Comparison

Tabata Timer vs Exercise Timer

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

Head to head
About

Tabata Timer

This app provides a versatile interval timer for high-intensity workouts like HIIT and Tabata. Users can create custom routines with adjustable work/rest times, sets, and cycles, and receive voice cues. It functions as a background companion to keep you focused during training.

Highlights
  • Customizable interval timers
  • HIIT and Tabata training support
  • Adjustable work and rest times
  • Set and cycle configuration
  • Interval naming
  • Background operation
  • Voice cues
Features
Read full description

Become better, faster, and stronger — together with Tabata Timer for Workouts! A simple yet powerful HIIT and Tabata timer for cardio, CrossFit, and any high-intensity training. Beginners can start with one tap, while advanced users get full control over every interval. Create custom workouts: adjust work and rest times, sets, and cycles; add interval names, background music, and voice cues. The app runs smoothly in the background, supports vibration, music ducking, and much more. More than just a stopwatch — your personal workout partner that keeps you focused, motivated, and on track anywhere — at home, in the gym, or outdoors. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Exercise Timer

Create and guide custom interval training routines with this app. It supports timed and rep-based exercises, offers voice coaching, and logs your workout history with detailed analytics. Track progress over time and organize routines into training plans.

Highlights
  • Custom workout routines
  • Voice coach for next exercise
  • Timed and rep-based exercises
  • Workout logging and analytics
  • Training plans
  • Background operation
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Create custom workout routines & let Exercise Timer guide you through your interval training. Exercise Timer supports both timed exercises and even reps-based exercises (press 'done' when exercise complete). Use Exercise Timer with your screen on or even in the background with your screen locked. Keep your phone in your pocket & Exercise Timer will still let you know which exercise is coming up by voice, vibration & bell. Keep a log of every workout along with an exercise breakdown & take notes. Know how much time you spend exercising with weekly, monthly & yearly charts. In addition to this, Exercise Timer generates reports of individual exercises with overall totals & Exercise Progression charts FEATURES • Create your custom workout routines • Voice Coach announces the next exercise • Optional Metronome to improve cadence • Multiple Bell Sounds • Group Exercises. E.g.: for Warm-Up/Cool-Down • Timed Exercises & Reps exercises supported • Color code your Exercises • Explain your exercises better with our library of exercise GIFs • Log & keep track of your workouts • Workout Analytics • Organize your workouts in Training Plans • Training plans designed by our fitness experts • Works in Background with device locked and screen off • Use Exercise Timer on your Apple Watch IDEAL FOR: • Interval Training, Tabata & Circuit Training • Yoga • Boxing • Keeping all your Workout Routines & Plans in one place • Gym Timer ARE YOU A FITNESS TRAINER? Create your Training Plans and workout routines in Exercise Timer and easily share them with your clients. APPLE WATCH Yes, Exercise Timer works on your Apple Watch! All your workouts are automatically synced on your Apple watch. Workouts performed on your apple watch are also logged on your phone. Download Exercise Timer Now and get moving! UNLOCK PREMIUM FEATURES Exercise Timer Premium is available with a monthly or annual subscription. If you choose to purchase Exercise Timer Premium, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and your account will be charged for renewal 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24hrs before the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to the ‘Manage Subscription’ page after purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of service: https://exercisetimer.net/terms Privacy policy: https://exercisetimer.net/privacypolicy

Screenshots

Tabata Timer4 screens
Exercise Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Exercise Timer at none against Tabata Timer's shown. Tabata Timer's advantage is review sentiment (98% vs 73%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). On price, rating, 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. Tabata Timer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Exercise Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Tabata Timer against 4.8 for Exercise Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabata Timer has 9.2K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of Tabata Timer's written reviews are positive against 73% of Exercise Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tabata Timer ships an update every 10 days, Exercise Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Tabata Timer versus Exercise Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTabata TimerExercise Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (9.2K ratings) — better4.8 (1K ratings)
Positive reviews98.3% of reviews — better73.2% of reviews
Number of ratings9.2K — better1K
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOleksandr SerhiienkoNeurondigital Ltd

Customer experience

Tabata Timer

All ratings9,173 ratings
Positive99.0%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.4%
Written reviews2,706 reviews
Positive98.3%
Neutral0.8%
Negative0.8%

Exercise Timer

All ratings1,000 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative19.6%

User reviews

Tabata Timer

From 9.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 🚀 Customizable workouts
  • 🔊 Clear audio cues
  • 💡 Ability to save multiple workouts
  • 🎵 Plays music in the background

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
  • 🔒 Limited free version (only 2 saved workouts)
  • 💰 Paid version required for more features
  • 🔀 Easy to accidentally skip intervals
  • 🔍 Cluttered interface for some users

Exercise Timer

From 1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great value without fluff
  • 👍 Simple but customizable
  • 👍 Awesome HIIT timer with exercise naming
  • 👍 Versatile and customizable exercise timer
  • 👍 A very underrated app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, freezes constantly
  • 🐛 Apple Watch version dysfunctional
  • 🐛 Input nightmare, difficult to use
  • 🐛 Landscape mode not available on iOS
  • 🐛 Reordering exercises in edit stage is a nightmare

Bugs and requests

Tabata Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Workouts not saving properly
  • Sync issues between app and Apple Watch
  • Occasional freezing or restarting of device

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to name and save more workouts in free version
  • Option to add exercise images or videos
  • Sync workouts across devices
  • Customizable sounds and alerts
  • Workout history and progress tracking

Exercise Timer

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Syncing issues with Apple Watch
  • Randomly locking users out and requiring upgrade
  • Deleting all routines after uninstalling
  • Exercises not updating properly on Apple Watch
  • Apple Watch app causing native exercise app to crash
Show 1 more
  • Phone locked, no chime when locked

Requested features

5 requests
  • Sync workouts across devices without logging out/in
  • Ability to duplicate workouts on iPhone
  • Search, sort, or reorder routines
  • Connect with Apple Health app
  • Shortcut/automation support

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Tabata Timer

Subscriptions4
  • Premium$1.491 Month
  • Premium$2.993 Months
  • Premium$4.496 Months
Show 1 more
  • Premium$7.491 Year
One-time1
  • Premium$9.99
3 purchases

Exercise Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Exercise Timer Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Exercise Timer Premium Yearly3 Days trial$30.991 Year
One-time1
  • Exercise Timer Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is Tabata Timer free?
Tabata Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Exercise Timer free?
Exercise Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tabata Timer or Exercise Timer?
Tabata Timer is rated higher. Tabata Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9.2K ratings, while Exercise Timer averages 4.8 from 1K ratings.
Do Tabata Timer or Exercise Timer have ads?
Tabata Timer shows ads; Exercise Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Tabata Timer or Exercise Timer?
Tabata Timer ships an update every 10 days, and Exercise Timer monthly. Most recently, Tabata Timer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Exercise Timer on September 21, 2026.

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