# Sand Timer vs Speed Chess Timer

The clearest difference is rating: Sand Timer at 3.8 against Speed Chess Timer's 1.0. Sand Timer also leads on ratings volume (150 vs 1). Speed Chess Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Speed Chess Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sand Timer holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.0. 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 point the same way: 6% of Sand Timer's written reviews are positive against 0% of Speed Chess Timer's.

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Speed Chess Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Timer | Speed Chess Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speed-chess-timer/id6517356303/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **150** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **6.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) | [Muhammed Efdal incesu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1748859357) |

## 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 |


### Speed Chess Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speed-chess-timer/id6517356303)

This application provides a precise and customizable timer for chess matches. It features a user-friendly interface with visual and audio alerts to help players manage their time effectively during games of all formats.

**Highlights:** Accurate timer for chess games, Customizable clock settings, User-friendly interface, Visual and audio alerts, Versatile settings for different chess styles, Ideal for tournaments and friendly matches

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Timer Lifetime Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

### Is Speed Chess Timer free?

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

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

Sand Timer is rated higher. Sand Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while Speed Chess Timer averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

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

Sand Timer shows ads; Speed Chess Timer does not.

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

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and Speed Chess Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on October 6, 2026 and Speed Chess Timer 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.*