# Sand Timer vs GameTime

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GameTime at 50% against Sand Timer's 6%. GameTime also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). Sand Timer's advantage is rating (3.8 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (150 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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. GameTime asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sand Timer holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 6% of Sand Timer's written reviews are positive against 50% of GameTime's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Timer | GameTime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews)** | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gametime/id6444288534/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **150** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 18 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) | [Jaime Lucea](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435693808) |

## 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 |


### GameTime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gametime/id6444288534)

This utility app helps board game enthusiasts manage game sessions by providing individual countdown timers for each player. It aims to reduce analysis paralysis and ensure fair, fast-paced gameplay for all participants.

**Highlights:** Individual timers for each player, Easy timer start, pause, and switching, Reduces analysis paralysis, Customizable for any board game, Smooth and intuitive interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

### Is GameTime free?

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

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

Sand Timer is rated higher. Sand Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while GameTime averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Sand Timer or GameTime have ads?

Sand Timer shows ads; GameTime does not.

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

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and GameTime every 8 months. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on September 30, 2026 and GameTime on September 18, 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.*