| Timer start | The timer begins on a specific date and time in your store’s timezone as soon as it is added to your theme. | The timer starts individually for each separate store visitor when they first view the page containing the timer. | The timer begins at the start of its defined active hours in your store’s timezone. |
| Expiration | The timer ends on a specific date and time in your store’s timezone. Once expired, it can either stay visible or be hidden from the storefront, remaining accessible only in the theme editor. | When the set amount of time runs out, the timer can: remain as is, hide from the storefront, restart immediately, or reset after one day. | The timer ends when the defined active hours finish in your storeʼs timezone. It automatically resets and starts again on the next scheduled day according to the weekday selection. |
| Audience | Displays the same countdown for each visitor, regardless of their timezone, but counting down to the end date and time in your store’s timezone. | Displays the same countdown duration for all visitors, starting from the moment they first view the page. | Displays the same active hours for each visitor, regardless of their timezone, counting down to the end time in your storeʼs timezone. |
| Purpose | Creates urgency for one-time events or promotions, such as countdowns to holiday sales, product launches, or collection drops. | Generates a sense of scarcity for personalized or exclusive offers, such as free trials, discounts, or bonuses. | Highlights recurring, time-limited offers that repeat on specific weekdays, such as weekday flash deals or “happy hour” promos. |
| Examples | Black Friday sales, Christmas promotions, new product launches, seasonal collection releases. | Free trial countdowns, limited-time discounts, exclusive bonuses. | Same-day shipping cutoffs, weekday flash deals, “happy hour” promotions. |