Sand Timer vs Talking Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sand Timer
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.
- Realistic sand flow animation
- Adjustable timer settings
- Multiple timers management
- Customizable themes
- Sound alerts
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Looking for a simple, reliable timer for your activities? Whether you’re timing a study session, a workout, or simply need a quick way to track time, Sand Timer has you covered! With its realistic sand flow animation, you’ll experience the soothing and intuitive feel of a traditional hourglass, right on your phone. Sand Timer offers a simple, visually engaging way to keep track of time, whether you’re managing your productivity, setting a cooking timer, or just need a quick countdown. It’s easy to set, fun to use, and helps you stay on track for all your timing needs. Top Features You’ll Love: Sand Animation – Watch the sand flow smoothly through the timer, providing a calming and visually pleasing experience while you track your time. Adjustable Timer Settings – Set the timer for any duration you need, from seconds to hours, with the ability to quickly adjust for all types of activities. Multiple Timers – Create and manage multiple timers at once to keep track of various tasks simultaneously. Customizable Themes – Choose from a variety of themes to match your style, whether you prefer a minimalist design or a more vibrant look. Sound Alerts – Get notified when your time is up with a sound alert, making sure you never miss an important moment. Who Can Use Sand Timer? Sand Timer is perfect for anyone who needs a simple, elegant timer. Whether you’re a student needing a Pomodoro timer, a cook timing recipes, or someone just needing a visual countdown, Sand Timer is easy to use and designed to fit your needs. Download Sand Timer today and add a little more calm and focus to your day! EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Talking Timer
This utility app provides a visual and auditory timer, ideal for activities where you need to track time without constant visual monitoring. It's perfect for creative sessions, fitness, cooking, or gaming.
- Auditory time announcements
- Visual timer display
- Hands-free operation
- Versatile for various activities
- Completely free
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Talking Timer is a timer app you can both see AND HEAR. It was initially developed for life drawing, so you know how long a pose or session will last while you focus on your work. But it has grown a lot since then. It is also useful anywhere you want to know how much time is left without constantly looking at your device — fitness routines, cooking, presentations, children’s activities, board games, or even colouring your hair! Talking Timer speaks the remaining time aloud, and now supports widgets, Live Activities and the Dynamic Island on supported iPhones, so your running timer can stay visible outside the app. Plus it's completely FREE. No adverts, no subscription, just free. I wrote it because I use it myself - and now you can too! :-) Terms of Use: Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Talking Timer Terms of Use and Disclaimer: https://www.clivebryant.com/page/48111/talking-timer-terms-of-use-and-disclaimer Privacy Policy: https://www.clivebryant.com/page/32545/app-privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Talking Timer at 100% against Sand Timer's 6%. Talking Timer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Talking Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Talking Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 150 and 61 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of Sand Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Talking Timer's.
Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Talking Timer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sand Timer | Talking Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (150 ratings) | 4.8 (61 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 150 — better | 61 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vicki Partridge | Clive Bryant |
Customer experience
Sand Timer
Talking Timer
In-app purchases
Sand Timer
- Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$0.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Remove Ads$1.99
Talking Timer
No in-app purchases









