---
title: Time on Site Trigger
description: "The **Time on Site** popup trigger is one of the latest features in [Popup Maker Pro](https://wppopupmaker.com/pricing/). This help guide shows you [how to add the Time on Site](#steps-to-add-time-on-site) trigger to a popup. First, let's cover when to use the **Time on…"
url: "https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/pro-and-pro-plus/time-on-site-trigger/"
updated: "2026-09-20"
category: Pro and Pro+
---

# Time on Site Trigger

The **Time on Site** popup trigger is one of the latest features in [Popup Maker Pro](https://wppopupmaker.com/pricing/). This help guide shows you [how to add the Time on Site](#steps-to-add-time-on-site) trigger to a popup.

First, let's cover when to use the **Time on Site** trigger and how it differs from the basic **Auto Open** trigger.

Skip the intro. Just show me the step-by-step instructions!

  [Go to instructions](#steps-to-add-time-on-site)

## When should you use the Time on Site trigger?

Add a **Time on Site** trigger to your popup when you want the following:

1. The popup opens automatically (i.e., no need to reload the page, click on something, or go to another page).
2. The popup displays only after your visitors have been browsing your site for a specific duration (e.g., 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute), regardless of how many pages they've seen.

### Example Use Case: Engaged Visitor

Show a newsletter signup popup after a visitor has spent 60 seconds on your site.

The idea is that someone still browsing after a minute has shown genuine interest—they're more likely to subscribe than someone who just landed on the page. You gave them time to learn more before asking them to follow.

## How is Time on Site different from Auto Open?

There's one key difference: total time on a website versus time on a page.

### Total Running Time Spent on a Site

**Time on Site** uses **cumulative** time tracking. It starts keeping time the instant you land on the site and stops only after you leave (close your browser or tab).

For example, if you set a **Time on Site** trigger with 10 seconds, you can browse 5-10 different pages on the same site. When 10 seconds are up, the popup displays no matter how many pages you've visited.

Time on Site popup works best when you **don't** have any [targeting rules](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/controlling-popups/popup-settings-box-targeting-option-settings/). Meaning, the popup can display on any page.

**Best practice**: Time on Site works well for popups that have little to no [targeting rules](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/controlling-popups/popup-settings-box-targeting-option-settings/).

### Time Spent on a Page

Now, an [Auto Open trigger](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/a-beginners-guide-to-popup-triggers/#usage-examples) starts keeping time when you open a page. Every new page you visit **resets** the auto-opening timer to 0.

Auto opening triggers are better suited for popups that use [targeting rules](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/controlling-popups/popup-settings-box-targeting-option-settings/).

## Steps to Add a Time on Site Trigger

Here's how you add a **Time on Site** trigger using the default settings.

### 1. Edit a popup

### 2. Click **Add New Trigger** in the **Popup Settings** below the popup editor

### 3. Click Time on Site in the dropdown

**Best practice**: Set up a [popup cookie](https://wppopupmaker.com/conversion-optimization/what-is-a-cookie/) in your triggers to avoid repeatedly showing a popup to the same visitors.

![Popup Maker Pro adding the Time on Site Trigger to a popup](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-pro-110-time-on-site-trigger.gif)

### 4. Click **Add**

This takes you to the trigger settings.

### 5. Click **Add**

This finishes adding the trigger and cookie to the popup.

### 6. Click **Update** to save your popup changes

## Time on Site Trigger Demo

Here's a demo of the result using a 10-second **Time on Site** popup trigger.

![Popup Maker Pro Time on Site Trigger demo video](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-pro-110-time-on-site-demo.gif)

**Note**: We wrote the custom timer you see at the top of the page just for this demo. We also didn't navigate off this page to keep the demo simple.