Loop vs StartWatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Loop
Easily create and manage multiple timers for various activities like sports, meditation, and study. Set interval timers, save presets, and import custom sounds. The app offers automatic resets, Apple Watch integration, and iCloud sync for a seamless experience.
- Multiple timer types (interval, Tabata)
- Natural text input for quick timers
- Automatic timer reset and alarm options
- Customizable presets with icons and colors
- Import custom start, finish, and interval sounds
- Background meditation sounds
- iCloud sync across devices
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Loop makes setting timers easier, faster and more beautiful. Start multiple (interval, Tabata, and cooking) timers, create presets, import your own sounds and so much more! - Easy Start: The start screen shows the most recently started timers and your favorites. One tap is enough to start a timer. You can also create a new quick timer with natural-language input: Simply type something like "1h Work, 30m Break" to create a timer with two intervals. Any number of timers can be started in parallel. The first timers will be displayed as nested rings. - Automatic Reset: After a timer expires, the app plays a sound and the timer automatically resets, so you can start it again immediately. Alternatively, you can configure a timer to play the sound like an alarm until you disable it. Loop supports AlarmKit so the alarm is also shown on your Apple Watch (requires at least iOS or iPadOS 26). - Presets: You can save your favorite timers as presets, which can be started with a tap. You can use text or an icon for your presets, and also change the color as you like. You can create multiple categories for your presets, with each category able to customize the app’s default settings. - Interval Timers: You can create interval timers and save them as Presets. The app plays a sound for each elapsed interval and displays it as a small dash on the ring. Additionally, you can name each of them, select repetitions for the intervals, or make the timer repeat automatically. - Choose Sounds: In addition to many included sounds, you can also import your own sound files from the Files app. Start, pause, finish, reset, interval, and background sounds can be selected separately. - Meditation Sounds: You can activate a background sound such as ocean waves or white noise in the settings, which will then be played when a timer is running. It is also possible to switch off the screen in order to concentrate fully on your meditation. - iCloud Sync: Your timers, settings, and sounds sync with your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. - Push Notifications & Live Activities: Loop will send you a push notification when the app is closed if a timer or interval has expired. The sounds selected in the app will also be used for the notification. In addition, a live activity is displayed when timers are running. - And More: Custom app icons, Apple Watch integration, HealthKit support, configure when the screen should stay awake, and countless further options. This application is governed by Apple’s standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement (EULA), available at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
StartWatch
This app allows you to start a stopwatch instantly and then convert it into a timer. You can run multiple timers and stopwatches simultaneously, with options to customize display and track past events. It offers advanced features like markers and live activities for efficient time management.
- Instant stopwatch start
- Convert stopwatch to timer
- Run multiple timers/stopwatches
- Customize display units
- History and undo functionality
- Markers for elapsed time
- Live Activities with Dynamic Island
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Start the stopwatch instantly, then turn it into a timer. Most timers are inaccurate because it takes 5 to 30 seconds to set the timer while time slips away. With StartWatch, you start the timer like a stopwatch, then you can take as much time as you need to set the alarm. Features Include: Run multiple stopwatches and timers. Convert a stopwatch to a timer and back to a stopwatch. Stopwatch continues to count after the timer is finished. Set a timer based on the time the stopwatch began, or the current time. Change a timer without losing the start time. Customize how the StartWatch is displayed. For example you can choose to show in weeks, days, or years. History - Undo an accidentally stopped StartWatch or change the start time of any event. Markers - Mark a moment in time on a running StartWatch. View how much time has elapsed from the previous Marker. Icon Badges - View how many StartWatches are running at a glance. Live Activities with support for Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro Watch Features: Complications for timers and stopwatches. Run timers and stopwatches in the background.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: StartWatch at none against Loop's 3. StartWatch also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 63%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Loop's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Loop sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. StartWatch asks for nothing beyond the download.
StartWatch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 67 and 49 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Loop's written reviews are positive against 86% of StartWatch's.
Loop ships an update every 10 days, StartWatch every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Loop | StartWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (67 ratings) | 4.7 (49 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 67 — better | 49 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 82 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Leon Boettger | Apostol & Hall |
Customer experience
Loop
StartWatch
In-app purchases
Loop
- Loop+ Monthly$0.991 Month
- Loop+ Yearly3 Days trial$3.991 Year
- Upgrade to Loop+$4.99
StartWatch
No in-app purchases









