Comparison

Restless vs Periodic Timer +

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Restless

This app helps you stay awake by vibrating at regular intervals and when it detects you might be falling asleep. It uses your heart rate, age, and biological sex to personalize its alerts, even when running in the background or with the screen off.

Highlights
  • Vibrates to keep you awake
  • Detects falling asleep using heart rate
  • Personalized alerts based on age and sex
  • Works in background
  • Screen-off functionality
  • Changing vibration patterns
Features
Read full description

Sometimes you’re tired but need to stay awake. May be you’re driving home at night after a party, may be you’re trying to study late in the night for your midterms or you just want to stay awake to see the end of that TV show … For that, there’s Restless ! Restless will keep you awake by vibrating at regular interval and as soon as it feels that you’re getting asleep. The app uses your current heart rate to detect if you may be falling asleep and react immediately (based on your age and and your biological sex). Restless needs read-only access to your HealthKit data to provide these personalized functionalities. The vibration pattern changes each time to avoid getting used to it. Works when the app is in background and even when the screen is turned off !

About

Periodic Timer +

This app provides a simple, repeating interval timer that works in the background. It offers customizable sounds, vibration, and flexible output modes for various activities like fitness, cooking, and learning. The interface is designed to be minimalist and distraction-free.

Highlights
  • Repeating interval timer
  • Customizable sounds and vibration
  • Works in the background
  • Long intervals up to 99 hours
  • Multiple timer output modes
  • Shake to start functionality
Features
Read full description

Keep track of time without being distracted by the device! Simple and easy timer that repeats at your chosen interval. FEATURES - Many sounds to select + the ability to add custom ones. - Up to 4 pinned and up to 5 recent Quick Start items. - Long intervals - up to 99 hours! - Vibration, if the sound is off. - Works in the background. - 3 timer output modes: intervals, total time, countdown. - You can cancel or pause the timer with help of a notification. - Flexibility and minimalism. - Shake To Start - can be enabled in settings. - Prevent Lockscreen - another useful setting, the screen will not lock, while the timer is running. USE CASES Here is a list of use cases based on the real feedback: Fitness and health: - Stretching - Stationary bicycle (interval training) - On a treadmill - For HIIT - Jogging - Timed medication - Boxing Cooking - While frying potatoes - Roasting steaks - Checking an oven or a grill to prevent burning Learning & science - Foreign language learning - As a lab timer - Periodic data collection - Speech training - Presentation timing Other - Mindfulness - Communication - To have a sense of time flying away :) HELP Q: Why the timer doesn't work in the background? A: You should allow notifications. Q: How to turn off the sound and turn on the vibration? A: On the device, turn the Silent Mode on. (Side Switch) Q: How can I add a custom sound? A: There are four ways. Choose one depending where is the sound file located. * If the sound on your Mac or PC: 1. Connect the device. 2. Open Finder and select the device. 3. Select Files in the menu. There you'll find 'Periodic +' folder. 4. Drug and drop the sound file there. * From Files app on iPhone: 1. Copy the required file. 2. Open Periodic + folder and paste it. * From another app on iPhone (like Mail): 1. Open the app where the file is located. 2. Find and touch Share button (it may have different name, for example Export). 3. In the appearing Share Sheet find the list of apps. If there is no Periodic +, touch More and enable it. 4. Now select Periodic + in the Share dialog and the sound will be imported. * And the most convenient "+" button! 1. Open Sounds tab. 2. Hit the "+" button in the "Folder" section and pick your file. Q: Alert is limited for 5 seconds! A: Go to Settings app, then Periodic + > Notifications > Banner Style > Persistent. Q: How to switch the Timer Output Mode? A: To switch the Output Mode touch the timer display at the top of the screen. Q: What is Shake To Start for? A: Shake To Start setting allows to start/cancel the timer by shaking the device. Thus, you don't touch the screen, what can be useful while cooking, for example. For this mode, in order to work, the app should be open. This app has a free version with limited features. If you still have questions or suggestions, you can visit the support page (https://goo.gl/forms/pggVBcaBxdW85EGE3), the Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/PeriodicTimer/) or you can email me (periodictimer.sup@gmail.com). If you like the app - please, rate it!

Screenshots

Restless4 screens
Periodic Timer +4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Periodic Timer + at 3.9 against Restless's 2.3. Periodic Timer + also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 25%) and ratings volume (74 vs 11). Restless's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Restless costs $1.99 and Periodic Timer + $4.99 up front. Periodic Timer + sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Restless asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Periodic Timer + holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Periodic Timer + has 74 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Restless's written reviews are positive against 54% of Periodic Timer +'s.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Restless versus Periodic Timer +: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRestlessPeriodic Timer +
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating2.3 (11 ratings)3.9 (74 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews53.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1174 — better
Update frequency—Every 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS10.3 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCubesoft SARLVladimir Kelin

Customer experience

Restless

All ratings11 ratings
Positive27.3%
Neutral9.1%
Negative63.6%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Periodic Timer +

All ratings74 ratings
Positive67.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative23.0%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative32.1%

In-app purchases

None

Restless

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Periodic Timer +

One-time3
  • Tip a Banana$0.99
  • Tip a Coffee$3.99
  • Donate: Bust the project!$9.99

Questions

Is Restless free?
Restless costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Periodic Timer + free?
Periodic Timer + costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Restless or Periodic Timer +?
Periodic Timer + is rated higher. Restless averages 2.3 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Periodic Timer + averages 3.9 from 74 ratings.
Do Restless or Periodic Timer + have ads?
Neither Restless nor Periodic Timer + shows ads.

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