Comparison

Lap Swim vs SwimPacer

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

Head to head
About

Lap Swim

This app automatically counts laps and tracks swim times on your Apple Watch. It detects stroke type and count, and graphs your performance on a paired iPhone. Enjoy a large font display for easy viewing during your workout.

Highlights
  • Automatic lap counting
  • Stroke detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke)
  • Kickboard lap detection
  • Large font display
  • Stopwatch function
  • Workout graphing on iPhone
  • Health and Activity app integration
Features
Read full description

Automatic Lap Counter with Stopwatch and LARGE FONTS; Lap Swim is an Apple Watch (Series 2 and later) App that automatically detects, displays, records and graphs the lap count and elapsed time of a swim session. Detects and displays the type of stroke and stroke count during each lap. - Detects and displays the lap direction and lap count while swimming using the gyroscope in the Apple Watch - LARGE FONT display of time and lap count - Stopwatch function while swimming - Auto start/stop mode detects swimming and automatically starts (or stops) the stopwatch - Lap counter counts up from 0 or counts down from preset lap goal - Senses and displays freestyle strokes, backstrokes, and breaststrokes - Detects and counts kickboard laps - Records and graphs (on the paired iPhone) the following: ------ Date and time of a swim session ------ Time for each lap and of entire swim session ------ Number of laps ------ Average speed and speed for each lap ------ Stroke count and type of stroke (freestyle, back, breast or kick board) ------ Distance in meters or yards - Enters workout information into the Health and Activity apps Lap Swim uses the gyroscope and accelerometer in the Apple Watch to detect the type of stroke and the orientation of the swimmer. Using this information it displays the lap count of a swim session. Lap Swim also has a standard stopwatch function. The swim session information is transmitted to the paired iPhone and displayed on both a table and a graph. Lap Swim is free and fully functional for the first 250 laps. After that, Lap Swim continues to function but it requires a low cost IAP to display the lap count. Screenshots: -Apple Watch: 1) Large 2 line display - Swimming return half of 51st lap after 49:35 2) 3 line display - returning on lap 10 after 9:10; 11 breaststrokes taken this half lap 3) 3 line display - after turning and starting lap 11; showing last half lap stroke count (11) and elapsed time (34.6) 4) 3 line display - going out on lap 12; this lap you have taken 3 freestyle strokes, 2 backstrokes, 5 breaststrokes, and over 15 seconds using a kickboard 5) Starting a Workout Session in 2 second and turning on water lock. 6) Lap length set to 25 yards. 7) Settings options - 2 or 3 line display, split times half or full lap, automatic or manual start/stop, set lap length. -iPhone: 1) Home screen also showing the app on the Apple Watch 2) Graph of the average speed in over 200 swim sessions from 12/16 to 7/20. 3) Graph of the total times in over 200 swim sessions from 12/16 to 7/20. 4) Data collected in a single swim session available for editing. ----

About

SwimPacer

Features
Read full description

Welcome to SwimPacer, your personal swimming companion right on your wrist! Our dedicated team has crafted an app that seamlessly integrates with your Apple Watch, transforming it into an elite fitness coach focused solely on enhancing your swimming experience. Whether you are a professional swimmer aiming to smash your personal best or a fitness enthusiast seeking to add a healthy dose of aqua workouts into your routine, SwimPacer is designed to cater to every individual's needs. You can set up your swimming goal based on either distance or time, and SwimPacer will keep an accurate record of your workout, allowing you to focus on the rhythm of your strokes. As soon as you've reached your set goal, SwimPacer will automatically end the workout. No need to keep an eye on the clock or count the laps. It's like having your own personal coach keeping track for you! Once your workout concludes, SwimPacer presents a comprehensive summary of your workout, including your total time, distance swam and your pace. But the magic doesn't end there! With a valid subscription, you can save each workout summary to track your progress over time. By visualizing your progress, you can identify areas of improvement, celebrate your accomplishments, and set new, more challenging goals. Subscriptions are available monthly or annually, based on your preference. SwimPacer is more than just an app; it's your path towards improved fitness and enhanced performance in the pool. The water is calling, and your personal swim coach awaits. Dive into a better swimming experience with SwimPacer! End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy Policy: https://swimpacer.goletech.io/privacypolicy

Screenshots

Lap Swim4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SwimPacer at every 2 weeks against Lap Swim's every 3 months. On price, 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

Both are free to download. Lap Swim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SwimPacer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lap Swim ships an update every 3 months, SwimPacer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Lap Swim versus SwimPacer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLap SwimSwimPacer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (31 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings31 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeter KramerGOLE TECH

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lap Swim

One-time1
  • upgrade from 250 laps to unlimited laps$1.99
2 purchases

SwimPacer

Subscriptions2
  • SwimPacer Pro (Monthly)1 Month trial$0.991 Month
  • SwimPacer Pro (Yearly)1 Month trial$3.991 Year

Questions

Is Lap Swim free?
Lap Swim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SwimPacer free?
SwimPacer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lap Swim or SwimPacer have ads?
Neither Lap Swim nor SwimPacer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lap Swim or SwimPacer?
Lap Swim ships an update every 3 months, and SwimPacer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lap Swim was updated on September 18, 2026 and SwimPacer on September 14, 2026.

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