Custom Running Intervals vs Sport Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Custom Running Intervals
Create custom running workouts with flexible intervals based on time or distance. Track progress, build training plans, and analyze past runs with detailed results. Your data is private and stored securely on your device or iCloud.
- Configurable time or distance intervals
- Repeatable interval blocks
- Training plan calendar
- Historical run analysis
- Apple Watch monitoring
- iCloud synchronization
- Data privacy
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This is a flexible custom interval timer and training scheduler with historical analysis, and you are the only one who has access to your data! As a runner, I’ve had challenges finding a running timer that can manage my more involved interval combinations. Custom Running Intervals allows you to build variable activities with repeatable blocks of intervals. Intervals can be by time or by distance with 3 intensities - walk, steady, and fast. You can repeat your intervals a specific or indefinite number of times, for a defined amount of time, or for a given distance. With an inexpensive upgrade, you can create as many combinations of repeatable sets in the variations you choose, build a training plan on a calendar, see results of past runs, and export results to other apps. Also, your data is only available to you - even I can’t see it. Your data will only exist on your phone, or in your own iCloud storage if you choose. If you save your data to iCloud (by default), you can view the results on any other iPhone or iPad that shares the same iCloud account. Features: 1. Configurable intervals - distance (miles, kilometers), time (hours, minutes, seconds). 2. Configurable repeat blocks of intervals - # of times (or until stopped), distance, time. 3. Clone activities (use an existing activity - repeats and intervals - as a basis to create a similar activity). 4. Apple Watch monitoring and control and heart rate (iPhone app must be started). 5. Configurable settings. 6. Audio cues by voice, tone, or both (in Settings). 7. Pause, Resume, or Stop an activity, Skip repeat blocks. 8. View current elapsed time, distance, interval progress, overall pace. 9. End an in-progress repeat block (and proceed to the next). 10. Results by interval and repeat block, as well as default distance unit (each mile or kilometer). 11. Results (including steps, time, distance, and pace) available immediately after run. 12. Map view to verify GPS location prior to starting run. 13. Map view of running route in results including markers by mile/kilometer and pauses. 14. Helpful on-screen guide when creating first activity and configuring. 15. Activities and results stored in iCloud for synchronization across devices and data loss prevention. Apple Watch If you have an Apple Watch, you can also start, pause, and stop an activity in progress from the watch. NOTE: the Apple Watch app (included with your iPhone download) communicates with the iPhone app, so the app must be started on both the watch and phone to use the watch app. Apple Watch Features: 1. View existing activity configurations. 2. Start an activity (if iPhone app is started). 3. Pause, Resume, or Stop an activity. 4. View current elapsed time, distance, interval progress, overall pace. 5. End an in-progress repeat block (and proceed to the next). Available Full Features (In App Purchase) 1. Configure an activity with multiple repeat blocks for more complex intervals (standard version allows one repeat block) 2. Add planned training runs on a Training Calendar for a selected custom interval (free version allows up to 5). 3. View and filter a graph of your pace over time for activities (free version allows up to 5 past runs). 4. View the results of your runs on the Training Calendar including a map of the route. weather conditions, elevation, pace, and heart rate. 5. Create repeatable training plans to easily add planned runs to the Training Calendar. 6. Sort your past results by date, total time of run, distance, and pack. 7. Export your results (current or history) in GPX format for importing to other trackers. 8. Fix GPS for anomalies. 9. Import results in GPX format from any tracker app. 10. Track miles run on your pairs of shoes. 11. Manually enter results for a run if you forget to track. 12. Manually edit the time and distance for a run. 13. Share a run with photo to social media and other apps. 14. Track a run on a cruise ship.
Sport Timer
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Simply track your workouts your way or take it further with guided training. Monitor your distance, speed, steps, and routes in real time, and improve with ready-to-use programs built around structured workout phases. Choose among predefined exercises or create your entire workout plan for all kinds of sports and activities you like: running, walk & run, fitness exercises, Tabata and HIIT trainings, stretching, Yoga, Tai-Chi and many others. Enjoy the app with handy features to coach you through the workout: reading out the exercise name or motivation messages you can add, intervals announced 30 sec before they start, half-time alert, next phase displayed, vibration mode. BUILT-IN WORKOUTS: • Walk at various speeds • Run and walk • Run intervals • Home fitness exercices (squats, crunches, push-ups, plank, lunges, leg raises, wall sit) • Tabata workout • HIIT interval trainings KEY FEATURES: • Play your song or playlist in the background during your workout • Create fully custom workouts (exercise names or messages, timers, warm-up and cool-down intervals, cycles) • Choose from vibration, bell sound and text-to-speech voice alerts for exercise start, finish, half-time, countdown and laps. • Reading out your next exercise 30 seconds before start • Actual and next exercise name displayed • Total workout time • Pause and resume • Choose your preferred background (among 20 colourful images)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Sport Timer at every 3 weeks against Custom Running Intervals's every 3 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Custom Running Intervals sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sport Timer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Custom Running Intervals ships an update every 3 months, Sport Timer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 2, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Custom Running Intervals | Sport Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | John Mallonee | Oliver Glaettli |
In-app purchases
Custom Running Intervals
- Full Capabilities$0.99
Sport Timer
- Sports Timers Set One$4.99
- Full Sports Timers Version$7.99
Questions
Is Custom Running Intervals free?
Is Sport Timer free?
Do Custom Running Intervals or Sport Timer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Custom Running Intervals or Sport Timer?
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