# Sand Timer vs Universal TV Remote

The clearest difference is ads: Universal TV Remote at none against Sand Timer's shown. Universal TV Remote also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 8 months). On price, in-app purchases, 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 and Universal TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, Universal TV Remote every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Timer | Universal TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **150** | — |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) | [617SW, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791188705) |

## 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 |


### Universal TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-styles/id6812009416)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal TV Remote Pro Weekly | $2.49 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Universal TV Remote Pro Annual | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

### Is Universal TV Remote free?

Universal TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Sand Timer or Universal TV Remote have ads?

Sand Timer shows ads; Universal TV Remote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sand Timer or Universal TV Remote?

Sand Timer ships an update every 8 months, and Universal TV Remote every 5 days. Most recently, Sand Timer was updated on October 26, 2026 and Universal TV Remote on October 24, 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.*