It is mechanical but virtually silent you just hear a small click. This one is 30 minute cycles but I know the one I had used was maybe 15 minute cycles and it's very easy to set just push the button you for when you want it to cycle.
Thank you - it is a constant click or just a click when it turns on and off?
My previous timer was a constant, quiet, click-click-click-click. I hated it.