Comparison

Periodic Timer + vs Meditation Timer

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

Head to head
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!

About

Meditation Timer

This app provides a distraction-free environment for your meditation practice. Create custom routines, use interval bells for focus, and enjoy calming soundscapes. Track your progress with detailed statistics and stay motivated with daily goals and reminders.

Highlights
  • Customizable meditation routines
  • Interval bells for focus
  • Calming soundscapes
  • Meditation statistics and tracking
  • Daily goal setting and streak tracking
  • Smart reminder notifications
  • Widgets for Home Screen and Lock Screen
Features
Read full description

Take the next step on your meditation journey! Do you find guided meditations distracting? Does the narration get in the way of reaching a deeper meditative state? It’s time to upgrade your practice with Zenitizer: • Create routines that work for you • Stay in the moment with interval bells • Immerse yourself in calming soundscapes Zenitizer makes it easy to turn meditation into a daily habit minus the overthinking so you can embrace the serenity of now. Download Zenitizer now to get started! FEATURE OVERVIEW: • Clean & simple meditation timer • Calming soundscapes help you relax • Interval bells remind you to focus on the present moment • Detailed, meaningful meditation statistics allow you to observe trends • Set your daily meditation goal and track your streak to stay motivated • Daily reminder notifications help you stay on track • Make meditation part of your daily routine: Smart Reminders can notify you based on Focus modes, workouts, location, wake up & alarms and much more! • Full meditation history view allowing you to see, edit or log individual sessions and reflect on your journey • Interactive and StandBy Widgets: start meditations right from your Home Screen or Lock Screen • Apple Health: store and sync your mindful minutes • Save your favorite timer settings as routines • Always keep your meditations, streaks and custom routines in sync via iCloud • Widgets and Apple Watch complications: your goal at a glance • Control Center: quickly toggle your favorite meditations • Dark & tinted app icons & widgets • Don't worry about breaking your streak: one minute a day is enough (you only need to reach your goal to grow the streak, not to keep it) • Easily log past meditations without recording a timer session (just went on a mindful walk? Quickly save 30 mindful minutes) • Siri Shortcuts: start routines, log meditations and query your goal and streaks. Imagine the possibilities! How about an automation to start a meditation, enable a Focus mode and set a HomeKit scene with a single command? • Privacy-friendly by design: health data is securely stored on your device and, if enabled, in Apple Health and iCloud (fully encrypted). Your data is never sold to anyone! • Spotlight Integration: quickly start or log meditations and check your goal and streak FREE & POWER USER FEATURES: Many of the core features are available for free but some functionality requires Zenitizer+, which is available as a one-time purchase or subscription (you choose which plan fits best into your life - they all unlock the full feature set). Zenitizer+ allows you to create and manage routines, access the growing catalog of bell and background sounds, manually log meditations and fully customize your meditation experience. By upgrading to Zenitizer+ you can take your meditation experience to the next level and allow an independent app developer to continue improving and maintaining Zenitizer for a long time to come :) Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Periodic Timer +4 screens
Meditation Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Meditation Timer at Free against Periodic Timer +'s $4.99. Meditation Timer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (90% vs 54%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

Meditation Timer is free to download; Periodic Timer + costs $4.99 up front. Periodic Timer + sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Meditation Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Meditation Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 214 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Periodic Timer +'s written reviews are positive against 90% of Meditation Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Periodic Timer + ships an update every 4 months, Meditation Timer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Periodic Timer + versus Meditation Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPeriodic Timer +Meditation Timer
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (74 ratings)4.8 (214 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.6% of reviews90.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings74214 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB177 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVladimir KelinManuel Kehl

Customer experience

Periodic Timer +

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

Meditation Timer

All ratings214 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews72 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.7%

Bugs and requests

Periodic Timer +

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Meditation Timer

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Interval bells not functioning properly in some cases
  • App hijacks AirPods from other devices without option to disable
  • Apple Watch vibration cannot be turned off
  • Crashes on Apple Watch (reported as fixed in v1.12.2)
  • Subscription paywall appears before free trial experience

Requested features

7 requests
  • Mixer controls for independent bell and effects volume adjustment
  • White noise and additional frequency options
  • Custom background music upload capability
  • Meditation reminders/notifications
  • Dynamic Island and Lock Screen activity controls
Show 2 more
  • Heart rate integration with Apple Watch
  • Adjustable default interval bell frequency

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
6 purchases

Meditation Timer

Subscriptions4
  • Zenitizer+ Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Zenitizer+ Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Zenitizer+ Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Zenitizer+ Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Zenitizer+ Lifetime$79.99
  • Zenitizer+ Lifetime$119.99

Questions

Is Periodic Timer + free?
Periodic Timer + costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Meditation Timer free?
Meditation Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Periodic Timer + or Meditation Timer?
Meditation Timer is rated higher. Periodic Timer + averages 3.9 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while Meditation Timer averages 4.8 from 214 ratings.
Do Periodic Timer + or Meditation Timer have ads?
Neither Periodic Timer + nor Meditation Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Periodic Timer + or Meditation Timer?
Periodic Timer + ships an update every 4 months, and Meditation Timer fortnightly. Most recently, Periodic Timer + was updated on September 24, 2026 and Meditation Timer on September 20, 2026.

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