Comparison

Box Timer vs Workout 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

Workout Timer

Create and save custom interval timers for various workout routines like Tabata and HIIT. Features audio cues, haptics, and voice announcements for phase changes. Keeps running with the screen locked and offers Live Activities on iOS.

Highlights
  • Build custom interval timers
  • Save and reuse timer templates
  • Audio cues and haptic feedback
  • Voice announcements for phase changes
  • Live Activities on iOS Lock Screen
  • Runs with screen locked
Features
Read full description

A workout interval timer for Tabata, HIIT, and any work-and-rest routine. Build a timer once, save it, and run it again with one tap. It's free to use. No paywall. No ads. No tracking. No accounts. What it does: - Build interval timers with warm-up, work, rest, recovery, and cool-down phases - Or build a custom sequence: name each interval, set its length and whether it is work or rest, and repeat the whole list as many rounds as you like - AMRAP mode: a countdown with a big tap-to-count round counter - For Time mode: a stopwatch with an optional time cap and the same round counter - Save timers as templates, run them again in one tap, and duplicate one to make a variation - Audio cues, haptics, and optional voice announcements at every phase change, including the name of each interval in a sequence - Watch the phase, set, and time left on a clear countdown screen - On iOS, a Live Activity shows your timer on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island - Keeps running with the screen locked, so the phone can sit in your pocket Made for any interval discipline: - Rock climbing: hangboard and fingerboard repeaters (try 7 seconds on, 3 seconds off, for 6 sets), plus campus-board and no-hang protocols - Boxing, MMA, and martial arts: timed rounds with rest between them - High-intensity interval training and functional fitness: Tabata, EMOM, and AMRAP - Running and cycling: sprint and interval training - Strength and calisthenics: timed sets and supersets - Yoga, mobility, and stretching: hold each pose for a set time - Physical therapy and rehab: timed holds and repetitions - Meditation and breathwork: steady, repeating intervals If it has a "work for a bit, rest for a bit, repeat" shape, you can build it here. Running a group class? The new class mode keeps everyone's phone in step: the room scans your code, and your pause and skip reach every phone. Your data stays with you. No accounts, no ads, no tracking. Your timers stay on your phone. The app only goes online for things that work for you, never for us: the check for app updates, and, during a class, pause and skip passing between phones. Class messages are end-to-end encrypted and travel through free public relays we don't run and can't read. Open source: https://github.com/Josh-Approved/workout-timer What it doesn't do: No paywall. No ads. No tracking. No accounts. No subscriptions. The whole app is the whole app: every feature is here, free. Josh Approved is supported by the people who use it. No ads, no subscriptions, no data harvest. What keeps this sustainable is whether it's worth a few dollars to you. If it is, there's an optional tip jar in the app. Send feedback: feedback@joshapproved.com

Screenshots

Box Timer4 screens
Workout Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Box Timer at none against Workout Timer's 5. Box Timer also leads on ratings volume (3K vs 4). Workout Timer's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (16.4 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. Workout Timer sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. 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 5.0 for Workout Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Box Timer has 3K ratings behind it against 4, 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 Workout Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Box Timer ships an update monthly, Workout Timer weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Box Timer versus Workout Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBox TimerWorkout Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (3K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3K — better4
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1816.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdvin LindenJosh Approved LLC

Customer experience

Box Timer

All ratings3,002 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews138 reviews
Positive93.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.5%

Workout Timer

All ratings4 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

Workout Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Box Timer

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Workout Timer

One-time5
  • Tip$2.99
  • Tip$4.99
  • Tip$9.99
Show 2 more
  • Tip$19.99
  • Tip$49.99

Questions

Is Box Timer free?
Box Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Workout Timer free?
Workout Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Box Timer or Workout Timer?
Workout Timer is rated higher. Box Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Workout Timer averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Box Timer or Workout Timer have ads?
Neither Box Timer nor Workout Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Box Timer or Workout Timer?
Box Timer ships an update monthly, and Workout Timer weekly. Most recently, Box Timer was updated on October 29, 2026 and Workout Timer on October 28, 2026.

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