# Interval Timer vs RUN interval

The clearest difference is ads: RUN interval at none against Interval Timer's shown. RUN interval also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (77% vs 69%). Interval Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (19K vs 1K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Interval Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and RUN interval sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RUN interval holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 19K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 77% of RUN interval's.

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, RUN interval every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Interval Timer | RUN interval |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interval-timer-tabata-timer/id406473568/reviews) | **[4.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-interval-running-timer/id1352270752/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | **77.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NEO PIXEL LABS PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788472183) | [CAN YOU HEAR ME SOFTWARE](https://appshunter.io/developer/711042540) |

## What reviewers say

### Interval Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interval-timer-tabata-timer/id406473568)

This app helps you manage workout intervals with customizable work and rest periods. It runs in the background and allows music playback, with options to save settings and share progress. Integrates with Apple Health for heart rate monitoring.

**Highlights:** Customizable sets, intervals, and rest times, Runs in background and with screen locked, Music playlist integration, Save settings as templates, Apple Health integration for heart rate, Post workouts to social media

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium - 1 Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus - 1 Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium - 1 Month | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus - 1 Year | $4.99 | per year |
| Premium - 1 Year | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free version works well
- 👍 Customizable intervals and timers
- 👍 Flexible for different workouts
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 👍 Provides visual and audio cues

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Timer issues (stops, loses time)
- 🔋 Drains battery when used
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔒 Incompatible with other apps

**Reported bugs**

- Ads block functionality
- App freezes or crashes
- Timer doesn't work in background

**Requested features**

- Add notes to workouts
- Provide workout history and analytics
- Allow syncing with Apple Health
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Add more customization options


### RUN interval

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-interval-running-timer/id1352270752)

This app simplifies interval and Fartlek running by allowing you to set custom targets for time or distance during hard, easy, and rest efforts. It offers detailed post-run summaries, audio and visual feedback, and an Apple Watch app for enhanced training.

**Highlights:** Customizable interval sessions, Time and distance targets, Distance Goal option, Audio and visual feedback, Detailed run summaries, Apple Watch app, Strava sharing

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The full RUN interval | $1.99 | one-time |
| The full RUN interval | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Interval Timer free?

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

### Is RUN interval free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or RUN interval?

RUN interval is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while RUN interval averages 4.7 from 1K ratings.

### Do Interval Timer or RUN interval have ads?

Interval Timer shows ads; RUN interval does not.

### Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or RUN interval?

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, and RUN interval every 3 months. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on September 25, 2026 and RUN interval on September 24, 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.*