# Timer vs Ro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ro at 100% against Timer's 20%. Ro also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). Timer's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and ratings volume (471 vs 3). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Timer is free to download; Ro costs $0.99 up front. Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Ro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Timer has 471 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ro's.

Timer ships an update every 4 days, Ro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Timer | Ro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (471 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer-minimal-timer/id1661418622/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ro-focus-timer/id6764583798/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **471** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Size | 28 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Studio 1J, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639917300) | [Zachary Foerst](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456563707) |

## What reviewers say

### Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer-minimal-timer/id1661418622)

This app offers a simple and intuitive way to manage your time for various activities. Set custom timers, utilize quick presets, and adjust alarm volumes to suit your needs. Stay on track with home screen widgets and an optional ambient ticking sound.

**Highlights:** Easy timer setting, Customizable presets, Adjustable alarm volume, Ambient ticking sound option, Home screen widgets, Flexible subscription options

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minimal Timer+ | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Minimal Timer+ | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Minimal Timer+ | $79.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimal and simple design
- 👍 Great for meditation timers
- 👍 Custom volume feature
- 👍 Sleek and wonderful app
- 👍 Imposes discipline for time monitoring

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Extremely high weekly subscription cost
- 💸 Unfair trial requiring subscription
- 💸 Predatory pricing model
- 💸 No free version for basic use
- 💸 App is too expensive

**Reported bugs**

- App swirls for over a minute before loading
- No widgets found after paying for subscription
- Unable to get past the first screen without subscribing

**Requested features**

- Allow limited access to try before subscribing
- Add an option to control the timer from the widget
- Add shortcuts support for setting and naming timers
- Add a 24-hour timer option


### Ro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ro-focus-timer/id6764583798)

This focus timer uses the Pomodoro Technique to break work into focused sessions with short breaks. It offers customizable timers, ambient sounds, and detailed stats to help users stay sharp and avoid burnout. Live Activity and Dynamic Island integration keep your countdown visible.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro Technique timer, Customizable work/break durations, Ambient soundscapes, Live Activity & Dynamic Island integration, Detailed focus stats, Background notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Timer free?

Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ro free?

Ro costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Timer or Ro?

Ro is rated higher. Timer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 471 ratings, while Ro averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Timer or Ro have ads?

Neither Timer nor Ro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Timer or Ro?

Timer ships an update every 4 days, and Ro every 3 weeks. Most recently, Timer was updated on October 30, 2026 and Ro on October 20, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*