Comparison

Swimz vs LapBuddy

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

Head to head
About

Swimz

Features
Read full description

Swimz provides you with extra information and statistics about your swim data from the Health app. You can add swim data manually to your Health app or use a fitness tracker or smartwatch to automatically add swim data. Swimz will provide you with information about your current, average, best and total swim distance over different time periods. You can also set a week goal and see your progress. Default distance units from your Health app will be used. You can set up notifications when reaching your week goal and optional see your current distance on the app icon on your home screen. Swimz respects your privacy. All your data will stay on your device only. In order to work correct, Swimz needs read access to your swim data.

About

LapBuddy

Features
Read full description

LapBuddy is the lap counter and stopwatch designed for serious swimmers. Whether you're training for competition, tracking masters workouts, or coaching athletes, LapBuddy delivers professional-grade timing and analytics in a beautifully simple interface. **SMART TIMING** • Apple Watch-style analog stopwatch with dual second hands • Automatic session recovery - never lose a workout, even if you close the app • Real-time lap distribution histogram shows consistency at a glance • Precise timing with tenths of seconds for splits under 60 seconds **PERFORMANCE TRACKING** • Automatic time trial records for 50m, 100m, 200m, 500m distances • 22 achievements across speed, endurance, consistency, and volume • Lap time distribution charts with adaptive bucketing • Session-by-session analytics and trends **MULTI-ATHLETE SUPPORT** • Track multiple swimmers with separate stats and achievements • Perfect for coaches managing athletes or parents tracking kids • Configurable default athlete for quick session starts **DATA YOU CAN TRUST** • iCloud sync keeps sessions across all your devices • Export sessions with photos/videos as shareable .lapbuddyexport files • Complete backup and restore with validation • Session photos and videos with smart overlays (time + lap number) **THOUGHTFUL DESIGN** • Timeline browser with infinite scroll and calendar icons • Session notes capture insights during or after workouts • Media carousel with frosted glass overlays • State machine-driven interface prevents accidental data loss **BUILT FOR THE POOL** • Screen stays on during sessions • Haptic feedback for lap confirmation • Large, easy-to-tap buttons for poolside use • Works completely offline - no internet required LapBuddy doesn't require subscriptions, doesn't track you, and respects your privacy. Your swimming data stays yours, synced securely via your iCloud account. Perfect for competitive swimmers, masters athletes, coaches, and anyone who wants accurate lap counting with professional analytics.

Screenshots

Swimz3 screens
LapBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LapBuddy at none against Swimz's 3. LapBuddy also leads on ads (none vs shown). Swimz's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.2 vs 17.6). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Swimz sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. LapBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swimz ships an update every 9 days, LapBuddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences Ā· 2 level
Swimz versus LapBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwimzLapBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.2 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndre AlbachRouslan Zenetl

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Swimz

One-time3
  • Donate a cup of coffee$0.99
  • Donate a large cup of coffee$1.99
  • Ad free$3.99
None

LapBuddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Swimz free?
Swimz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LapBuddy free?
LapBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Swimz or LapBuddy have ads?
Swimz shows ads; LapBuddy does not.
Which is updated more often, Swimz or LapBuddy?
Swimz ships an update every 9 days, and LapBuddy monthly. Most recently, Swimz was updated on October 8, 2026 and LapBuddy on September 28, 2026.

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