Comparison

MC vs Top Set Timer

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

Head to head
About

MC

This app guides you through timed workout intervals by playing music during exercise phases and remaining silent during rest periods. Customize routines with specific exercise names, randomized music selection, and unique alert sounds to enhance your fitness sessions.

Highlights
  • Timed exercise and rest phases
  • Music playback during workouts
  • Customizable exercise names and announcements
  • Randomized music selection
  • Progress rings and countdown timers
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Customizable alert sounds
Features
Read full description

MC-Timer plays music for timed intervals. You can use this app to have some fun during workout sessions like Tabata, intervals, HIIT, or circuit training, where you have multiple, timed sets of exercise and rest phases. For more complex routines, the names of your exercises can be shown and randomized, optionally also audibly announced. MC-Timer will guide you through your planned workout by playing music during the high-effort exercise phases and by being quiet during the pauses. No need to constantly look at your watch. Just listen to the music. Your music. When the work phases are shorter than the typical duration of a song, then you can nicely play a new song for each set. Let yourself be surprised and allow MC-Timer to play a randomly chosen song for each set. And if you do not want to listen to mellow song intros, you can set MC-Timer to play a suitably long section from the "heart" of the song. While the workout is playing, you can see your progress within each set and within the entire session by looking at the progress rings and the countdown timers. The progress rings are distinct and remain legible even from the other side of the room. To make this possible, the display will stay on while MC-Timer is playing your session. MC-Timer synchronizes the workout definitions across your devices. If you like to use a bigger screen, play the workouts using MC-Timer on iPad or Apple TV. The workout details are fully customizable. You can, but you don't have to: - define any number of repeated sets of "music" and "pause" phases; - insert special sets without music to create longer pauses; - define one or more lists of exercise names to be shown or announced; - choose all the songs that will be played; - use the playlist or exercise lists as is or randomized; - select whether you want to skip to the next song for each set; - play tracks from the beginning or from the middle. Alerts!!! - optionally, use countdown beeps or just a single warning beep; - pick a fun alert sound to play at the start or end of each music phase, or at the end of the session; - select from 62 custom sounds: bells, horns, special effects, Science Fiction and cute animals; A few geeky details: - Each set consists of a "music" phase and a "pause" phase, optionally repeated multiple times. - Music and pause times are entered in seconds. - The start delay (or the default 5-second countdown) is not counted for the workout duration. - A complete session always ends at its last music phase, i.e. the very last pause is skipped. - When you have multiple exercise lists, you can assign which list to use for which set. - You can define exercise pairs like "lunges, left/right" which can be split into "lunges, left" followed by "lunges, right". - You can enable or randomize lead phrases like "Next up: " for the voice announcements or define your own. - MC-Timer accurately times your workout; unlike other apps, there are no timing errors that accumulate as the session progresses. - The counters/timers in the playback view can be tapped to toggle between counting up or down. - The shuffle mode randomises the order in which the songs are played. That is to say: songs will not be repeated until all songs in the playlist have been played. - You can override the default system-wide appearance and always use the app in its dark or light appearance. Medical Advice Please consult with a physician prior to engaging in a new exercise program; even more so if this is not something that you are used to. MC-Timer on the Apple TV You can easily playback your workout sessions directly on Apple TV by using the MC-Timer companion app for Apple TV. However, you cannot edit the sessions there; you need to do that on your iPhone or iPad and sync your changes via iCloud. Also note that since your (iTunes) media library is not available on Apple TV, you will need an Apple Music subscription in order to play music on Apple TV.

About

Top Set Timer

This workout timer helps you manage rest and intervals for strength training. It offers flexible modes for self-paced sets, HIIT, and EMOM, allowing you to focus on your workout without watching the clock. It runs in the background and notifies you when it's time for the next set.

Highlights
  • Flexible rest timer for strength sets
  • HIIT and EMOM interval modes
  • Background operation and notifications
  • Supports strength, powerlifting, and conditioning
  • Simple, no-frills interface
Features
Read full description

Top Set Timer is a no frills workout timer with one job: keeping your rest and intervals on track so you can focus on training. Unlike most timers on the App Store that are designed for HIIT programs and force fixed work and rest blocks, Top Set Timer is built for real strength sessions where sets take as long as they take. Finish your set, rack the bar, then tap once to start your rest. When the timer goes off, you are ready for the next set. When you want more structure, switch to HIIT or EMOM modes for classic interval work. Use it for barbell strength programs, powerlifting, bodyweight and calisthenics sessions, sprints and hill runs, or conditioning blocks in the gym. Top Set Timer includes three modes: Rest mode lets you start the timer only when you finish a set, ideal for longer 2 to 5 minute rests or any self paced work. HIIT mode runs repeated work and rest intervals for conditioning and finishers. EMOM mode keeps every minute on the minute, or any interval you choose, locked in for focused training blocks. Top Set Timer keeps track of your rests even when it's off the screen. If you navigate away the timer will continue to run in the background and will notify you when its time to get back to work. Top Set Timer keeps your rest honest and your intervals consistent so you can train harder, recover better, and stop staring at the clock.

Screenshots

MC4 screens
Top Set Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Top Set Timer at Free against MC's $2.99. Top Set Timer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). MC's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (5 vs 2). On ratings volume 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

Top Set Timer is free to download; MC costs $2.99 up front. Top Set Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MC asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Top Set Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MC ships an update every 3 months, Top Set Timer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 2 level
MC versus Top Set Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMCTop Set Timer
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developertredje designGreg McInnes

Customer experience

MC

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Top Set Timer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MC

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Top Set Timer

One-time1
  • Top Set Timer Pro$2.99

Questions

Is MC free?
MC costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Top Set Timer free?
Top Set Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MC or Top Set Timer?
Top Set Timer is rated higher. MC averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Top Set Timer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do MC or Top Set Timer have ads?
Neither MC nor Top Set Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MC or Top Set Timer?
MC ships an update every 3 months, and Top Set Timer fortnightly. Most recently, MC was updated on August 14, 2026 and Top Set Timer on August 13, 2026.

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