Cron Generator
Build Unix cron expressions, read them in plain English, and preview the next run times.
About this tool
About
This cron generator helps you build and understand standard Unix crontab expressions in your browser. Edit five fields or start from a preset, read a plain-English explanation, and preview the next run times in your local timezone—without uploading anything.
How it works
A Unix cron schedule has five parts: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. You can type an expression or use the field builder and presets. The tool explains the schedule in everyday language and calculates the next ten fire times using your browser’s timezone. Quartz-style six- or seven-field expressions are not supported so results stay accurate for classic crontab.
Steps
- Pick a preset (for example Weekdays 9 AM) or paste a 5-field expression.
- Adjust individual fields with the builder or quick chips (every, ranges, steps).
- Read the plain-English description to confirm the intent.
- Check the next runs list in your local timezone.
- Copy the expression into your crontab or scheduler.
Frequently asked questions
Is this cron generator free?
Yes. It is free to use with no signup. Build expressions and preview run times as much as you need.
Why only five fields?
Classic Unix crontab uses five fields. Tools that accept six or seven fields (often with seconds or a year) follow Quartz or similar dialects. Mixing them up silently produces wrong schedules, so this tool sticks to Unix 5-field cron.
Which timezone are next runs in?
Next run times use your browser’s local timezone (shown under the description). Many servers run cron in UTC or the host’s zone—double-check your scheduler’s setting.
What does */5 mean?
In the minute field, */5 means every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, …, 55). The same step idea works in other fields, such as */2 in hours for every other hour.
Is my expression uploaded?
No. Parsing and next-run calculation happen entirely in your browser. Your expression is not sent to Utility Tools servers.
Privacy: Your cron expression stays in this browser. A draft may be remembered in local storage on this device. Nothing is sent to our servers.