# Sand Timer vs Big Timer

The clearest difference is rating: Sand Timer at 3.8 against Big Timer's 3.0. Sand Timer also leads on ratings volume (150 vs 6). Big Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Big Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sand Timer holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 6% of Sand Timer's written reviews are positive against 20% of Big Timer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Big Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Timer | Big Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews)** | [3.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-timer-simple/id1619061460/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **150** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | **20.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 18 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) | [Ryouhei Azuma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353297781) |

## 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 |


### Big Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-timer-simple/id1619061460)

This utility app features large, easy-to-read text for simple stopwatch and countdown timer functions. It's designed for quick visibility from a distance, making it ideal for straightforward timekeeping needs.

**Highlights:** Large, easy-to-read display, Stopwatch functionality, Countdown timer functionality, Simple interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

### Is Big Timer free?

Big Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sand Timer or Big Timer?

Sand Timer is rated higher. Sand Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while Big Timer averages 3.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Sand Timer or Big Timer have ads?

Both Sand Timer and Big Timer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sand Timer or Big Timer?

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and Big Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on October 11, 2026 and Big Timer on October 7, 2026.

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