Timer for BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton's timer is public by design. It was never meant to be private.
The presenter opens the stage link for a real, running countdown only they can see. The producer or TA keeps the timer and private cues on a separate control link, alongside BigBlueButton's own shared session clock.
Product Demo
RunCue
A private pacing timer, not a shared classroom clock.
RunCue works alongside BigBlueButton in a separate browser tab. It does not install as a BigBlueButton plugin or access your BigBlueButton session, recordings, or Moodle course.
Compare timers
Choose the setup that matches who needs to see and control the timer.
| Timer | Speaker visibility | Producer control | Cue context | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BigBlueButton Timer/Stopwatch | Shown to every participant in the upper-right corner once activated -- not private to the presenter | Presenters can start a countdown or stopwatch and choose the duration; nothing hidden from students or attendees | No cue notes; it's a shared on-screen clock, not an interactive run-of-show timer | A visible, shared class or session clock everyone is meant to watch |
| RunCue browser room | Separate stage and audience links showing a live, adjustable countdown only the intended viewer sees | Separate control link with private producer cues across every segment, nothing to install | Cue cards for every segment plus Reset between rehearsal and live sessions | BigBlueButton lectures or webinars with a run of show and a presenter who needs to see time remaining without it appearing to the class |
Sources: BigBlueButton: Timer and Stopwatch.
Use RunCue with BigBlueButton
Set up the presenter and producer views before your BigBlueButton class or webinar goes live.
Built for
Instructors, course producers, and teaching assistants running lectures, office hours, or webinars on BigBlueButton (directly or through Moodle/Greenlight) who need a private pacing timer BigBlueButton's own shared timer doesn't provide.
Pricing
Try the live workflow for 15 minutes.
Keep the room active with every template and custom branding
$19/moPro plus white-label displays
$49/moMonth-to-month, no minimum term — cancel anytime from your secure purchase library, so subscribing for a single event is a normal way to use RunCue. Review the Terms, Privacy Policy, and Refund Policy.
Weighing it against a free stage timer? See the full price and feature comparison.
FAQ
Using RunCue with BigBlueButton
Does BigBlueButton have a private, presenter-only timer?
No. BigBlueButton's own documentation for its Timer/Stopwatch feature says all users see the active timer in the upper-right corner of the session -- it's a shared, on-screen clock for everyone, not a private view only the presenter can watch.
What does BigBlueButton's Timer/Stopwatch actually do?
Presenters can activate a countdown timer or count-up stopwatch that appears to every participant, with an audible alarm when a countdown ends -- useful for a visible class clock, not a hidden pacing timer for the presenter alone.
Why use RunCue beside BigBlueButton?
Use RunCue when a presenter or producer needs a private, running countdown that the class or attendees never see, plus private cue notes across multiple segments -- independent of BigBlueButton's own shared timer.
Does RunCue connect to my BigBlueButton or Moodle account?
No. RunCue runs in a separate browser tab and does not access your BigBlueButton session, recordings, or Moodle course.
Is RunCue free?
No. There's no permanent free plan. A 15-minute, no-card trial runs the full timer, then Pro is $19/mo and Team is $49/mo.
Is there a trial?
Yes -- and there's no rush to set it up. You get up to 7 days to build the run of show before any clock starts; the 15-minute live trial begins only once you press Start, and it includes the live timer, separate role links, cues, Reset, and segment editing before the room locks.
Get started