Comparison

SAILS vs Visual Timer for Kids

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

Head to head
About

SAILS

This app helps children improve their speech clarity by listening to and identifying correctly articulated sounds. It offers interactive modules based on scientific research, showing accelerated progress in speech therapy when used alongside traditional programs. Available in multiple English dialects and French, with a free introductory module.

Highlights
  • Auditory discrimination of speech sounds
  • Interactive learning modules
  • Research-backed progress acceleration
  • Multiple language dialects
  • Free introductory module
Features
Read full description

The Speech Assessment and Interactive Learning System (SAILS) is an app-based tool for presenting children with recordings of other children's speech. The recordings represent children's efforts to perceive difficult sounds, some articulated correctly, some misarticulated. The child's task is to determine if each auditory stimulus is a correctly articulated variant of the target word. Four published studies have shown that a child's rate of progress in speech therapy will be double the usual rate if the program is included as part of a typical speech therapy program. SAILS is available in North-American English (8 speech sounds can be tested and trained across 21 modules) and Australian English (5 speech sounds can be tested and trained across 10 modules). You can try SAILS with the CAT module that is free in each language. One module (GRIS) is available for free in French. Project initiated and directed by Susan Rvachew Software development by Alexandre Herbay Australian speech sounds development by Stephanie Hearnshaw More information at www.dialspeech.com

About

Visual Timer for Kids

This app helps children understand the concept of time by visually revealing a picture as a countdown progresses. It's designed to reduce stress and arguments around tasks, making routines like homework or brushing teeth more engaging and manageable for kids.

Highlights
  • Visual countdown timer with picture reveal
  • 200+ kid-friendly pictures
  • Customizable background images and music
  • Personalize with own photos
  • Works in background with alerts
  • Reduces time pressure and arguments
Features
Read full description

Struggling to explain to your child what “5 minutes” really means? Need a simple way to motivate kids to finish tasks on time — without stress? Visual Timer for Kids turns time into something children can see. As the visual timer runs, a picture is slowly revealed, helping kids understand how time passes in a calm and engaging way. Perfect for daily routines like homework, cleaning up, brushing teeth, screen time, or quiet play. Why Kids Love It — and Parents Trust It ● Makes abstract time concepts visual and easy to understand ● Helps children stay focused and motivated ● Reduces reminders, arguments, and time pressure ● Especially helpful for younger children and kids with ADHD Key Features ● Visual countdown timer that reveals a picture as time passes ● 200 beautiful pictures designed for kids ● 25 background images to customize the experience ● 20 music themes including relaxing, acoustic, jazz, country, and rock ● 10 fun sound effects that play when time is up ● Add your own photos from the photo library ● Works in the background ● Notifications and alerts when the timer ends -------- How does this app help kids understand time? By showing time visually instead of just numbers, children can see how much time is left as the picture is revealed. Is this app good for children with ADHD? Yes. The visual progress, gentle music, and clear ending signal help improve focus and reduce overwhelm. What can my child use this timer for? Homework, chores, getting dressed, brushing teeth, screen time limits, reading, or quiet play. Can I personalize the timer? Yes. You can choose pictures, music, and even add your own photos. Does the timer work when the app is not open? Yes. The app works in the background and notifies you when time is up. Is Visual Timer for Kids free? The app is free to download and use, with optional premium features available via in-app purchase. -------- If you enjoy the app, please leave a review on the App Store. Your feedback really helps. Questions or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you. Support Email: AppsForParents@gmail.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/site/appsforparentsprivacy/

Screenshots

Visual Timer for Kids4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Visual Timer for Kids at 4.5 against SAILS's 3.0. Visual Timer for Kids also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 33%) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 1). SAILS's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. SAILS sells 22 one-off in-app purchases and Visual Timer for Kids sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Visual Timer for Kids holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Visual Timer for Kids has 1.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of SAILS's written reviews are positive against 72% of Visual Timer for Kids's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SAILS ships an update every 5 months, Visual Timer for Kids every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SAILS versus Visual Timer for Kids: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSAILSVisual Timer for Kids
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews72.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSusan RvachewNatalia Jakubczyk-Gajewska

Customer experience

SAILS

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

Visual Timer for Kids

All ratings1,509 ratings
Positive87.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral7.3%
Negative20.7%

Bugs and requests

SAILS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Visual Timer for Kids

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sound doesn't work
  • App crashes

Requested features

4 requests
  • More app icon choices
  • Free way of watching an ad or something to get at least a second character
  • Automatic starting of the timer at the designated time with the picture covered
  • Option for anything more than one minute

In-app purchases

22 purchases

SAILS

One-time22
  • NAE - Sound K - Word CATFree
  • Français(Qc)- Son R - Mot GRISFree
  • NAE - Sound L - Word LAKE$1.99
Show 19 more
  • NAE - Sound R - Word RAT$1.99
  • NAE - Sound R - Word ROPE$1.99
  • NAE - Sound R - Word DOOR$1.99
  • NAE - Sound S - Word SOAP$1.99
  • NAE - Sound S - Word SUE$1.99
  • NAE - Sound S - Word BUS$1.99
  • NAE - Sound K - Word COAT$1.99
  • NAE - Sound SH - Word SHOE$1.99
  • NAE - Sound CH - Word CHIN$1.99
  • NAE - Sound L - Word LAMB$1.99
  • NAE - Sound K - Word BOOK$1.99
  • NAE - Sound TH - Word THUMB$1.99
  • NAE - Sound L - Word NAIL$1.99
  • NAE - Sound CH - Word CHAIN$1.99
  • NAE - Sound SH - Word SHEET$1.99
  • NAE - Sound TH - Word THIN$1.99
  • NAE - Sound F - Word FAT$1.99
  • NAE - Sound F - Word FEET$1.99
  • NAE - Sound F - Word KNIFE$1.99
12 purchases

Visual Timer for Kids

Subscriptions11
  • 1 Week Premium Subscription3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Timer for Kids Premium7 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • 1 Week Premium Subscription7 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 8 more
  • 1 Month Premium Subscription3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • 1 Month Premium Subscription3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Special Offer - 1 Year$19.001 Year
  • 3 Months Premium Subscription$19.993 Months
  • 1 Year Premium Subscription$24.991 Year
  • 1 Year Premium Subscription$29.991 Year
  • 6 Months Premium Subscription$39.996 Months
  • 1 Year Premium Subscription$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is SAILS free?
SAILS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Visual Timer for Kids free?
Visual Timer for Kids is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SAILS or Visual Timer for Kids?
Visual Timer for Kids is rated higher. SAILS averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Visual Timer for Kids averages 4.5 from 1.5K ratings.
Do SAILS or Visual Timer for Kids have ads?
Neither SAILS nor Visual Timer for Kids shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SAILS or Visual Timer for Kids?
SAILS ships an update every 5 months, and Visual Timer for Kids every 6 weeks. Most recently, SAILS was updated on September 30, 2026 and Visual Timer for Kids on October 14, 2026.

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