cron — expression builder & explainer
● free · no login
// developer tool

Build & explain
cron expressions
instantly

Paste any cron expression to get a plain-English explanation. Or use the visual builder to generate one. See the next 10 scheduled run times. No account. No fluff.

natural language — type what you want in plain english
expression — paste or type below
minute
hour
day (month)
month
day (week)
*/5 * * * *
export formats — copy for your platform
recent expressions — click to restore
compare two expressions — see when they overlap
// field breakdown
// common schedules
next 10 scheduled runs
Timezone:
visual builder — click to build your expression
// syntax reference
Symbol Meaning Example Reads as
*Any / every value* * * * *Every minute
,List of values0 9,17 * * *At 9am and 5pm
-Range of values0 9-17 * * *Every hour, 9am to 5pm
/Step / interval*/15 * * * *Every 15 minutes
@hourlyShorthand@hourly0 * * * *
@dailyShorthand@daily0 0 * * *
@weeklyShorthand@weekly0 0 * * 0
@monthlyShorthand@monthly0 0 1 * *
@rebootRun once at startup@rebootOn system reboot
// guides
Cron job not running? 10 reasons why (and how to fix each) Cron vs systemd timers: which to use in 2026 GitHub Actions cron schedule: complete guide (with every gotcha) All articles →
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Render Cron Jobs → Railway → DigitalOcean → cron-job.org (free) →
// frequently asked questions

What is a Cron Expression?

A cron expression is a string with five fields separated by spaces, used to define recurring schedules for automated tasks. The five fields represent — in order — minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. The Unix cron daemon reads these expressions to know when to run a scheduled job.

For example, 0 9 * * 1-5 means "at 9:00am, every weekday (Monday through Friday)." This tool explains any expression in plain English and shows you the next scheduled run times.

How to Use the Cron Expression Builder

There are two ways to use this tool. You can paste an existing expression into the input box at the top to get an instant plain-English explanation — useful when you encounter a cron expression in a config file and want to know what it does. Or you can use the visual builder below to click your way to an expression by selecting minutes, hours, days, months, and weekdays. If your cron job isn't running, we have a step-by-step debugging guide.

Cron Expression Every 5 Minutes

To run a job every 5 minutes, use */5 * * * *. The */5 in the minute field means "start at 0, then every 5 steps" — so it runs at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 minutes past every hour.

Cron Expression Every Hour

To run a job at the top of every hour, use 0 * * * *. The 0 means "at minute zero" and the * in the hour field means "every hour."

Cron Expression Every Day at Midnight

Use 0 0 * * * or the shorthand @daily. This runs at 00:00 (midnight) every day.

Cron Expression Weekdays Only

To run only on weekdays, use 0 9 * * 1-5. The 1-5 in the weekday field is a range from Monday (1) to Friday (5). Sunday is 0 and Saturday is 6.

Cron vs Quartz / Spring Scheduler

Standard Unix cron uses 5 fields. Quartz Scheduler (used in Java/Spring applications) uses 6 fields, adding a seconds field at the start. Enable 6-field mode in the visual builder above if you're working with a Spring or Quartz schedule. On Linux, cron vs systemd timers compares both approaches.