Comparison

Box Timer vs Custom Fitness Timer

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

Custom Fitness Timer

Create and manage custom timers for various fitness activities like countdowns, intervals, and work/rest periods. Features include intuitive navigation, a press-and-hold stopwatch, and optional sound alerts. Personalize timers with custom names and colors to match different phases.

Highlights
  • Unlimited custom timer creation
  • Countdown timer
  • Interval timer
  • Work/Rest timer
  • Press and hold stopwatch
  • Optional timer sounds
  • Color-coded timer phases
Read full description

This custom fitness timer application offers: -Intuitive navigation -A Press and Hold Stop Watch -Free unlimited new timer creation -Three timer varieties: -Countdown -Interval -Work/Rest -Optional timer end and warning sounds -Color change to indicate timer phase -Customer timer naming

Screenshots

Box Timer4 screens
Custom Fitness Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Box Timer at none against Custom Fitness Timer's shown. Box Timer also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 6) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Custom Fitness Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18). On price, rating, review sentiment 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Box Timer against 5.0 for Custom Fitness Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Box Timer has 2.9K ratings behind it against 6, 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 100% of Custom Fitness Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Box Timer ships an update monthly, Custom Fitness Timer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Box Timer versus Custom Fitness Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBox TimerCustom Fitness Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (2.9K ratings)5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.9K — better6
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1813.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdvin LindenJared Rosenthal

Customer experience

Box Timer

All ratings2,916 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews132 reviews
Positive93.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.8%

Custom Fitness Timer

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Custom Fitness Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Box Timer

No in-app purchases

None

Custom Fitness Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Box Timer free?
Box Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Custom Fitness Timer free?
Custom Fitness Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Box Timer or Custom Fitness Timer?
Custom Fitness Timer is rated higher. Box Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Custom Fitness Timer averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Box Timer or Custom Fitness Timer have ads?
Custom Fitness Timer shows ads; Box Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Box Timer or Custom Fitness Timer?
Box Timer ships an update monthly, and Custom Fitness Timer every 4 days. Most recently, Box Timer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Custom Fitness Timer on June 11, 2026.

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