Core vs SwolTime
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Core
This app helps you stay focused during workouts by managing intervals, work times, and rest periods with clear visual and audio cues. Save custom routines for HIIT, Tabata, or boxing, and track your training history to monitor progress.
- Customizable interval timers
- Audio cues for work/rest phases
- Save and reuse workout routines
- Visual countdown and color coding
- Workout history and trend tracking
- Optional Pro features via in-app purchase
Read full descriptionHide full description
Keep your focus on the workout Core takes care of the intervals, so you can stay with your training. Set your work time, rest time and sets, then follow a clear countdown and audio cues from the first round to the last. Made for your routine Build a timer for HIIT, Tabata, circuit training or boxing rounds. Save your usual workouts and have them ready when it is time to train again. Know when to move and when to recover A large countdown and distinct work and rest colors make each phase easy to recognize at a glance. Choose audio cues that suit the way you train. See the work you have put in Revisit completed sessions and see your weekly training trends. Your training history gives every session a place beyond the final countdown. Go further with Core Pro Unlock unlimited timers and duplicates, full workout history, monthly and yearly trends, and CSV export. These features require an in-app purchase. Core Pro is optional. Available plans and prices are shown before purchase. If you choose an auto-renewable subscription, payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. It renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Privacy policy: https://yating-900.github.io/core-timer-site/privacy.html Terms of use: https://yating-900.github.io/core-timer-site/terms.html If you have any ideas to improve the App, please contact us via coretimerapp@gmail.com. Your feedback is highly valued!
SwolTime
This app provides a versatile interval timer for various fitness routines like Tabata, HIIT, boxing, and weightlifting. It allows for real-time adjustments, customizable settings, and workout sequencing. Track progress with notes and use it in the background or with Apple Watch integration.
- Dynamic workout timer control
- On-the-fly timer adjustments
- Customizable interval timer settings
- Custom workout sequencing
- Progress notes
- Background operation
- Apple Watch integration
Read full descriptionHide full description
Time your Tabata, HIIT, boxing, crossfit, running, weightlifting, EMOM, and WOD routines with SwolTime — the workout timer app for precise interval tracking, rest management, and customizable fitness planning. [ DYNAMIC WORKOUT TIMER CONTROL ] • With a simple press, SwolTime adapts in real-time, letting you tweak sets, workout, and rest durations without missing a beat. [ ON-THE-FLY TIMER ADJUSTMENTS ] • Fine-tune your session's intensity by adding or cutting time, and navigate through your workout with skip and rewind options. [ CUSTOMIZE INTERVAL TIMER SETTINGS ] • Personalize your SwolTime experience in the Settings, from timer increments to motivational halfway sounds. [ CUSTOM WORKOUT SEQUENCING ] • SwolTime Playlists combine exercises into cohesive sessions, simplifying routines with smooth transitions and tailored rest periods. [ QUEUE WORKOUT PLAYLISTS ] • Quickly organize and modify exercises in a sequence, enhancing workout focus and efficiency. [ PROGRESS NOTES ] • Document your journey with detailed notes on Playlists and exercises, a simple yet powerful tool for tracking your fitness evolution. [ BACKGROUND BEAST MODE ] • SwolTime's background functionality means your focus stays on your workout, not your screen, even with your phone locked. [ APPLE WATCH INTEGRATION ] • Adjust your workout on-the-fly directly from your Apple Watch. Monitor intervals and manage your workout all from the convenience of your wrist. ▶ ONE TIMER FOR EVERY WORKOUT ◀ [ WORKOUT INTERVAL TIMER ] • Craft the ideal balance between active sessions and rest periods, enhancing both endurance and strength. [ BOXING ROUND TIMER ] • Sharpen your technique and precision with custom "Boxing Training" playlists, integrating exercises and breaks for a seamless session. [ TABATA TIMER ] • Engage in quick, intense bouts of exercise followed by very short breaks, a method proven to increase stamina and strength. [ HIIT TIMER ] • Tailor your sessions for short, intense bursts of activity followed by brief recovery periods, ideal for burning fat and improving cardiovascular health. [ CROSSFIT TIMER ] • Organize your varied, high-intensity workouts with a timer that adapts to the day's challenge, keeping you on track and motivated. [ WOD TIMER ] • Navigate the Workout of the Day with ease, focusing on beating your personal bests in a variety of high-intensity activities. [ EMOM WORKOUT TIMER ] • Boost efficiency with a timer that challenges you to complete a task at the start of every minute, perfect for high-intensity workouts. [ WEIGHTLIFTING REST TIMER ] • Leverage strategic breaks to maximize recovery and performance, making each workout more effective. [ STOPWATCH TIMER ] • Capture every moment of your training with accuracy, ideal for timing sprints, laps, or measuring improvement over time. [ GYM TIMER ] • Organize your gym session effectively, ensuring a comprehensive workout that covers all your fitness goals. [ RUNNING & SPRINT TIMER ] • Enhance your running or sprinting with targeted timing, focusing on improving speed and endurance with every session. ▶ READ WHAT SWOLTIME USERS SAY ◀ • "[...] I looooove this app - it targets all the most annoying aspects of planning your own workout." • "[...] The halfway chime is the only thing that keeps me going during hard sets." • "[...] No more hassle configuring things on the fly. Every other app feels like a toy compared to this." ------------ Download SwolTime to transform your workouts on your smartphone. Need assistance or have suggestions? Reach out for support at support@swoltime.com. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://swoltime.com/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: SwolTime at fortnightly against Core's every 33 months. SwolTime also leads on ratings volume (53 vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). 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. Core sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and SwolTime sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Core against 5.0 for SwolTime. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SwolTime has 53 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Core ships an update every 33 months, SwolTime fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Core | SwolTime |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 5.0 (53 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 53 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 33 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 77 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yating Lu | SWOL LLC (USA) |
Customer experience
Core
SwolTime
In-app purchases
Core
- Monthly$1.991 Month
- Yearly$9.991 Year
- Lifetime$14.99
SwolTime
- SwolTime Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- SwolTime Pro Yearly14 Days trial$12.991 Year








