# Sand Timer vs Chess Timer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chess Timer at 76% against Sand Timer's 6%. Chess Timer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). Sand Timer's advantage is ratings volume (150 vs 8). On price, ads, 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 Chess Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 8, 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 76% of Chess Timer's.

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Chess Timer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Timer | Chess Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-timer-clock/id6673919458/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **150** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | **76.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) | [Andy Sutanto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659282966) |

## 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 |


### Chess Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-timer-clock/id6673919458)

This app provides precise time management for chess players, offering various time controls and dual-player tracking. It helps players train for tournaments, sharpen skills, and ensures fair gameplay with customizable settings and low-time alerts.

**Highlights:** Accurate time controls, Dual player time tracking, Multiple time formats, Customizable time settings, Low time alert, User-friendly interface

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Clock Pro - 1W | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Chess Alarm Pro - 1Y | $9.99 | per year |
| Chess Timer Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

### Is Chess Timer free?

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

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

Chess Timer is rated higher. Sand Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while Chess Timer averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

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

Both Sand Timer and Chess Timer show ads.

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

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and Chess Timer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on October 13, 2026 and Chess Timer on October 8, 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.*