Comparison

Box Timer vs Ardor

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

Head to head
About

Box Timer

This app provides a simple, distraction-free timer designed for intense training sessions like CrossFit, HIIT, and functional fitness. It features a massive, high-contrast display, customizable interval options, and seamless audio cue integration with music apps. All workouts are automatically saved for easy tracking and reuse.

Highlights
  • Massive, high-contrast display
  • Supports AMRAP, EMOM, For Time, Tabata
  • Customizable work/rest intervals and rounds
  • Works with music apps, clear audio cues
  • Automatic workout history and reuse
  • Background operation and screen lock support
  • No ads or sign-up required
Features
Read full description

SIMPLE TIMER BUILT FOR SERIOUS TRAINING Box Timer brings the power of a CrossFit box timer to your phone. Massive display. Zero distractions. Works perfectly whether you're in the gym, at home, or training outdoors. BUILT FOR CROSSFIT, HIIT & FUNCTIONAL FITNESS From crushing WODs to HYROX training and daily circuits — Box Timer handles every workout type with a clean interface that keeps you focused on the work, not the timer. EVERY WORKOUT TYPE COVERED - AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible) - EMOM (Every Minute On the Minute) - For Time workouts with countdown - Tabata (20/10 protocol) - Custom intervals with work/rest periods and rounds - Count up or count down modes DESIGNED FOR VISIBILITY – Massive timer display with high-contrast text – Landscape mode for maximum size – Readable from 10+ meters away – Perfect for garage gyms and home workouts AUDIO THAT WORKS WITH YOUR MUSIC – Crystal-clear audio cues for round changes – Works seamlessly with Spotify, Apple Music, and any audio app – No interruptions to your playlist – Simple settings for audio on/off SAVE YOUR GO-TO TIMERS – Save any timer as a named preset – Load it again with one tap from the timer screen – Edit or delete presets anytime – Never set up the same workout twice ZERO FRICTION EXPERIENCE – Works in background and with screen locked – No account or sign-up required – No ads – Lightning-fast timer setup – Runs smoothly even during intense workouts GLOBAL FITNESS COMMUNITY Available in English, Swedish, German, Spanish, Polish, French, and Japanese WHY ATHLETES CHOOSE BOX TIMER "This app is a must have for CrossFit workouts. Ideal for emoms, amraps and for time workouts. I even use it for strength work like squats by programming beeps for 45 seconds work and 2 minutes rest. And it’s free! I mean come on." Whether you're an elite athlete or just starting your fitness journey, Box Timer delivers exactly what you need: a powerful, distraction-free timer that stays out of your way. Get it now and experience the difference.

About

Ardor

This app offers a personalized fitness experience by allowing users to create custom workout programs. It adapts to your abilities, equipment, and schedule, providing over 500 exercises and videos to keep workouts engaging. Track your progress effortlessly as you achieve your fitness goals.

Highlights
  • Mix and match fitness styles
  • Adjust workout intensity and duration
  • Automatic workout scaling
  • Equipment-based programs
  • Over 500 videos and exercises
  • Adaptive scheduling
  • Effortless progress tracking
Features
Read full description

ARDOR is a personalized training platform for functional fitness. Every workout is designed by a coach and adapted to you: your equipment, your schedule, your ability, and how you're recovering. One workout. Built around you. THE VELLNER PROGRAM Hybrid strength and conditioning designed with 5x CrossFit Games medalist Pat Vellner. Six days a week, one theme per day: Olympic lifting, sprint conditioning, bodybuilding, engine work, gymnastics, and a weekly grind. Pick your duration — 30 minutes, an hour, or a full session — and ARDOR fits the day to it. ADAPTS TO YOU - Your gym: swap movements for the equipment you actually have - Your time: the same session, sized to the window you've got - Your level: same stimulus for a beginner and a Games athlete, different loads - Your day: readiness and recovery shape what you're asked to do PREDICTS, THEN LEARNS Enter one number — a time, a weight — and ARDOR predicts the rest. Every result you log sharpens the next workout. The program gets more yours every week. TRAIN TOGETHER Relative leaderboards that measure effort, not just output. Share any workout with a friend and ARDOR adapts it to them automatically. Community chat and kudos from people who understand what you just did. MONTHLY ATHLETE CHALLENGES Each month a partner athlete publishes an open workout to the whole community. Open it and it's already scaled to you. Post your result, climb the board, and enter the monthly draw. Entries are always free — no purchase necessary. Availability varies by region; see ardor.fitness/draw-rules. FOR CROSSFIT, HYROX, AND HYBRID ATHLETES Built for people who train hard and want programming that keeps up. FREE TO START Seven days of full access, then $19.99/month or $119.99/year. Cancel anytime through the App Store Consult a healthcare professional before starting any exercise program. Support: support@ardor.fitness Privacy: ardor.fitness/privacy-policy Terms: ardor.fitness/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Box Timer4 screens
Ardor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Box Timer at none against Ardor's 12. Box Timer also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 52). Ardor's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18). On price, rating, review sentiment 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ardor sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Box Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Box Timer against 4.8 for Ardor. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Box Timer has 2.9K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of Box Timer's written reviews are positive against 95% of Ardor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Box Timer ships an update monthly, Ardor weekly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Box Timer versus Ardor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBox TimerArdor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (2.9K ratings) — better4.8 (52 ratings)
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews95.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.9K — better52
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1816.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB82 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdvin LindenArduous Inc

Customer experience

Box Timer

All ratings2,944 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews136 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.6%

Ardor

All ratings52 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%

Bugs and requests

Box Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Timer not functioning properly in landscape mode
  • Review prompt interfering with timer operation
  • Compatibility issues on certain iPad models

Requested features

4 requests
  • Round count display during rest periods
  • Customizable countdown beeps or sounds
  • Ability to save and load custom timer settings
  • Apple Watch app support

Ardor

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Box Timer

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Ardor

Subscriptions10
  • All Access3 Months trial$4.991 Month
  • All Access7 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • All Access1 Month trial$11.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • All Access2 variants$19.991 Month
  • All Access1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • All Access3 Months trial$39.991 Year
  • All Access7 Days trial$83.991 Year
  • All Access1 Year trial$83.991 Year
  • All Access2 variants$119.991 Year
  • All Access1 Month trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Box Timer free?
Box Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ardor free?
Ardor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Box Timer or Ardor?
Box Timer is rated higher. Box Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Ardor averages 4.8 from 52 ratings.
Do Box Timer or Ardor have ads?
Neither Box Timer nor Ardor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Box Timer or Ardor?
Box Timer ships an update monthly, and Ardor weekly. Most recently, Box Timer was updated on October 14, 2026 and Ardor on October 14, 2026.

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