Box Timer vs Ardor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Box Timer ships an update monthly, Ardor weekly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | Box Timer | Ardor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (2.9K ratings) — better | 4.8 (52 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 93.4% of reviews | 95.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K — better | 52 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 82 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Edvin Linden | Arduous Inc |
Customer experience
Box Timer
Ardor
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
Box Timer
No in-app purchases
Ardor
- All Access3 Months trial$4.991 Month
- All Access7 Days trial$11.991 Month
- All Access1 Month trial$11.991 Month
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- 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









