Comparison

Interval Timer vs ChainTimer

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

Head to head
About

Interval Timer

This versatile timer app allows users to create custom sequences for various activities, from breathwork and workouts to focus sessions and cooking. It offers AI-powered voice guidance, iCloud synchronization across Apple devices, and a minimalist black-and-white interface.

Highlights
  • Customizable timer chains
  • Breathwork flow builder
  • Intermittent fasting timers
  • Workout routine creator
  • Focus and Pomodoro timers
  • AI voice guidance
  • iCloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

"This isn't just another timer app. This is your favorite timer app's favorite timer app" - Cody Lee, iDownloadBlog. "What I like most about TimeWave, though, is its clean, black-and-white design" - John Voorhees, MacStories. "Liquid Glass really comes to life on its widgets" - Michael Burkhardt, 9to5Mac. "Best iPhone Apps of July, 2021" - Beau Hamilton, Slashdot. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH TIMEWAVE? TimeWave allows you to combine your breathwork app, your workout app, your focus timer, cooking timer and much more into one single app. You can use TimeWave for: • Breathwork — build custom breathing flows like 4-7-8 Breathing to lower blood pressure, Physiological Sigh to reduce stress and anxiety, Wim Hof Breathing to increase alertness, Box Breathing to relax and much more. • Intermittent Fasting — Create your own intermittent fasting using various splits like 16:8, 12:12, 5:2, etc. You can create timer-splits for each day or for the entire week. • Workout Routines — create your own workouts by chaining excercise and break durations. You can make Tabata/HIIT workouts or even yoga routines. • 20-20-20 Rule — create a timewave to follow the 20-20-20 rule (Every 20 minutes look at something 20 ft away for 20 seconds) while working with screens to prevent eye-strain. • Focus Timers — create pomodoro timers or any kind of work-break timewaves. You are not restricted to 25 minute session, you can create any sequence that suits your preferences. • Cooking — ever had to keep resetting your timers after each whistle? well, now you wont have to. Just create a timewave for each recipe. • Everything — anything else that involves timed sequential tasks. SPECIAL FEATURES: • TimeWave A.I — TimeWave will tell you what has to be done for how long while the Calibre is running. For eg: "Breathe In For 4 Seconds" so you don't have to look at the screen. • iCloud Sync — Available on Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch and keeps everything up-to to date on all your devices with iCloud Sync. • Black & White UI — B&W is a lot of colours. If you are anything like us, you'll love our ironically modern black and white UI. MORE: • Personal touch — a hand-crafted Indie app. If you have any questions or feedback, you can reach out to us at timewave.team@gmail.com Privacy Policy: https://timewaveapp.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://timewaveapp.com/terms

About

ChainTimer

Features
Read full description

ChainTimer is a powerful multi-timer app designed to help you manage tasks, routines, workouts, cooking, study sessions, and anything else that depends on precise timing. Run multiple timers simultaneously, add notes to each timer, and create timer chains that guide you through multi-step activities without needing to reset timers manually. Features • Run multiple timers at the same time • Create up to five follow-up timers for each timer • Add custom notes and labels • Pause and resume timers at any time • Choose from multiple alarm sounds • Local notifications when timers finish • Works accurately even when the app is in the background • Offline-first design with no accounts required • All timer data stored locally on your device Perfect For • Cooking and baking • Exercise and interval training • Study sessions and productivity techniques • Meditation and mindfulness routines • Household tasks • Workflows with multiple timed steps ChainTimer is designed to be simple, reliable, and private. Your timer data stays on your device and is never shared with third parties.

Screenshots

Interval Timer4 screens
ChainTimer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ChainTimer at none against Interval Timer's 3. ChainTimer also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). Interval Timer's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Interval Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ChainTimer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Interval Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, ChainTimer daily. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Interval Timer versus ChainTimer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInterval TimerChainTimer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (25 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMuhammed Sahil ArayakandyKane Hastings

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Interval Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$49.99
None

ChainTimer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Interval Timer free?
Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ChainTimer free?
ChainTimer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Interval Timer or ChainTimer have ads?
Neither Interval Timer nor ChainTimer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or ChainTimer?
Interval Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and ChainTimer daily. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on October 9, 2026 and ChainTimer on September 26, 2026.

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