Comparison

Exercise Timer vs Smart Workout Counter

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

Head to head
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

About

Smart Workout Counter

Create and track custom workout routines with this intuitive timer. It automatically guides you through your exercises, counting sets or time, and allows for easy navigation between sessions. Enjoy background music and choose from various voice cues to enhance your training experience.

Highlights
  • Customizable workout routines
  • Automatic counting of sets/time
  • Workout flow visualization
  • Pause and navigate sessions
  • Background music support
  • Multiple voice cues
Features
Read full description

Customize your own workout plan and get your training coach for free! 'Smart Workout Counter' is the simplest workout tracker. Don't be disturbed while training your body. If you set up your workout routines, the app will automatically count and tell you! Just set up routines and get your free Workout Counter. > Features You can customize your own workout routines - lengths, repetition, set It doesn't matter which sports you prefer - Home training, yoga, pilates and all other sports lovers can set up their own routines The app will cue you according to the set up routines - lengths, number of repetitions, etc. > Set up workout lists Customize various routines you like and Use it anywhere - at home, at the gym or even in the park. You don't need to remember all those complex routines by yourself! The app will remember for you. > Workout The app will count you the number of sets or time of the session. Also you can enjoy background music while you workout. Whenever you want, you can check the whole workout flow at the bottom. You can pause or move on to the next/previous session Repeat is also available. > Other There are 4 types of voices and background music.

Screenshots

Exercise Timer4 screens
Smart Workout Counter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Exercise Timer at none against Smart Workout Counter's shown. Exercise Timer also leads on ratings volume (1K vs 8). Smart Workout Counter's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (88% vs 73%). 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. Exercise Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Smart Workout Counter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 — 4.8 for Exercise Timer against 4.9 for Smart Workout Counter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Exercise Timer has 1K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Exercise Timer's written reviews are positive against 88% of Smart Workout Counter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Exercise Timer ships an update monthly, Smart Workout Counter every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Exercise Timer versus Smart Workout Counter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExercise TimerSmart Workout Counter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1K ratings)4.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.2% of reviews87.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1K — better8
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1715.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNeurondigital LtdJEONGSIM CHOI

Customer experience

Exercise Timer

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

Smart Workout Counter

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral4.1%
Negative8.2%

Bugs and requests

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

Smart Workout Counter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

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
1 purchases

Smart Workout Counter

One-time1
  • Premium Version$0.99

Questions

Is Exercise Timer free?
Exercise Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Workout Counter free?
Smart Workout Counter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Exercise Timer or Smart Workout Counter?
Smart Workout Counter is rated higher. Exercise Timer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Smart Workout Counter averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.
Do Exercise Timer or Smart Workout Counter have ads?
Smart Workout Counter shows ads; Exercise Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Exercise Timer or Smart Workout Counter?
Exercise Timer ships an update monthly, and Smart Workout Counter every 3 days. Most recently, Exercise Timer was updated on October 16, 2026 and Smart Workout Counter on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons