Comparison

Time Timer vs Anchor for Autism

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

Head to head
About

Time Timer

This app provides a visual representation of time passing, making it easier to manage tasks and routines. It's designed to be inclusive and flexible for various needs, from educational settings to personal productivity.

Highlights
  • Iconic visual timer with disappearing disk
  • Inclusive design for various needs
  • Flexible routine creation and sequencing
  • Multiple timers and preset options
  • Customizable sound, vibration, and color
Features
Read full description

Feel time move. Stay on track. Stress less. From the makers of the original red disk timer, the Time Timer® App transforms the powerful visual tool trusted by families, teachers, therapists, and productivity pros for over 30 years into a fully customizable experience on your device. Whether you’re helping students build focus, supporting kids through daily routines, or simply managing your own tasks without overwhelm—Time Timer makes time feel more tangible and manageable. What Makes Time Timer Different? Iconic Visual Timer Watch time disappear as the disk gets smaller—a simple, intuitive way to feel time passing, not just track it. Inclusive by Design Trusted by people with ADHD, Autism, executive function challenges, or just a busy brain. Invented by a mom for her child, Time Timer has supported users of all abilities for decades. Flexible for Every Routine Use it once or build structured sequences. Create presets for daily habits. Run multiple timers at once. Make routines visual and calm transitions. Trusted in Schools, Homes & Workplaces From kindergarten classrooms to therapy sessions to boardrooms, Time Timer helps reduce resistance, improve focus, and make time awareness easier for everyone. Free Features Include: Create up to 3 timers Run multiple timers at once Use the original 60-minute red disk — or choose any duration Adjust sound, vibration, and color with limited options Premium Features Unlock Even More: Unlimited customization Build routines with timer sequencing (morning checklists, therapy steps, work sprints) Organize timers with Groups Sync across mobile and desktop devices Quick Set +/- buttons for fast adjustments Customize disk size and detail level Use Time Timer For: Morning and bedtime routines Homework and study blocks Transitions between tasks Work sprints and focus sessions Therapy, coaching, or classroom support Daily life skills for kids, teens, and adults Why It Works Time Timer® transforms time from something abstract and invisible into something your eyes can track and your brain can trust. That’s why it’s backed by research, loved by educators, and recommended by occupational therapists worldwide. Created for real life. Trusted for decades. Download Time Timer today and feel the difference.

About

Anchor for Autism

This app helps parents create visual daily routines for children with autism to foster independence and reduce anxiety. It offers a simple, calming interface for children to follow tasks and includes features for parents to track progress and provide rewards.

Highlights
  • Create unlimited visual daily routines
  • Step-by-step task breakdown
  • Timers for timed activities
  • Reward and motivator system
  • Progress tracking and analytics
  • Sensory-friendly design
  • Choice boards and token boards
Features
Read full description

Anchor helps parents of children with autism build structured, visual daily routines that foster independence and reduce anxiety. Built by a special needs dad. Anchor was born from the daily reality of raising a child with autism. We couldn't find tools that were both clinically useful and genuinely pleasant to use. So we built one. HOW IT WORKS Parents create visual routines (morning, school, bedtime — anything) on their phone. Children follow them on their own device through a simple, calming interface designed for sensory-friendly interaction. FOR PARENTS • Create unlimited daily routines with visual tasks • Set timers for timed activities (brushing teeth, homework) • Break complex tasks into step-by-step mini-schedules • Add rewards and motivators to keep your child engaged • Track progress with analytics, streaks, and completion data • Record prompt levels (independent → verbal → physical) for IEP evidence • Get notifications for routine reminders and missed starts • View daily activity timeline showing everything your child accomplished FOR KIDS • One task at a time — calm, clear, predictable • Fun celebrations and confetti on every completion • Built-in sensory breaks (breathing exercises, movement breaks) • Choice boards that build autonomy ("Pick your shirt!") • Token boards — earn stars toward a big reward • First-Then motivators ("First homework, Then iPad") • Works on their own iPad or phone DESIGNED FOR AUTISM • Sensory-friendly: soft colors, gentle animations, no sudden sounds • Predictable: same layout, same interactions, every time • Visual-first: icons and images, minimal text • Customizable: every child is different, every routine can be personalized • Independence-building: the goal is for your child to need less help over time THERAPIST-FRIENDLY • Prompt level tracking aligned with ABA standards • Activity logs with timestamps for progress documentation • Data your BCBA, OT, or school team can actually use NO ADS. NO DATA SELLING. EVER. Your family's data belongs to your family. Period.

Screenshots

Time Timer4 screens
Anchor for Autism4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Anchor for Autism at 100% against Time Timer's 63%. Anchor for Autism also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Time Timer's advantage is ratings volume (15K vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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. Time Timer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.95 per year. Anchor for Autism asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Anchor for Autism holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Time Timer has 15K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Time Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Anchor for Autism's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Time Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Anchor for Autism fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Time Timer versus Anchor for Autism: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTime TimerAnchor for Autism
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (15K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTime Timer LLCTyler Goodfleisch

Customer experience

Time Timer

All ratings14,552 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews335 reviews
Positive62.7%
Neutral14.0%
Negative23.3%

Anchor for Autism

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Time Timer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • No timers show up in app
  • Timer stops working when phone is locked
  • Inconsistent dark mode implementation
  • Vibration doesn't work as expected

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add Apple Watch complication
  • Allow rearranging of timers
  • Ability to continue timer after time is up
  • Option to change timer color and background
  • Lock timer settings on Apple Watch
Show 2 more
  • Add percentage countdown option
  • Integrate current time into app

Anchor for Autism

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Time Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock all Time Timer features$9.951 Year
None

Anchor for Autism

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Time Timer free?
Time Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Anchor for Autism free?
Anchor for Autism is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Time Timer or Anchor for Autism?
Anchor for Autism is rated higher. Time Timer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Anchor for Autism averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Time Timer or Anchor for Autism have ads?
Neither Time Timer nor Anchor for Autism shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Time Timer or Anchor for Autism?
Time Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Anchor for Autism fortnightly. Most recently, Time Timer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Anchor for Autism on October 25, 2026.

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