# Sandglass3 vs Hourglass

The clearest difference is rating: Hourglass at 4.6 against Sandglass3's 2.7. Hourglass also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (216 vs 11). Sandglass3's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (44% vs 30%). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hourglass sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Sandglass3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hourglass holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hourglass has 216 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Sandglass3's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hourglass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sandglass3 ships an update every 8 months, Hourglass weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sandglass3 | Hourglass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandglass3/id386488183/reviews) | **[4.6 (216 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourglass-simple-timer/id6449443481/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **216** |
| Positive reviews | **43.8% of reviews** | 30.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Keietsu Yasuhara](https://appshunter.io/developer/378538320) | [Focaccia, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689143851) |

## What reviewers say

### Sandglass3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandglass3/id386488183)

This app simulates a realistic hourglass with customizable timer durations. Users can flip the hourglass by swiping or rotating their device. It offers optional sound alerts and automatic rotation upon completion.

**Highlights:** Realistic hourglass simulation, 1, 3, and 6-minute timers, Swipe to flip hourglass, Rotate device to flip, Chime alert on completion, Automatic rotation option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hourglass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourglass-simple-timer/id6449443481)

This app offers a simple and user-friendly hourglass experience. Set your desired time, pause it as needed, and enjoy the soothing visual of falling sand. It's designed for moments of calm and focused time management.

**Highlights:** User-friendly hourglass interface, Set custom timer durations, Pause and resume timer, Soothing falling sand animation, Comforting visual experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro - Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Hourglass Timer Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sandglass3 free?

Sandglass3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hourglass free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sandglass3 or Hourglass?

Hourglass is rated higher. Sandglass3 averages 2.7 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Hourglass averages 4.6 from 216 ratings.

### Do Sandglass3 or Hourglass have ads?

Both Sandglass3 and Hourglass show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sandglass3 or Hourglass?

Sandglass3 ships an update every 8 months, and Hourglass weekly. Most recently, Sandglass3 was updated on September 16, 2026 and Hourglass on September 19, 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.*