# Tempo Timer vs Real Hourglass

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Real Hourglass at 100% against Tempo Timer's 0%. Real Hourglass also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). Tempo Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Real Hourglass sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tempo Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Real Hourglass holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Tempo Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Real Hourglass's.

Tempo Timer ships an update every 6 months, Real Hourglass weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tempo Timer | Real Hourglass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-timer/id1293938344/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-hourglass/id6758259094/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 24 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alex Codrington](https://appshunter.io/developer/358228521) | [akira ohmachi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1338624340) |

## What reviewers say

### Tempo Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-timer/id1293938344)

This utility app allows users to create and manage interval timers with a straightforward interface. It is designed for easy tracking of timed activities.

**Highlights:** Create custom timers, Track timed activities, Simple design, Easy to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Real Hourglass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-hourglass/id6758259094)

A minimalist sand timer app that offers a realistic hourglass animation for focus, relaxation, and time management. It's designed to provide a distraction-free experience for various daily activities.

**Highlights:** Realistic hourglass animation, Intuitive interface, Focus sessions, Meditation aid, Daily routine timer, Distraction-free design

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tempo Timer free?

Tempo Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Real Hourglass free?

Real Hourglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tempo Timer or Real Hourglass?

Real Hourglass is rated higher. Tempo Timer averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Real Hourglass averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Tempo Timer or Real Hourglass have ads?

Real Hourglass shows ads; Tempo Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tempo Timer or Real Hourglass?

Tempo Timer ships an update every 6 months, and Real Hourglass weekly. Most recently, Tempo Timer was updated on October 12, 2026 and Real Hourglass on October 20, 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.*