Comparison

LabTimer vs Sand Timer

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

Head to head
About

LabTimer

This app provides multiple configurable timers for various uses, from scientific experiments to everyday tasks like cooking and workouts. It features a clear display, customizable labels, and the ability to repeat count-down timers.

Highlights
  • Four configurable timers
  • Count-up and count-down modes
  • Large display and buttons
  • Customizable text labels
  • Repeat count-down functionality
  • Disables iPod sleep
Features
Read full description

LabTimer is a count-up and alarming count-down multi-timer. ***NEWS*** LabTimerPhD is now available. It has all the same functionality as LabTimer. If you like LabTimer, please consider picking up LabTimerPhD! I'll use the suggestions on LabTimerPhD for future changes. All updates will be applied to both applications. ***NEWS*** The look and feel of LabTimer is designed to emulate that of standard lab timers, providing quick access to count-down timers and repeat runs. LabTimer is not just good for the lab, though - it is also convenient for cooking, medication timing, working out, and child timeouts. LabTimer has the following features: - Four timers, individually configurable as count-up or alarming count-down - Large display and buttons - Display in Hours : Minutes : Seconds (limit above 1000 hours) - Customizable text labels for each timer - Small icons describing the state of all timers - Disables iPod sleep, keeping your timer running and visible - Designed to satisfy the lab needs of my molecular biologist wife Count-down timers each: - Display the projected finish time - Alarm for one minute - After the alarm, display the time elapsed since finish in red - Repeat the last count-down by: -- pressing clear while the timer is paused -- pressing start/stop twice after the timer has finished The iPhone currently prevents background processes, so LabTimer cannot alarm if the application is not running. However, the screen can be locked while the timers are running. The alarm also plays over and does not interrupt any playing music. While this will finally let you keep your noise-isolating headphones on during long incubations, please remember to experiment responsibly. There are many timers and stopwatches on the App Store, but they did not fulfill my (or my wife's) needs. We're now using LabTimer, and we hope you will too. LabTimer is free and will remain free. I've created LabTimerPhD, a pay app with identical features, if you'd like to contribute to future development. I haven't seen anyone else doing this and it seems like an interesting way of handling donations. :) Please let me know what you think and how LabTimer can be improved, either via a review or the e-mail address on the website. Thanks for looking!

About

Sand Timer

This app provides a visually engaging and intuitive way to track time with realistic sand flow animations. It's perfect for various activities like studying, workouts, or cooking, offering customizable themes and sound alerts to keep you on track.

Highlights
  • Realistic sand flow animation
  • Adjustable timer settings
  • Multiple timers management
  • Customizable themes
  • Sound alerts
Features
Read full description

Looking for a simple, reliable timer for your activities? Whether you’re timing a study session, a workout, or simply need a quick way to track time, Sand Timer has you covered! With its realistic sand flow animation, you’ll experience the soothing and intuitive feel of a traditional hourglass, right on your phone. Sand Timer offers a simple, visually engaging way to keep track of time, whether you’re managing your productivity, setting a cooking timer, or just need a quick countdown. It’s easy to set, fun to use, and helps you stay on track for all your timing needs. Top Features You’ll Love: Sand Animation – Watch the sand flow smoothly through the timer, providing a calming and visually pleasing experience while you track your time. Adjustable Timer Settings – Set the timer for any duration you need, from seconds to hours, with the ability to quickly adjust for all types of activities. Multiple Timers – Create and manage multiple timers at once to keep track of various tasks simultaneously. Customizable Themes – Choose from a variety of themes to match your style, whether you prefer a minimalist design or a more vibrant look. Sound Alerts – Get notified when your time is up with a sound alert, making sure you never miss an important moment. Who Can Use Sand Timer? Sand Timer is perfect for anyone who needs a simple, elegant timer. Whether you’re a student needing a Pomodoro timer, a cook timing recipes, or someone just needing a visual countdown, Sand Timer is easy to use and designed to fit your needs. Download Sand Timer today and add a little more calm and focus to your day! EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

LabTimer4 screens
Sand Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LabTimer at 91% against Sand Timer's 6%. LabTimer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. LabTimer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LabTimer holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 174 and 150 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of LabTimer's written reviews are positive against 6% of Sand Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LabTimer ships an update every 11 months, Sand Timer every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
LabTimer versus Sand Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLabTimerSand Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (174 ratings) — better3.8 (150 ratings)
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews — better6.5% of reviews
Number of ratings174 — better150
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer0x0cVicki Partridge

Customer experience

LabTimer

All ratings174 ratings
Positive70.1%
Neutral12.1%
Negative17.8%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral5.9%
Negative3.4%

Sand Timer

All ratings150 ratings
Positive64.7%
Neutral8.7%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive6.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative88.7%

Bugs and requests

LabTimer

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • iPad notifications not displaying correctly
  • App fails to open on iPhone X with iOS 14.4
  • Alarm non-functional on iOS 5 in lock mode
  • No audio output on iOS 9.x
  • Timer stops when iPhone enters sleep mode (older versions)
Show 1 more
  • App incompatibility with newer iOS versions

Requested features

17 requests
  • Landscape orientation support (especially for iPad)
  • Keyboard/direct number input for faster time entry
  • Multiple selectable alarm sounds/tones
  • Ability to customize alarm volume independently
  • Countdown voice announcements
Show 12 more
  • Screen lock display of timer countdown
  • Millisecond/decimal second precision
  • Different alarm sounds for different timers
  • Visual alerts (screen flash) in addition to sound
  • Ability to decrease time values (not just increase)
  • Timer interaction/chaining (one timer starts another)
  • Configurable alarm duration
  • Days display option for very long timers
  • All timers visible on single screen
  • Ability to add notes to timers
  • Push notifications when app is closed
  • Recording custom alarm messages

Sand Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

LabTimer

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Sand Timer

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is LabTimer free?
LabTimer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sand Timer free?
Sand Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LabTimer or Sand Timer?
LabTimer is rated higher. LabTimer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while Sand Timer averages 3.8 from 150 ratings.
Do LabTimer or Sand Timer have ads?
Sand Timer shows ads; LabTimer does not.
Which is updated more often, LabTimer or Sand Timer?
LabTimer ships an update every 11 months, and Sand Timer every 8 months. Most recently, LabTimer was updated on August 26, 2026 and Sand Timer on September 22, 2026.

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