Comparison

Sand Timer vs Hourglass

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Realistic sand flow animation
  • Adjustable timer settings
  • Multiple timers management
  • Customizable themes
  • Sound alerts
Features
Read full description

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/

About

Hourglass

This app offers a simple and user-friendly hourglass experience. Set your desired time, pause it as needed, and enjoy the soothing visual of falling sand. It's designed for moments of calm and focused time management.

Highlights
  • User-friendly hourglass interface
  • Set custom timer durations
  • Pause and resume timer
  • Soothing falling sand animation
  • Comforting visual experience
Features
Read full description

Simple and user-friendly hourglass app. You can set your desired time and also pause it. Watching the beautiful falling sand is soothing and comforting. standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Sand Timer4 screens
Hourglass3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hourglass at 4.6 against Sand Timer's 3.8. Hourglass also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months) and review sentiment (30% vs 6%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Hourglass sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hourglass holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 150 and 216 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of Sand Timer's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hourglass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Hourglass weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sand Timer versus Hourglass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSand TimerHourglass
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (150 ratings)4.6 (216 ratings) — better
Positive reviews6.5% of reviews30.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings150216 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVicki PartridgeFocaccia, Inc.

Customer experience

Sand Timer

All ratings150 ratings
Positive64.7%
Neutral8.7%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive6.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative88.7%

Hourglass

All ratings208 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral3.8%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Sand Timer

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
2 purchases

Hourglass

Subscriptions1
  • Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Hourglass Timer Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Sand Timer free?
Sand Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hourglass free?
Hourglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sand Timer or Hourglass?
Hourglass is rated higher. Sand Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while Hourglass averages 4.6 from 216 ratings.
Do Sand Timer or Hourglass have ads?
Both Sand Timer and Hourglass show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sand Timer or Hourglass?
Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and Hourglass weekly. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on September 22, 2026 and Hourglass on September 19, 2026.

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