Comparison

Talking Timer vs HourChime

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

Head to head
About

Talking Timer

This utility app provides spoken alerts for multiple timers, even when running in the background. Customize each timer with a unique name and message, and choose from various alert modes. Save your favorite timer configurations for quick access.

Highlights
  • Six independent timers
  • Custom voice message per timer
  • Multiple alert modes (Normal, Repeat, Alarm)
  • Timer presets for saving settings
  • Background operation with sound
  • Available in 14 languages
Features
Read full description

Talking Timer announces the end of your timer with a real voice — even in the background. Set up to six timers at once, each with its own name and a custom message read aloud when it finishes. Perfect for cooking, studying, workouts, and multitasking. Features • Six independent timers • Custom voice message per timer • Three modes: Normal (rings once), Repeat (auto-repeat), Alarm (rings until stopped) • Presets to save and reuse your favorite settings • Five theme colors • Works in the background with sound • Available in 14 languages with natural voices No accounts, no clutter — just clear spoken reminders when you need them.

About

HourChime

This app provides hourly or 30-minute voice cues and sounds to help you stay focused and on track. It features customizable quiet hours and a clean, battery-friendly interface. The app is designed for reliable background operation.

Highlights
  • Hourly/30-minute chime intervals
  • Spoken time announcements
  • Customizable mute schedule
  • Background operation
  • Battery-friendly design
  • Light/Dark Mode support
Features
Read full description

Chime your day into focus. Hourly or every-30-minute voice cues that keep you on track. Quiet when you need it—powerfully simple when you don’t. HourChime is a focused time-management app that keeps your rhythm with hourly or every-30-minute chimes and optional spoken time, delivering notifications reliably in the background. Set quiet hours with a mute schedule for sleep, meetings, or deep work. A clean, intuitive UI is optimized for Light/Dark Mode and designed to be battery-friendly with no unnecessary background tasks. Features • Chime interval: hourly or every 30 minutes • Spoken time announcement (on/off) + bell sound toggle • Mute Schedule: per time window/day for sleep & meetings • AM/PM or 24-hour display switch • Works reliably in the background after permission • One-time in-app purchase removes ads & unlocks all features (Restore Purchases supported) • Minimal data use; privacy-minded by design Perfect for • Focus sessions, study blocks, and Pomodoro-style routines • Office hours, standups, and calendar-free time awareness • Gentle timekeeping at home and bedtime wind-downs Download now and give your day a clear, calm cadence.

Screenshots

Talking Timer4 screens
HourChime4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HourChime at Free against Talking Timer's $1.99. Talking Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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

HourChime is free to download; Talking Timer costs $1.99 up front. HourChime sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Talking Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Talking Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Talking Timer's written reviews are positive against 62% of HourChime's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Talking Timer ships an update every 5 days, HourChime every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Talking Timer versus HourChime: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTalking TimerHourChime
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews61.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMasao SaekiMitsuhiro Hashimoto

Customer experience

Talking Timer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative30.0%

HourChime

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative30.8%

In-app purchases

None

Talking Timer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

HourChime

One-time1
  • Premium$1.99

Questions

Is Talking Timer free?
Talking Timer costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HourChime free?
HourChime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Talking Timer or HourChime?
Talking Timer is rated higher. Talking Timer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while HourChime averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Talking Timer or HourChime have ads?
Neither Talking Timer nor HourChime shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Talking Timer or HourChime?
Talking Timer ships an update every 5 days, and HourChime every 2 months. Most recently, Talking Timer was updated on October 8, 2026 and HourChime on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons