# Sand Timer vs Chess Clock

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Clock at 4.8 against Sand Timer's 3.8. Chess Clock also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 8 months). Sand Timer's advantage is ratings volume (150 vs 4). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Chess Clock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Clock holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Chess Clock every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Timer | Chess Clock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-game-timer/id1616904409/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **150** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) | [Oleksandr Kozlov](https://appshunter.io/developer/967224411) |

## What reviewers say

### Sand Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


### Chess Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-game-timer/id1616904409)

This app provides a simple and quick way to compete with friends using a minimalistic design and easy controls. It offers various game modes, move counting, and automatic timer pausing. Enjoy pleasant sounds, haptic feedback, and customizable themes for an enhanced experience.

**Highlights:** Minimalistic design, Simple controls, Different game modes, Move counter, Automatic timer pause, Customizable themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Timer free?

Sand Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chess Clock free?

Chess Clock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sand Timer or Chess Clock?

Chess Clock is rated higher. Sand Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while Chess Clock averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Sand Timer or Chess Clock have ads?

Sand Timer shows ads; Chess Clock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sand Timer or Chess Clock?

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and Chess Clock every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on September 22, 2026 and Chess Clock on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*