# LabTimer vs Sand Timer

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | LabTimer | Sand Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (174 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labtimer/id292202454/reviews)** | [3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **174** | 150 |
| Positive reviews | **90.7% of reviews** | 6.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 8 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [0x0c](https://appshunter.io/developer/292202457) | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) |

## What reviewers say

### LabTimer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labtimer/id292202454)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple, clean, and intuitive user interface
- 🎯 Multiple timers (up to 16) running simultaneously
- ⏱️ Ability to count up and count down
- 🔄 Timers continue running in background/other apps
- 💾 Saves timer settings for future use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notifications not working properly on iPad
- 🐛 App crashes or won't open on some iOS versions
- 🐛 Alarm doesn't work when app is locked/in background
- 📱 No landscape/auto-rotate orientation support
- 🔊 Alarm sound too short and soft

**Reported bugs**

- 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)

**Requested features**

- 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


### Sand Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


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