Comparison

StartWatch vs About Timers

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

About Timers

Manage multiple timers and stopwatches simultaneously for any task, from cooking to work sessions. Get notifications when timers complete and customize their appearance. Run them reliably in the background.

Highlights
  • Unlimited simultaneous timers and stopwatches
  • Focus Mode for distraction-free viewing
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Completion notifications
  • Customizable appearance (colors, shapes, glow)
  • Reliable background operation
Features
Read full description

TIMERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEAUTIFUL About Timers is the most visually stunning way to run multiple timers and stopwatches on iPhone and iPad. Born in the kitchen — where managing multiple things at once is the difference between a great meal and a burnt one — but at home everywhere you need precise timing. MULTIPLE TIMERS, ALL AT ONCE Run as many timers as you need, simultaneously. Every timer is a visual tile with vibrant gradients, a glowing progress ring, and ambient light that pulses as it counts down. Pasta, sauce, vegetables — all on screen at the same time, each with its own alarm sound and repeat alerts. STOPWATCHES WITH SPLIT TRACKING Track laps, rounds, and splits with millisecond precision. Set a target time for each split — the app shows you instantly whether you were faster or slower, in green or red. Ideal for workouts, coaching, board games, or any activity where every second counts. DEEPLY INTEGRATED INTO iOS • Home screen widgets in small, medium, and large • Lock screen widgets — circular progress and rectangular countdown • Time-sensitive notifications that break through Focus and Do Not Disturb BEAUTIFUL BY DESIGN Dozens of color themes and gradient palettes: rainbow, gold, nova, and more. Choose your shape — circle, squircle, or rectangle. Ambient glow effects in gradient or solid styles. 15 custom app icons to match your home screen. This is what a timer app looks like when design actually matters. ABOUT TIMERS PRO Upgrade to unlock unlimited timers and stopwatches, lock screen widgets, Focus Mode (hide stopped timers for a cleaner view), alternative app icons, and every new theme added in future updates. Available monthly, yearly, or as a one-time purchase. Privacy: https://www.abouttimers.com/privacy.html EULA: https://www.abouttimers.com/eula.html

Screenshots

StartWatch4 screens
About Timers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: StartWatch at none against About Timers's 3. StartWatch also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). About Timers's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume and update cadence 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. About Timers sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. StartWatch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StartWatch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 61 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of StartWatch's written reviews are positive against 71% of About Timers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StartWatch ships an update every 3 weeks, About Timers fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
StartWatch versus About Timers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStartWatchAbout Timers
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (49 ratings) — better4.5 (61 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4961 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApostol & HallGertjan.com

Customer experience

StartWatch

All ratings49 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

About Timers

All ratings61 ratings
Positive83.6%
Neutral6.6%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

StartWatch

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

About Timers

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-time Purchase$14.99

Questions

Is StartWatch free?
StartWatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is About Timers free?
About Timers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, StartWatch or About Timers?
StartWatch is rated higher. StartWatch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while About Timers averages 4.5 from 61 ratings.
Do StartWatch or About Timers have ads?
About Timers shows ads; StartWatch does not.
Which is updated more often, StartWatch or About Timers?
StartWatch ships an update every 3 weeks, and About Timers fortnightly. Most recently, StartWatch was updated on November 3, 2026 and About Timers on November 3, 2026.

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