Comparison

Gym Timer vs Catalyst Timer

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

Head to head
About

Gym Timer

This app helps you track gym sessions and manage rest times between sets. It's designed for use on a smartwatch, allowing you to leave your phone behind. The app alerts you when it's time to train again, ensuring your workout flows smoothly.

Highlights
  • Track gym sessions
  • Time rest periods between sets
  • Smartwatch optimized
  • Phone-free gym experience
  • Alerts for training intervals
  • HealthKit integration
Features
Read full description

Gym Timer helps you tracking your gym sessions and timing rest time. - You can leave your smartphone in the locker room: An app designed from the concept of the Apple Watch's app to give you the best mobility in the gym, without the need to lug around the smartphone. It's all on your wrist. With CareKit and HealthKit integration, your workout will never be interrupted if your Apple Watch goes into standby mode. - It does everything: With Gym Timer, you just set the number of sets and the rest time between one set and the other, then you just need to start the timer at the end of each set. When is time to start to train again, it will alert you. Follow us on our social media to be the first to know about new features we're developing, to get in touch with our community and give us a feedback. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gymtimer/ Instagram: @gym_timer Twitter: @gym_timer Gym Timer uses Health Kit for some functionalities like staying active while your watch screen is off.

About

Catalyst Timer

Features
Read full description

Catalyst Timer: Your Ultimate Workout Companion! Elevate your fitness journey with Catalyst Timer, the highly customizable workout timer designed to help you crush every training session with precision and control. Whether you're into high-intensity interval training (HIIT), CrossFit, Tabata, or building your own unique fitness routine, Catalyst Timer provides the flexibility and powerful features you need to optimize your performance. Unleash Your Potential with Powerful Features: Fully Customizable Workouts: Design and save unlimited workout configurations. Mix and match various stage types, set precise durations, and define repetitions to perfectly fit any training plan, from simple warm-ups to complex circuits. Versatile Stage Types: Go beyond basic countdowns! Catalyst Timer empowers you with a variety of intelligent stage types: Countdown: Standard timed intervals for work or rest. Count Up: Track elapsed time for specific exercises. Warm-Up & Cool-Down: Dedicated stages for preparing your body and winding down. Rest: Precisely timed breaks to optimize recovery. Until Touched (Unique!): For exercises that finish when you decide – simply tap the screen to complete the stage and immediately advance to the next, perfect for movements like a specific number of reps or a challenging finisher. Intuitive Control: Easily start, pause, resume, reset your workout, or skip directly to the next or previous stage. Set a custom preparation time to ensure you're ready before your workout begins. Comprehensive Progress Tracking: Stay motivated and informed with clear visual indicators. Monitor your current stage progress, track repetitions within a stage, and view your overall workout completion with dynamic progress bars and a constantly updated total elapsed time display. Motivational Feedback: Get a satisfying "WORKOUT COMPLETED!" message and a summary of your total workout time when you finish, providing a powerful sense of accomplishment and pushing you to new limits. Sleek, User-Friendly Interface: Our clean, dark-themed design ensures readability and focus during even the most intense training sessions, whether you're at the gym or working out at home. Designed for Every Athlete: From beginners to seasoned athletes, Catalyst Timer adapts to your needs. Optimize your gym sessions, home workouts, running intervals, Tabata sequences, or functional fitness training. Stay focused, push harder, and achieve your fitness goals with Catalyst Timer as your reliable and intelligent training partner. Download Catalyst Timer today and transform your training!

Screenshots

Gym Timer4 screens
Catalyst Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gym Timer at none against Catalyst Timer's 1. Gym Timer also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Catalyst Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Gym Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gym Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Catalyst Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Gym Timer versus Catalyst Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGym TimerCatalyst Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (460 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings460 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe FasanoCODELLA EMIL DZIUBA KRZYSZTOF GROWINSKI SPOLKA JAWNA

Bugs and requests

Gym Timer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Timer resets unexpectedly
  • Set/rep count not updating correctly
  • Syncing issues with Apple Watch
  • Notifications not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to track exercise time
  • Implement workout history/progress tracking
  • Provide Apple Watch complications
  • Offer paid ad-free version

Catalyst Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Gym Timer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Catalyst Timer

One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro Access$9.99

Questions

Is Gym Timer free?
Gym Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Catalyst Timer free?
Catalyst Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Gym Timer or Catalyst Timer have ads?
Neither Gym Timer nor Catalyst Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gym Timer or Catalyst Timer?
Gym Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Catalyst Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Gym Timer was updated on October 22, 2026 and Catalyst Timer on October 12, 2026.

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