Comparison

Hourglass 2 vs Sand Timer

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

Head to head
About

Hourglass 2

A minimalist countdown clock app for iPhone. It features a simple interface, vibrant color themes, and a virtual hourglass that visually tracks time until your event. Easily manage and share your countdowns.

Highlights
  • Minimalist design
  • Easy event management
  • Customizable color themes
  • Virtual hourglass animation
  • Motion-based tilting
  • Event sharing
Features
Read full description

When time doesn't fly, countdown in style with Hourglass 2, redesigned from the ground up. Hourglass is a minimalistic countdown clock for iPhone. It's simplistic, easy to use, and has a beautiful, colorful design. Just enter the name and time of your event, choose a color, and watch as the virtual hourglass fills the screen and descends until the time of the event! Features: – Beautiful, minimal design – Easy to use with no frills – Easily add, edit, delete, or share an event – Choose from 9 gorgeous color themes – Simply swipe to view your other countdowns – Virtual hourglass background with motion-based tilting Proudly developed in Canada by Mat Cartmill & Richard Robinson

About

Sand Timer

This app provides a visually engaging and intuitive way to track time with realistic sand flow animations. It's perfect for various activities like studying, workouts, or cooking, offering customizable themes and sound alerts to keep you on track.

Highlights
  • Realistic sand flow animation
  • Adjustable timer settings
  • Multiple timers management
  • Customizable themes
  • Sound alerts
Features
Read full description

Looking for a simple, reliable timer for your activities? Whether you’re timing a study session, a workout, or simply need a quick way to track time, Sand Timer has you covered! With its realistic sand flow animation, you’ll experience the soothing and intuitive feel of a traditional hourglass, right on your phone. Sand Timer offers a simple, visually engaging way to keep track of time, whether you’re managing your productivity, setting a cooking timer, or just need a quick countdown. It’s easy to set, fun to use, and helps you stay on track for all your timing needs. Top Features You’ll Love: Sand Animation – Watch the sand flow smoothly through the timer, providing a calming and visually pleasing experience while you track your time. Adjustable Timer Settings – Set the timer for any duration you need, from seconds to hours, with the ability to quickly adjust for all types of activities. Multiple Timers – Create and manage multiple timers at once to keep track of various tasks simultaneously. Customizable Themes – Choose from a variety of themes to match your style, whether you prefer a minimalist design or a more vibrant look. Sound Alerts – Get notified when your time is up with a sound alert, making sure you never miss an important moment. Who Can Use Sand Timer? Sand Timer is perfect for anyone who needs a simple, elegant timer. Whether you’re a student needing a Pomodoro timer, a cook timing recipes, or someone just needing a visual countdown, Sand Timer is easy to use and designed to fit your needs. Download Sand Timer today and add a little more calm and focus to your day! EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Hourglass 24 screens
Sand Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hourglass 2 at 50% against Sand Timer's 6%. Hourglass 2 also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Sand Timer's advantage is ratings volume (150 vs 3) and update cadence (every 8 months vs every 21 months). On price 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. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Hourglass 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hourglass 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Hourglass 2's written reviews are positive against 6% of Sand Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hourglass 2 ships an update every 21 months, Sand Timer every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Hourglass 2 versus Sand Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHourglass 2Sand Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better3.8 (150 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better6.5% of reviews
Number of ratings3150 — better
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMat CartmillVicki Partridge

Customer experience

Hourglass 2

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative16.7%

Sand Timer

All ratings150 ratings
Positive64.7%
Neutral8.7%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive6.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative88.7%

In-app purchases

None

Hourglass 2

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Sand Timer

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is Hourglass 2 free?
Hourglass 2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sand Timer free?
Sand Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hourglass 2 or Sand Timer?
Hourglass 2 is rated higher. Hourglass 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Sand Timer averages 3.8 from 150 ratings.
Do Hourglass 2 or Sand Timer have ads?
Sand Timer shows ads; Hourglass 2 does not.
Which is updated more often, Hourglass 2 or Sand Timer?
Hourglass 2 ships an update every 21 months, and Sand Timer every 8 months. Most recently, Hourglass 2 was updated on October 12, 2026 and Sand Timer on October 22, 2026.

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