# StartWatch vs Timer®

The clearest difference is ads: StartWatch at none against Timer®'s shown. StartWatch also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 11 months) and review sentiment (85% vs 63%). Timer®'s advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for StartWatch against 4.7 for Timer®. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 38 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of StartWatch's written reviews are positive against 63% of Timer®'s.

StartWatch ships an update every 6 days, Timer® every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StartWatch | Timer® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startwatch-instant-timers/id1537732824/reviews) | **[4.7 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer/id6450411439/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | **85.2% of reviews** | 62.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 19 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apostol & Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/320592318) | [UniCom Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1270764210) |

## What reviewers say

### StartWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startwatch-instant-timers/id1537732824)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Timer®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer/id6450411439)

This app provides a reliable and accurate countdown timer with customizable alerts and a user-friendly interface. Personalize your timer with different colors and alarm sounds to suit any situation, from cooking to workouts.

**Highlights:** Customizable colors, Alarm sound selection, User-friendly interface, Vibration alert, Reliable and accurate timekeeping

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StartWatch free?

StartWatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Timer® free?

Timer® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StartWatch or Timer®?

Timer® is rated higher. StartWatch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Timer® averages 4.7 from 38 ratings.

### Do StartWatch or Timer® have ads?

Timer® shows ads; StartWatch does not.

### Which is updated more often, StartWatch or Timer®?

StartWatch ships an update every 6 days, and Timer® every 11 months. Most recently, StartWatch was updated on September 11, 2026 and Timer® on September 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*