Step 01
Pick Dynamic + set a default end time
Choose the Dynamic type and set the fallback date/time and timezone for your timer.
Dynamic timers
Dynamic Countdown Timers for Email
Give every subscriber their own exact deadline. Pass a unique end time per recipient, and the email countdown timer counts down to a moment you define — not a fixed date, and not tied to when they open.
Per-recipient deadlines
What is a Dynamic Countdown Timer?
A Dynamic timer is a fixed-deadline countdown (like Standard), except the end time can be set per recipient. When you generate the embed, the image and click URLs include an ?endsAt=<unix-timestamp> parameter.
Your email platform replaces that placeholder with each subscriber's real deadline (via a merge tag), so every recipient sees a countdown to their specific moment.
- No endsAt passed? It gracefully falls back to the saved default date/time.
- Timezone only affects the fallback. A passed
endsAtis a Unix timestamp — an absolute moment, so no timezone is needed. The selected timezone is only used to interpret the saved default date/time.
Dynamic timers never appear "expired" in your dashboard — the saved date is just the default, since each recipient may have their own deadline.
The core difference
Standard vs. Evergreen vs. Dynamic
Dynamic is the one timer built for when you already know the exact deadline at send time.
| Type | Deadline | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | One fixed date for everyone | You, manually (e.g., Black Friday) |
| Evergreen | A duration that starts when each person opens | When each recipient opens |
| Dynamic | An exact moment that is unique per person | You — computed in your ESP/CRM and passed as a timestamp |
Evergreen is great for "24 hours after they open." Dynamic is for when you already know the deadline at send time and just need the timer to reflect it — more precise, more intentional, and not dependent on the open.
Why it works
Why Use Dynamic Timers?
Per-Person Deadlines
Every recipient gets their own exact end time. No two subscribers have to share the same countdown.
You Control the Logic
Compute the deadline from signup date, purchase date, trial start, renewal, or appointment — in whatever tool you already use.
Not Tied to the Open
The deadline is fixed the moment you send. No cookie, no "first open" dependency — just a precise, intentional deadline.
Works for Click-Throughs Too
The click link honors each recipient's deadline, redirecting to your live URL before it expires and your expiry URL after.
Use cases
Perfect For
"Offer expires 24 hours after sign-up"
Compute sign-up + 24h in your ESP and pass it as the deadline.
Free-trial & renewal reminders
"Your trial ends Friday at noon" — countdown to each person's renewal.
Appointments, webinars & events
A per-person date for booked sessions, classes, or live events.
Localized deadlines
"Sale ends at 9 PM your time" — exact, no matter the timezone.
Abandoned-cart offers
Tie the offer window to when the item was added to the cart.
Technical, but light
How It Works
The embed includes a per-recipient timestamp your email platform fills in automatically.
1
Create a timer and choose Dynamic
Start a new timer and select the Dynamic type.
2
Set the default end date + timezone
This saved date is used as the fallback when no per-recipient value is passed.
3
Copy the embed code
It includes ?endsAt=<unix-timestamp> on both the image and click URLs.
4
Swap in your merge tag
Replace <unix-timestamp> with a merge tag that outputs a Unix timestamp for each recipient.
embed code
<!-- Default: not clickable -->
<div style="text-align: center">
<img style="display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 5px; max-width: 100%" src="https://app.countdownbuilder.com/countdowns/<timer-id>/display.gif?endsAt=<unix-timestamp>" alt="Countdown" />
</div>
<!-- When "Clickable" is enabled -->
<a style="text-align: center; display: block" href="https://app.countdownbuilder.com/countdowns/<timer-id>/click?endsAt=<unix-timestamp>">
<img style="display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 5px; max-width: 100%" src="https://app.countdownbuilder.com/countdowns/<timer-id>/display.gif?endsAt=<unix-timestamp>" alt="Countdown" />
</a> The
?endsAt=<unix-timestamp> placeholder always sits on the image. When you enable a Clickable timer, the same placeholder is added to the click link too. Replace it with a merge tag that outputs a Unix timestamp for each recipient — so the image and the click-through both honor every subscriber's personal deadline. Modern marketers
Powerful Features for Modern Marketers
Per-recipient, exact deadlines
Merge-tag friendly (any ESP that outputs a Unix timestamp)
Smart click redirects (live vs. expiry per person)
Graceful fallback to a saved date
45+ customizable templates
Blends seamlessly with your design
Three steps
Simple 3-Step Setup
Step 02
Design & Customize
Pick a template and match it to your brand colors, fonts, and labels.
Step 03
Inject & Send
Copy the embed, swap the timestamp placeholder for your merge tag, and paste it into your email.
Start free today
Start using Dynamic Timers today
Give every subscriber their own exact deadline. Join thousands of marketers using Countdown Builder for precise, per-person urgency.
Build Your Dynamic Timer