Loop vs Burst Timers
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/
Burst Timers
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Burst Timers is an interval timer that keeps count so you can focus on the effort. Set how many segments you want, how long to work and how long to rest, and press Start. It's made for HIIT, sprints, circuits and stretching, and works for anything that alternates between work and rest. SET UP IN SECONDS • Choose 1 to 100 segments, with work and rest from 1 second to 10 minutes each • Big + and − buttons; touch and hold to change values quickly • See the total length of your run, and a colored bar with every period in order • Your last run is remembered for next time EVERY SECOND, FRONT AND CENTER • A huge countdown inside a ring that empties as the period runs out • The screen takes on the color of the current period, so you can tell work from rest at a glance • Up Next shows what's coming, and a progress bar fills in as you go • Pause, resume or end a run at any time • The screen stays on while you train NEVER MISS A SWITCH • A different sound for work, rest and the end of the run • Sounds play in Silent Mode and mix with your music and podcasts instead of stopping them • Haptics on iPhone and Apple Watch • VoiceOver announces each new period ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN • A Live Activity shows the countdown on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island • Pause, resume or end the run without unlocking your iPhone • When you're in another app or your iPhone is locked, the screen lights up and plays a sound at each change • Follow along in the Smart Stack on your paired Apple Watch ON YOUR WRIST • The Apple Watch app works on its own, no iPhone needed • Set every value with the Digital Crown • Pause and resume with a double tap on supported models • A different haptic for work and rest, so you don't have to look • Keeps going with your wrist down • Optional colored backgrounds for work and rest • Complications to start from your watch face ON YOUR MAC • The time left in the menu bar, with start, pause and end one click away • Close the window and keep going from the menu bar • The Dock icon shows the current period and the time left • Keyboard shortcuts for everything: ⌘↩ to start, ⇧⌘P to pause, ⌘. to end ON YOUR IPAD • A countdown big enough to read from across the room • Keyboard shortcuts when a keyboard is connected MAKE IT YOURS • Rename Work and Rest to Sprint and Recover, Push and Breathe, or anything you like • Pick from 20 icons, including a bolt, flame, runner, dumbbell, swimmer and lungs • Choose from 12 colors • Your labels, icons and colors show up everywhere: the countdown, the Live Activity, the menu bar, the Dock and Apple Watch • Copy them from iPhone to Apple Watch in one tap • End with a cooldown rest, or finish as soon as the last work period is done SAVED TO HEALTH • Optionally save every run to Health as a workout on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch • Choose the workout type: HIIT, strength training, core, running, cycling, jump rope, yoga and many more • Includes heart rate and active energy when available • Paused time isn't counted, and accidental starts are left out PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account or sign-in • Your settings stay on your devices Requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26. The Apple Watch app requires watchOS 10.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Loop at Free against Burst Timers's $0.99. Loop also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). Burst Timers's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On update cadence, ads 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
Loop is free to download; Burst Timers costs $0.99 up front. Loop sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Burst Timers asks for nothing beyond the download.
Loop ships an update every 10 days, Burst Timers every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Loop | Burst Timers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (68 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 68 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 82 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Leon Boettger | Eduardo Almeida |
In-app purchases
Loop
- Loop+ Monthly$0.991 Month
- Loop+ Yearly3 Days trial$3.991 Year
- Upgrade to Loop+$4.99
Burst Timers
No in-app purchases









