Overlay Timer review
A focused Windows timer for runners who want an in-game overlay and leaderboard uploads.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Overlay Timer is an open-source Windows desktop application for timing speedruns. It suits solo runners and small communities that want a timer over the game window, configurable hotkeys, and a way to compare times. Runners create a timer for a game category, set start, stop and reset keys, then save results locally or publish them. The timer’s global hotkeys work independently of which window is focused, and Discord Rich Presence support adds a way to show activity to Discord contacts.
Its scope is deliberately focused: the overlay keeps timing visible during a run, while local and public leaderboards support personal tracking and comparison. Game-category rules appear before starting, and categories can be requested through the project’s Discord community. That community-driven model may fit runners whose categories are covered or who are comfortable requesting support; it offers less certainty for someone needing a broad, immediately available game catalog. The published feature set does not establish autosplitting or more advanced timing workflows, so runners who require those should consider a timer with those capabilities verified.
Overlay Timer is free and open source, with an installer available from the project repository. Its Windows-only desktop availability makes it a poor fit for macOS or Linux users, and the latest documented release is from August 2022. Community support is the stated support channel, so it is better suited to users comfortable with a community-led project than to teams seeking formal support. Choose it for a lightweight overlay, hotkeys, and leaderboard sharing on Windows; look elsewhere if platform choice, a current release cadence, or richer timing features are priorities.
Overlay Timer pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Keeps the timer visible above the game window
- Global start, stop and reset hotkeys work outside the focused window
- Saves times locally and supports public uploads and leaderboards
- Where it doesn't
- Available only for Windows desktop
- Game categories depend on community support
- Latest documented release is from August 2022
Overlay Timer fact sheet, pricing and score →
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