Comparison

Workout Timer Essential vs Interval Timer

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

Head to head
About

Workout Timer Essential

A streamlined workout timer designed for simplicity and essential functionality. It offers a clean, bicolor interface and integrates with HealthKit for Apple Watch workout data. Support the developer with an optional in-app purchase to remove ads.

Highlights
  • Essential bicolor layout
  • HealthKit integration
  • Apple Watch workout functions
  • Streamlined design
  • Optional ad removal
Features
Read full description

Hi, my name is Alessandro, 23yo from Italy. I've been going to the gym since I was a teen and I've tried pretty much all the gym apps in the App Store, both paid and not. Nothing worked. They were either cluttered messes, no longer maintained, terribly designed or simply not working anymore. So I've set out to design my own, targeting the latest Apple hardware and Development Kit, sticking to the true simplicity of a bicolor, essential layout. I decided to share it with you, for free, with a small in app purchase to remove ads if you want to support the development, hoping you'll enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you.This App integrates with Health Kit to use the Workout functions in your Apple Watch.

About

Interval Timer

This app provides a customizable interval timer for various training routines, including HIIT and Tabata. Easily set up custom workouts, track your progress, and stay motivated with visual cues and audio notifications. It's suitable for a wide range of activities from fitness to productivity.

Highlights
  • Customizable workout setup
  • Progress tracking with calendar
  • Saveable custom presets
  • Color-coded notifications
  • Listen to music/audiobooks
  • Large, full-screen display
  • Widget for easy access
Features
Read full description

Interval Timer: Tabata and HIIT is a customizable timer for sports. Use it for High-intensity interval training and workout. It's a free sports interval timer app that makes it easy to create your custom training routine. Use it as your timer for training or exercise. This sports timer is great for crossfit, fitness and running. The sports timer will also be useful for various activities such as crossfit, jogging, boxing,circuit training,breathing exercises and yoga. You can use this circuit timer as a productivity timer to focus on your work tasks. Key features: Setup workout Tracking your progress Customizable presets Notifications & colors Motivation Listening music or books Huge digits Widget SETUP WORKOUT Set up, edit and save your own workouts with the customizable feature. Add as many intervals as you like. You can add a 10 second rest period and a 20 second work period, as well as a 5 second interval between exercises. TRACKING PROGRESS Track your workouts with a Calendar. Plan and track events, and get notified when you have a training scheduled. With this feature, you will not miss a single workout and will keep track of your progress. CUSTOMIZABLE PRESETS Save your workouts in the presets section. It's also possible to create your own custom intervals. You can add an unlimited number of presets. NOTIFICATIONS & COLORS Each training phase is easy to distinguish by a different color and is initiated by an individually adjustable signal (sound, vibration, voice) MOTIVATION Each completed exercise motivates you to achieve higher goals. Enjoy your training and achieve your fitness goals with the interval timer. LISTENING MUSIC Listen to motivational audiobooks or your favorite music and get inspired and energized. Full screen color coded display is easy to read from a distance. Widget helps you train without being distracted by the constant unlocking of your phone. Interval Timer: Tabata and HIIT is an easy to use sports workout timer for your daily fitness training at home, at the gym or everywhere else.

Screenshots

Workout Timer Essential4 screens
Interval Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Interval Timer at 97% against Workout Timer Essential's 50%. Interval Timer also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.7) and update cadence (monthly vs every 16 months). Workout Timer Essential's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Workout Timer Essential sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Interval Timer sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.09 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Interval Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 384 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Workout Timer Essential's written reviews are positive against 97% of Interval Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Workout Timer Essential ships an update every 16 months, Interval Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Workout Timer Essential versus Interval Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWorkout Timer EssentialInterval Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (3 ratings)4.9 (384 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews96.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3384 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlessandro PettazzoniSimpleInnovation LLC

Customer experience

Workout Timer Essential

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Interval Timer

All ratings384 ratings
Positive99.5%
Neutral0.3%
Negative0.3%
Written reviews319 reviews
Positive96.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative2.5%

Bugs and requests

Workout Timer Essential

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Interval Timer

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional app crashes
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • More pre-designed workout routines
  • Ability to name and customize exercises
  • Option to adjust countdown time between intervals

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Workout Timer Essential

One-time1
  • Ads Removal$0.99
12 purchases

Interval Timer

Subscriptions8
  • Timer PRO for 1 month: 30% OFF7 Days trial$2.091 Month
  • Timer PRO for 1 month: 25% OFF7 Days trial$2.291 Month
  • Interval Timer PRO for 1 month$2.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Interval Timer PRO for 1 month7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Interval Timer PRO - 30% OFF7 Days trial$15.001 Year
  • Interval Timer PRO - 25% OFF7 Days trial$16.491 Year
  • Interval Timer PRO for 1 year$21.991 Year
  • Tabata Timer PRO for 1 year7 Days trial$21.991 Year
One-time4
  • Interval Timer - no Ads$2.99
  • HIIT Timer PRO Forever 30% OFF$27.99
  • HIIT Timer PRO Forever 25% OFF$29.99
Show 1 more
  • Exercise Timer PRO Forever$39.99

Questions

Is Workout Timer Essential free?
Workout Timer Essential is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Interval Timer free?
Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Workout Timer Essential or Interval Timer?
Interval Timer is rated higher. Workout Timer Essential averages 2.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Interval Timer averages 4.9 from 384 ratings.
Do Workout Timer Essential or Interval Timer have ads?
Interval Timer shows ads; Workout Timer Essential does not.
Which is updated more often, Workout Timer Essential or Interval Timer?
Workout Timer Essential ships an update every 16 months, and Interval Timer monthly. Most recently, Workout Timer Essential was updated on October 2, 2026 and Interval Timer on October 13, 2026.

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