Comparison

Data Jar vs Just Timers

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

Head to head
About

Data Jar

This app acts as a persistent data store for your automation workflows. It allows you to save and retrieve various data types, including text, numbers, lists, dictionaries, and files, directly from your automation tools. Data is synced across devices via iCloud and can be accessed from the Files app.

Highlights
  • Persist key-value pairs
  • Supports text, numbers, booleans, lists, dictionaries, and files
  • Direct integration with automation tools
  • iCloud Drive storage and sync
  • Multi-window and drag-and-drop support on iPad
  • Access via Files app
Features
Read full description

Data Jar is a data store designed to be used with Shortcuts. The data store lets you persist key-value pairs. If you have used dictionaries and lists in Shortcuts, then you’ll find that the data format used by Data Jar is very similar. - Extensive support for Shortcuts, enabling you to read and update data directly from Shortcuts. - Store text, numbers, booleans, lists, dictionaries and even files. - Files are stored in iCloud Drive and can be accessed from the Files app. - Support for multiple windows and drag and drop on the iPad. - Synchronisation between devices using iCloud. Data Jar is free to use but contains a tip jar where users can pay a few bucks to support the developer.

About

Just Timers

Create and manage multiple named timers, including counters, stopwatches, and interval timers. Customize alerts with sounds and haptics, and integrate with Shortcuts for advanced automation. Sync across devices and utilize widgets for convenient control.

Highlights
  • Multiple named timers (counter, stopwatch, interval)
  • Customizable alerts (sound, haptics, critical alerts)
  • Shortcuts and URL integration
  • Interval templates for complex routines
  • Widgets and Live Activities support
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Light and Dark themes
Features
Read full description

Just Timers: The missing timers app Quickly and easily create multiple named counter, stopwatch and interval timers, sync across devices and even use Tags to group timers together Assign alert sounds, haptics and even critical alerts to notify you when a timer expires Assign Shortcuts and URLs to run when timers stop* (more actions coming soon!) Use intervals to create complex workout routines, or go a step deeper with interval templates and Shortcuts integration Use Shortcuts to create complex interval sets and control timers with your voice Use Widgets to keep track of and control your timers, as well as quickly create single-use "self-destruct" timers Sync timers with iCloud across your other devices Supports Live Activities, Widgets and the Dynamic Island Light and Dark Themes * Shortcuts and URLs can only run when the app is open or notification is tapped Need help? Contact support@justtimers.app or find us on Twitter @JustTimers

Screenshots

Data Jar4 screens
Just Timers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Data Jar at 4.9 against Just Timers's 4.1. Data Jar also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 57%) and ratings volume (870 vs 30). 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. Data Jar sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Just Timers sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Data Jar holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Data Jar has 870 ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Data Jar's written reviews are positive against 57% of Just Timers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Data Jar ships an update every 9 days, Just Timers every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Data Jar versus Just Timers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterData JarJust Timers
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (870 ratings) — better4.1 (30 ratings)
Positive reviews89.2% of reviews — better57.5% of reviews
Number of ratings870 — better30
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSimon B. StøvringAaron Dippner

Customer experience

Data Jar

All ratings857 ratings
Positive97.4%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews139 reviews
Positive89.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative7.9%

Just Timers

All ratings30 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative23.3%
Written reviews87 reviews
Positive57.5%
Neutral13.8%
Negative28.7%

User reviews

Data Jar

From 870 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Indispensable app for Shortcuts
  • 👍 Powerful and versatile data storage
  • 🔒 Reliable and stable data store
  • 💡 Unique solution for Shortcuts
  • 🤖 Essential for advanced Shortcuts

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or issues with large data
  • ⏱️ Slow read/write access at times
  • 🗂️ Difficulty managing large number of values

Just Timers

From 30 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent Shortcuts integration
  • 💰 Affordable one-time purchase
  • 🚫 No data collection
  • ✨ Clean and intuitive UI
  • 🚀 Fast and performant (v3)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Numerous bugs and glitches
  • 🔇 No sound/alarms
  • ⚠️ Notifications not stopping
  • ⏳ Slow loading times
  • ⌚ Watch app issues

Bugs and requests

Data Jar

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Files getting automatically deleted with large numbers
  • Issues with saving base64 encoded images

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to add individual values to existing dictionaries
  • Device-specific variables
  • Folder organization for values
  • Boolean action to set values
  • Widget support

Just Timers

Reported bugs

32 issues
  • Repeat function causing repeated shortcut execution
  • No sound even with critical alerts on
  • Notifications won't stop after timer completion
  • Interval timer progress lost
  • Stock timers restoring after deletion
Show 27 more
  • Watch app unusable, complications incorrect
  • Timers activating and changing duration after update
  • Timers going off after being stopped
  • Negative timers displayed
  • Alerts not going off
  • Timers with intervals spontaneously resetting
  • Watch notifications inconsistent
  • Timer display stuck
  • Widget display stuck
  • Intervals stuck, skipping inconsistent
  • Choosing sound causes it to play indefinitely
  • Timer resets when modifying sound
  • No default timer settings
  • Manual sync required for phone/watch timers
  • Buttons do nothing or wrong action
  • Siri not working with new version
  • Shortcut action to create timer throws error
  • Can't change timer volume (too loud with headphones)
  • Sound continues to ring after stop/dismiss
  • Contact button in settings not working
  • Can't scroll down to add new custom timer on Watch
  • Watch face off means no alert
  • Alert only happens when app is open on Watch
  • Weak buzz with no customization on Watch
  • App crashes before timer expires
  • App sluggish and buggy
  • Purchasing tiers not clearly disclosed upfront

Requested features

19 requests
  • Menu bar timer on Mac
  • Widgets for home screen
  • Custom sounds for timers
  • Delayed timer start (date/time)
  • Group timers and trigger individual timers
Show 14 more
  • Enter date and time for timers
  • Option to quickly create one-off timers
  • Prevent app launch when tapping Live Activity
  • Templates for timer types
  • Clear explanations for settings
  • Siri integration improvements
  • Ability to set different sounds for each timer
  • More alarming sound options
  • Vibrating function on Watch
  • Improved x-callback integration
  • Rest API improvements
  • Ability to group timers
  • Reset individual timers on Watch easily
  • More alert tones

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Data Jar

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
8 purchases

Just Timers

One-time8
  • Small Toy$0.99
  • v1 Unlimited Timers (Legacy)$1.99
  • Tier 1$1.99
Show 5 more
  • Medium Toy$2.99
  • v1 Upgrade$2.99
  • Large Toy$4.99
  • Tier 2$4.99
  • Huge Toy$9.99

Questions

Is Data Jar free?
Data Jar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Just Timers free?
Just Timers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Data Jar or Just Timers?
Data Jar is rated higher. Data Jar averages 4.9 out of 5 from 870 ratings, while Just Timers averages 4.1 from 30 ratings.
Do Data Jar or Just Timers have ads?
Neither Data Jar nor Just Timers shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Data Jar or Just Timers?
Data Jar ships an update every 9 days, and Just Timers every 4 weeks. Most recently, Data Jar was updated on November 2, 2026 and Just Timers on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons