Lap Swim vs SwimCount
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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. ----
SwimCount
This app provides a simple, distraction-free lap counter and swim timer. It allows users to track splits and elapsed time in real-time, assign sessions to different swimmer profiles, and add notes. Review your complete swim history with detailed split times, filtered by swimmer.
- Real-time lap counter
- Split and elapsed time tracking
- Multiple swimmer profiles
- Session notes
- Detailed session history
- Screen stays awake during sessions
- Haptic feedback
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SwimCount is a fast, distraction-free lap counter and swim timer. Start a session, tap Lap to record splits, and track your elapsed time in real time — down to the centisecond. Assign sessions to swimmer profiles, add notes, and review your full history with split times, filtered by swimmer. Built for coaches, parents, and swimmers who want a simple tool that works poolside without the bloat. Features: • Real-time lap counter with split and elapsed times • Swimmer profiles — track multiple swimmers separately • Session notes — record workout type, conditions, or how you felt • Session history with expandable lap details • Filter and group history by swimmer • Auto-records final lap so you never lose the last split • Screen stays awake during active sessions • Haptic feedback for tactile confirmation • No account required — all data stays on your device
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SwimCount at 5.0 against Lap Swim's 3.2. SwimCount also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Lap Swim's advantage is ratings volume (31 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. Lap Swim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SwimCount asks for nothing beyond the download.
SwimCount holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lap Swim has 31 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Lap Swim ships an update every 3 months, SwimCount fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lap Swim | SwimCount |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (31 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 31 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Kramer | Brandon Wilson |
Customer experience
Lap Swim
SwimCount
In-app purchases
Lap Swim
- upgrade from 250 laps to unlimited laps$1.99
SwimCount
No in-app purchases








