The Timekeeper vs Big Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Timekeeper
This app assists with timing speeches and presentations for various organizations. It uses visual cues like colored lights and optional bell sounds to indicate time limits, and can be controlled remotely via an Apple Watch. It records final times automatically.
- Visual timing lights (green, orange, red)
- Automatic time recording
- Apple Watch remote control
- Optional bell sound for visually impaired
- Contestant name entry
- Adjustable time scale
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Whether you do Toastmasters, Lions Club, Agora Speakers, debates, or other presentations, The Timekeeper is a speech timekeeper’s delight! No longer do you have to stare at a stopwatch in order to flick the timing lights and record times - this app does it all. Simply enter the names of the contestants, set your time scale, then sit back and enjoy the speeches. (You'll still have to start and stop the timer, of course) Even better, you can even control the start and stop the timer using your Apple Watch! We think it's intuitive (all info you need are on the screen) but if you still need instructions, just tape on the ⓘ info at the top centre of the app. The Timekeeper screen displays a large green light up to the first time limit to signify the speaker is safely within the allotted time. At the second time limit, the light automatically turns orange to warn the speaker that time is running out. At the third time limit, the light turns red to signify that time has expired, all whilst recording the final times. The lights are easily visible to a speaker up to a distance of 5 meters. Without the Apple Watch, the start / stop button is easy to find without having to look at the screen. The screen can therefore be visible to the speaker at all times - very crucial in a contest as every second counts! For the visually impaired speakers, The Timekeeper even includes the option of a bell sound!
Big Timer
This utility app features large, easy-to-read text for simple stopwatch and countdown timer functions. It's designed for quick visibility from a distance, making it ideal for straightforward timekeeping needs.
- Large, easy-to-read display
- Stopwatch functionality
- Countdown timer functionality
- Simple interface
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Large letters make it easy to see and read even from a distance It can be used simply as a stopwatch or countdown timer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Big Timer at Free against The Timekeeper's $2.99. Big Timer also leads on rating (3.0 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 15 months). The Timekeeper's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Big Timer is free to download; The Timekeeper costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Big Timer holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Big Timer has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of The Timekeeper's written reviews are positive against 20% of Big Timer's.
The Timekeeper ships an update every 15 months, Big Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Timekeeper | Big Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 3.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 20.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bevan TING | Ryouhei Azuma |
Customer experience
The Timekeeper
Big Timer
In-app purchases
The Timekeeper
No in-app purchases
Big Timer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Timekeeper free?
Is Big Timer free?
Which has better reviews, The Timekeeper or Big Timer?
Do The Timekeeper or Big Timer have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Timekeeper or Big Timer?
Other comparisons
