StartWatch vs SAR Grid
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
SAR Grid
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SAR Grid helps aircrews, ground teams, mission staff, and SAR personnel quickly view and identify conventional CAP search grids across the continental United States. Open the app to a national map of all supported sectional grids, then zoom, pan, tap, or long-press to identify the grid and quarter-grid for any location. GridPlanner displays grid boundaries directly on the map with clear labels and coordinate details, making it easier to brief, plan, and visualize a search area before a sortie or field assignment. Features: - Displays conventional CAP grids for all 37 CONUS sectionals - Shows grid and quarter-grid boundaries on the map - Tap, long-press, or double-tap the map to identify the grid at that point - Use your current GPS location to display the active grid and coordinates - View latitude/longitude details in degrees and decimal minutes - Choose Map, Hybrid, Satellite, or Terrain map styles - Launch ForeFlight with the selected grid as a preloaded route, when ForeFlight is installed - Works with bundled grid data for offline grid lookup SAR Grid is designed as a fast reference and planning tool for SAR operations. It is not a substitute for official mission planning, navigation, aeronautical charts, crew briefings, or agency procedures.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: StartWatch at 4 against SAR Grid's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
StartWatch ships an update every 3 weeks, SAR Grid every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StartWatch | SAR Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (49 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 49 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 — better | 27.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Apostol & Hall | ezaero, Ltd. |
In-app purchases
StartWatch
No in-app purchases
SAR Grid
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is StartWatch free?
Is SAR Grid free?
Do StartWatch or SAR Grid have ads?
Which is updated more often, StartWatch or SAR Grid?
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