary, the first and last minute of each 7 minute speech are protected. The count shows exactly which minute the speaker is in, so the chair can knock at 1 and at 6 without reading a stopwatch.

Model UN and classroom debates

For Model UN, set a target of 1 or 2 for speakers list time and reset between delegates. In a classroom, add a counter per team and let the board show who has spoken and for how long.

Debate timer or a stopwatch?

A stopwatch counts seconds. A debate timer shows the minute that matters and stops at the limit.

TapsleStopwatchDebate app

Shows the minute inYesSomeYes

Sound at the limitYesNoYes

Any formatYesManualPresets

Readable by the roomYesNoSome

No account neededYesYesRarely

CostFreeFreeOften paid

What people time with a debate timer

British Parliamentary

Seven minutes, protected ends

World Schools

Eight minute speeches

Public Forum

Constructives and crossfire

Model UN

Speakers list, one minute each

Classroom debates

Every team to time

Mock trials

Openings and closings

Send your rounds to the tools you already use

Finished speeches can land in a tab sheet, a club channel or a coaching log.

All integrations →

Direct

Google Sheets

A tab sheet with every speech and its length.

Via Zapier or Make

Notion

Rounds recorded next to your case notes.

Webhook

Discord

Post finished rounds to your club server.

Via Zapier or Make

Airtable

Track speakers and rounds across a season.

Webhook

Zapier

Connect your rounds to thousands of other apps.

Webhook

Make

Build your own flows from any finished round.

Tapsle Plus

Rounds you can look back on.

The debate timer is free and stays free. Plus keeps your formats on every device and the record of every round.

$2.99a month, or $25.99 a year, over 3 months free

Get Tapsle Plus Cancel any time. Your counters stay.

60 days of history with charts

Speech lengths, round on round.

Every device in step

Set it up at home, run it in the chamber.

Nightly backups

Your formats survive a new phone.

Share with the room

Share a counter link so the room sees the same count.

Debate timer questions

How do I mark protected time?

Set the timer to add one every minute. When the count reaches 1, points of information open. When it reaches one less than the speech length, they close.

Can I time different speech lengths?

Yes. Add a counter per speech type, such as 7 minute speeches and 4 minute reply speeches, each with its own target.

Can the room see the timer?

Yes. Open focus mode on a laptop or projector and the number fills the screen.

Is Tapsle free?

Yes. Unlimited counters, targets, steps, notes, lock, focus mode, pop out and export are free, with no account. Free includes up to 5 groups and 1 counter on a timer. Tapsle Plus adds sync, backups, longer history, shared counters and integrations, for $2.99 a month or $25.99 a year.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Once Tapsle has loaded, counting keeps working with no connection, and you can install it on your phone or computer like an app. Your counts are saved on your device as you go.

Can I export my counters?

Yes, free. Export saves every counter to one file, and Import brings them back on any device. Your counts belong to you.

Can I keep the timer on screen during an online debate?

Yes, on Chrome and Edge on a computer. Choose Pop out and the debate timer floats above your video call. Phones and Safari do not support this, so the button only appears where it works.

Is my data private?

Yes. Your counters stay on your device. There is no account, and nothing is sent to us unless you turn on sync with Tapsle Plus.

What is the difference between Free and Plus?

Free is the counter: unlimited counters, up to 5 groups, 1 timer counter, targets, offline use, export and 7 days of history. Plus is memory: sync across up to 5 devices, nightly backups, 60 days of history with charts, shared counter links, unlimited groups and timers, and integrations. Cancelling Plus never removes a counter.

Related timers

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The floor is yours. We will keep time.

Free, no account, and every speech is timed.

Start a debate timer