Comparison

Sandglass3 vs Disco Timer

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

Head to head
About

Sandglass3

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
Read full description

It's a very simple, yet realistic hourglass. - Choose from a 1-minute, 3-minute, or 6-minute timer (check the remaining time at the bottom of the screen to determine the correct time). - Swipe the screen horizontally or turn your iPhone sideways and then back to portrait to flip the hourglass over. - You can display the remaining time and play a chime when the timer finishes. - You can set it to rotate automatically once all the sand has fallen. Staring at it is soothing...maybe.

About

Disco Timer

This app provides a visually intuitive countdown timer for various tasks, from cooking to presentations. Its unique rotary gesture for setting time and large display make it easy to use and read from a distance. Customize alerts and colors for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Rotary gesture time setting
  • Large, high-contrast display
  • Glanceable from a distance
  • Disable auto-lock option
  • Customizable color combinations (Premium)
  • Variety of exclusive alert tones
Features
Read full description

Boiling an egg, timing a presentation, or starting your next Pomodoro – Disco Timer is a universal countdown clock for all sorts of tasks. Setting the timer duration is based on 60-minute circle of traditional analog watches – you just wind it up with a single rotary gesture. Then tap the display to run, pause, or reset the timer. Large, high-contrast representation of the remaining time makes it glanceable from quite a distance. And an option to disable the Auto-Lock can keep the device awake while the timer is running. This comes in very handy when keeping an eye on the progress is as important as the finishing time itself. The face of the timer can be customized by choosing from a variety of color combinations (Premium feature). And for the completion alert – you can select from a dozen great-sounding tones, all of which are crafted exclusively for Codulis apps. Give Disco Timer a try, and let us know what you think!

Screenshots

Sandglass34 screens
Disco Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Disco Timer at 89% against Sandglass3's 44%. Disco Timer also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.7) and ads (none vs shown). Sandglass3's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.4). On price, 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. Disco Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sandglass3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Disco Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Disco Timer has 97 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Sandglass3's written reviews are positive against 89% of Disco Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sandglass3 ships an update every 8 months, Disco Timer every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Sandglass3 versus Disco Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSandglass3Disco Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (11 ratings)4.7 (97 ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.8% of reviews89.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1197 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.4
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKeietsu YasuharaCodulis

Customer experience

Sandglass3

All ratings11 ratings
Positive36.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative54.5%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive43.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative56.3%

Disco Timer

All ratings97 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive89.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.3%

In-app purchases

None

Sandglass3

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Disco Timer

One-time1
  • Disco Timer Premium$2.99

Questions

Is Sandglass3 free?
Sandglass3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Disco Timer free?
Disco Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sandglass3 or Disco Timer?
Disco Timer is rated higher. Sandglass3 averages 2.7 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Disco Timer averages 4.7 from 97 ratings.
Do Sandglass3 or Disco Timer have ads?
Sandglass3 shows ads; Disco Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Sandglass3 or Disco Timer?
Sandglass3 ships an update every 8 months, and Disco Timer every 5 months. Most recently, Sandglass3 was updated on October 3, 2026 and Disco Timer on October 16, 2026.

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