Comparison

Beep Test Watch vs Before the Beep

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

Head to head
About

Beep Test Watch

Perform a 20m shuttle run fitness test to assess your cardiovascular health and VO2 max. Track your progress over time with saved test history and heart rate data. Supports multiple beep test variations.

Highlights
  • 20m shuttle run cardio test
  • VO2 max calculation
  • Heart rate tracking
  • Apple Health integration
  • Test history and progress tracking
  • Multiple beep test variations supported
Features
Read full description

Challenge yourself with the ultimate fitness test on Apple Watch and iPhone. A beep test is a 20m shuttle run and is based on the timings first described by Luc Léger. Starting at 8.0 km/h and increases by 0.5 km/h roughly every minute. It is an awesome way of testing your cardio fitness out, and working out what your VO2 max is. When you press start you immediately begin the beep test symbolised by a sound and haptic that plays on your watch. Beep Test Watch was designed with haptics in mind and vibrates differently to indicate a level increase. The app will also track your heart rate and active energy and then create a new workout in Apple Health, so you don't have to start a workout at the same time. The app will also add your VO2 max calculation to Apple Health's cardio fitness. The total time and level will update as you run. A V02 Max calculation will also be shown. Your test history will be saved to your device and iCloud account so you can compare your previous attempts and see your progress overtime. We also show you your average heart for each completed test on Apple Watch. Beep Test Watch now includes support for the following tests: - 15m UK Police Test - UK & Australian Beep tests (as used by the military) - UK Fire Test - Standard Luc Léger test

About

Before the Beep

Features
Read full description

CHEAT THE BEEP. OUTSMART THE TEST. Every other beep test app is exactly the same: incessant beeps and no real progress. Without a strategy, beep test training is slow and practice becomes pointless. Before the Beep is built around a strategy, and it's aimed squarely at anyone chasing selection for police, fire or Defence recruitment or specialisation. The two biggest barriers to beep test success both come down to pace. Newbies burn precious energy early by going out too fast, then get knocked out of their shoes when the level jumps and the pace picks up. Before the Beep is designed to outsmart both. PACING CUES Cues at 70%, 80% and 90% of every shuttle tell you where you should be before the beep does. Stop chasing it. Run your own race. THE PACER Lock onto one level's exact speed and drill it until your legs know it cold. You get more efficient and build your cardio at the same time, which is how your beep test score climbs faster. A COACH WITH ATTITUDE Meet the skull. He's an extreme dude, built to get you fired up. Too much? Dial his personality back to Soft, or switch him off entirely. Strong language is optional. FIND YOUR GOAL Entry standards for most Australian police, fire and Defence roles are built in, with a growing library of specialist standards. Standards change, so always confirm the current one with the agency. SHOW OFF THE WIN Smashed it? Turn your level, distance and time into a share card over your own photo or video, and post it straight to your story. GET THE COURSE RIGHT The app shows you how to measure out a true 20 m course, or find one on the sporting fields and courts you already have nearby. No account. No sign-up. No ads. Your results stay on your phone. BEFORE YOU START The beep test is a maximal fitness test: it is designed to be run until you cannot keep up. It is demanding. Consult a doctor before undertaking strenuous exercise, particularly if you have a heart or respiratory condition, an injury or have not exercised recently. Warm up first, run on a flat non-slip surface, and stop immediately if you feel dizzy, faint, unwell or in pain. This app is a training aid. It is not medical advice, it does not assess your fitness to take part, and it is not a substitute for the official assessment conducted by a recruiting agency. Before the Beep is not affiliated with or endorsed by any police, fire, ambulance or Defence organisation. XTREME MODE Your first test is free. After that, Xtreme Mode unlocks everything as an auto-renewing subscription: - Xtreme Monthly: renews every month - Xtreme Annual: renews every year Prices are shown in the app and may vary by country. New subscribers get a 7-day free trial where eligible. When the trial ends, the subscription starts and is charged unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions, or in the app under Settings > Xtreme Mode > Manage subscription. Cancelling stops the next renewal; you keep access until the end of the period you've paid for. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://neurotrocity.com/beeptest/privacy/

Screenshots

Beep Test Watch4 screens
Before the Beep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Before the Beep at Free against Beep Test Watch's $1.99. Before the Beep also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Beep Test Watch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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

Before the Beep is free to download; Beep Test Watch costs $1.99 up front. Before the Beep sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Beep Test Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Beep Test Watch ships an update every 3 weeks, Before the Beep every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Beep Test Watch versus Before the Beep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeep Test WatchBefore the Beep
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#191 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB80 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSpencer WaldenROBERT AARON BROWN

In-app purchases

None

Beep Test Watch

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Before the Beep

Subscriptions2
  • Xtreme Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Xtreme Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Beep Test Watch free?
Beep Test Watch costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Before the Beep free?
Before the Beep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Beep Test Watch or Before the Beep have ads?
Neither Beep Test Watch nor Before the Beep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Beep Test Watch or Before the Beep?
Beep Test Watch ships an update every 3 weeks, and Before the Beep every 3 days. Most recently, Beep Test Watch was updated on November 11, 2026 and Before the Beep on November 6, 2026.

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