Comparison

UltraTimer vs Seconds Interval Timer

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

Head to head
About

UltraTimer

This app offers a fully programmable and customizable interval timer for various activities. Set single or multiple timers with custom alarm sounds and visual feedback. Share and exchange timers with a community of users.

Highlights
  • Fully programmable interval timer
  • Customizable alarm sounds
  • Background color customization
  • Timer Groups for sequential timing
  • Community Timer Exchange
  • Custom sound recording
  • Timer sharing via email/clipboard
Features
Read full description

- Reviews - "UltraTimer by Plain and Simple Software is an ideal tool if you want to use your iPhone or iPod touch to keep you on track... UltraTimer is a simple but valuable tool for anyone who requires a flexible, hands-free event timer." - by Kyle Bailey, Macworld.com "Ultratimer: a must-have for interval training. ... Of the timers that I've tested, UltraTimer is my favorite. Its combination of ease-of-use and functionality make it the benchmark fitness timer app." - by Sang Tang, tuaw.com "So I purchased the UltraTimer app from the AppStore on my iPhone. It was the only purchased app I have that was worth it!" - by Casey, rawandfit.com "...the other thing that I have come to love is my Ultratimer application on my iPod... the Ultratimer is a step beyond." - by Jennifer, oncearoundvenus.blogspot.com "UltraTimer iPhone App Is EXACTLY What I’ve Been Looking For. ... I was worried that it might be difficult to use, but I found it incredibly easy and I was running with a program that only took me about five minutes to program, and that included recording the voice prompts." - by Laura Moncur, starling-fitness.com ----------------------------------- - Description - UltraTimer is the original fully-programmable and customizable interval timer in the AppStore. As a result, it is the most refined and feature-rich interval timer today! UltraTimer is an easy and convenient way of timing any activity or series of activities. You can set a single timer or multiple timers, each including series of count-down intervals that run back-to-back. Each interval can be customized to play a different alarm sound from the included library, as well as change the background color for visual feedback. It is easy to set up intervals for any activity: training (martial arts, boxing, mma, circuit training, interval training, Crossfit, HIIT / HIT, yoga, meditation, exercise, workout, cycling, running, etc), time management for switching between multiple projects, or anything else you can think of. For a complete workout, you can set up a Timer Group which will play individual timers back to back. Start out with your favorite Warm Up timer, then run through your favorite Training timer, and end with a Stretching timer. UltraTrainer will run you through your full workout automatically. The included sound library comes with a wide variety of reminder sounds suitable for relaxing timers, high intensity activities, and everything in between. Custom sounds can also be recorded via the microphone; you are not limited to the included sound library. Exclusive to our products, users can browse the Timer Exchange, a community where people freely exchange timers. Search, browse, and download timers that other users have uploaded. If you want, you can upload your own timers to share with others. If a friend also owns UltraTimer, you can exchange timers via e-mail or the clipboard to use other methods. Using UltraTimer with music playing is not a problem. You can begin playing music on the timer screen, pause it, or skip to the next track. Just a few features in UltraTimer: - Timer Exchange community - Runs in the background - Copy/Paste Intervals and Actions - Delayed start time - Over 70 included sounds - Record your own sounds - Large countdown timer display - iPod music playback control lets you pause/play the current track or move to the next track from the countdown timer screen - Pause the timer to temporarily halt the activity - Timer state is saved if it is interrupted - Still runs if screen is locked - Intuitive setup If you're looking for an App that coaches you as you train, check out "UltraTrainer."

About

Seconds Interval Timer

This app provides a versatile interval timer for various workout types like Tabata, HIIT, and circuit training. It features a clear, full-screen display, customizable alerts, and background operation. Users can also utilize a stopwatch and countdown timer, with integration for Apple Health.

Highlights
  • Full-screen colored display
  • Templates for HIIT, Tabata, Circuit Training
  • Voice and audio alerts
  • Music assignment per interval
  • Background operation
  • Apple Health integration
  • Stopwatch and countdown timer
Features
Read full description

Seconds is an interval timer for HIIT, Tabata, EMOM, circuits and any workout built from timed intervals. It calls each interval out loud, keeps running with the screen off, and runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Apple has featured it, and Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has said it is the fitness app he uses more than any other. BUILD ANY WORKOUT - Start from a HIIT, Tabata or circuit template, or build a timer from scratch with sets, rounds and intervals of different lengths. - Chain timers into one compound timer, so a warm-up flows into the main set and then a cool-down. - Color-code every interval so you know what is coming before the beep. - Share a timer with a friend in one tap. HEAR IT, DON'T WATCH IT - Voice cues call out each interval by name and warn you before the next one starts. - Beeps and bells are there too if you would rather not be talked at. - Play your own music, per timer or per interval. Cues duck the music and it comes back up when they are done. - The timer keeps going in the background while you use other apps or the screen sleeps. ON THE GYM FLOOR - A full-screen, color-coded display you can read from across the room, in portrait or landscape. On iPad it uses the whole screen. - A lock button stops a stray tap from pausing your set. APPLE WATCH - Seconds runs on the watch by itself, so the phone can stay in the locker. Timers you build on the phone sync to the wrist, and Quick Intervals builds a basic circuit on the watch itself. MORE TIMERS - A stopwatch that marks your best and worst laps. - A countdown timer with five preset durations (three on Apple Watch). APPLE HEALTH - Save workouts and mindful sessions to Health. With a heart rate monitor connected, Seconds reads your body measurements and year of birth from Health to estimate calories burned. FREE TO TRY, ONE PAYMENT TO UNLOCK - Everything is available from the first launch. Build any timer and run it. - Each timer locks after you run it once. A single in-app purchase removes the lock on every timer you make. SECONDS AND SECONDS PRO - Seconds Pro is the same app, paid once up front, with nothing to unlock. The two are separate products and a purchase in one does not carry over to the other. If you bought Seconds Pro, download Seconds Pro. If you bought the unlock in Seconds, download Seconds and use Restore Purchases.

Screenshots

UltraTimer4 screens
Seconds Interval Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Seconds Interval Timer at Free against UltraTimer's $1.99. Seconds Interval Timer also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (24K vs 12). UltraTimer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.0). On update cadence, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Seconds Interval Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Seconds Interval Timer has 24K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of UltraTimer's written reviews are positive against 75% of Seconds Interval Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
UltraTimer versus Seconds Interval Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUltraTimerSeconds Interval Timer
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (12 ratings)4.7 (24K ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews74.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1224K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS8.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlain and Simple SoftwareRunloop Ltd

Customer experience

UltraTimer

All ratings12 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative31.7%

Seconds Interval Timer

All ratings23,711 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral1.9%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews1,268 reviews
Positive74.6%
Neutral6.4%
Negative19.0%

User reviews

UltraTimer

From 12 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Best workout timer
  • 👍 Highly customizable
  • 🚀 Works great on latest devices
  • 💪 Perfect for fitness routines
  • 🎨 Visually appealing interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices
  • 🔍 Layout not functioning properly on some phones
  • 🔇 Sound issues after updates
  • 💻 Crashes and bugs after recent updates
  • 🔋 Drains battery when screen is on

Seconds Interval Timer

From 24K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great workout app
  • 👍 Customizable and user-friendly
  • 🔒 Reliable and stable
  • 💡 Versatile for various workouts
  • 👍 Easy to create and edit timers

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional audio issues
  • 🔍 Limited Apple Watch integration
  • 💰 Paid version required for full functionality
  • 🕰️ Time-consuming to set up complex workouts

Bugs and requests

UltraTimer

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Cannot modify interval times after latest update
  • Timers get replaced with incorrect values when saved
  • Naming/renaming of timers and groups not working
  • Frequent crashes when trying to copy, paste or delete timers
  • Sound not playing consistently during workouts

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to pause/resume individual intervals
  • Implement a countdown timer before workout starts
  • Allow importing/exporting of custom timers
  • Provide more sound options and ability to use own sounds
  • Add screen lock feature to prevent accidental taps

Seconds Interval Timer

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Timer sometimes stops working unexpectedly
  • Issues with restoring purchases on new devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to change beep/alert volume independently
  • Option to delay transition between intervals
  • Sync workouts across devices
  • More preset workout templates
  • Heart rate monitoring integration

In-app purchases

None

UltraTimer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Seconds Interval Timer

One-time1
  • Advanced Version$7.99

Questions

Is UltraTimer free?
UltraTimer costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Seconds Interval Timer free?
Seconds Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, UltraTimer or Seconds Interval Timer?
Seconds Interval Timer is rated higher. UltraTimer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Seconds Interval Timer averages 4.7 from 24K ratings.
Do UltraTimer or Seconds Interval Timer have ads?
Neither UltraTimer nor Seconds Interval Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UltraTimer or Seconds Interval Timer?
UltraTimer ships an update monthly, and Seconds Interval Timer monthly. Most recently, UltraTimer was updated on October 10, 2026 and Seconds Interval Timer on October 13, 2026.

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