Interval Timer vs Shift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Interval Timer
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.
- 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
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***Free and reliable. Perfect for use at home, at the track or in the gym. We’re proud to introduce this handy little app that helps you keep track of your work and rest periods during workouts. Whether your into cycling, running, lifting weights, exercise, workout, stretching, boxing, MMA or HIT, this interval timer will prove to be an invaluable asset to you. Running foreground, background or with device locked, this reliable app allows you specify an overall time as well as program High/Low intensity interval and rest time between sets. Produced by Polycents! Key Features: - Customizable sets, high/low intensity interval and rest for your own need - Retina display, iOS4 and multitasking - Continue to run even when screen is locked - Play your song or playlist during your workout - Post your workout to Facebook or Twitter - Save settings as templates Customizable Features: - Number of Sets - Countdown Time - Set Time - Low Interval time - High Interval time - Rest Time - First Interval (low or high) - Sound Volume - Timer Sounds - Auto Lock - Vibrate - Pause during Rest - Playlist - New Each Set APPLE HEALTH: -Interval Timer can use Apple Health to show heart rate in Apple Watch App. # Subscription Details # - Monthly and annual subscriptions are available. - Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. - Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. - Automatic renewals will be charged at the same price you were originally charged for the subscription. - Subscriptions can be managed by going to Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/18915396 Privacy Policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/18915396
Shift
This app intelligently switches between playing music during high-intensity workout periods and podcasts during rest periods. It automatically adjusts audio based on your activity, allowing for an uninterrupted workout experience. Integrates with popular music services and Apple Health.
- Automatic music/podcast switching
- Workout intensity detection
- Spotify/Apple Music integration
- Podcast library access
- Apple Health integration
- Heart rate tracking
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Shift is a new way to listen to podcasts during your workouts. It plays music when your effort is high, and shifts to podcasts when you rest. It all happens automatically so you don't have to manually switch during your workout. Are you into weightlifting? You’ll hear your favorite podcast while resting between sets, and once you jump on the weights it'll play music. Shift is also great for running where you’ll alternate between fast-pace to music and slow-pace to podcasts. You’ll get your workout music through Spotify, Apple Music, or our own set of workout mixtapes, and we’ve got every podcast available so you can easily add your favourite shows. Health Kit: Shift provides a full Apple Health Kit integration, if you have an Apple Watch with the Shift watch app installed. The integration allows you to track your workouts, and follow your heart rate. Terms of service: https://www.shiftfm.app/terms Privacy: https://www.shiftfm.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Shift at none against Interval Timer's shown. Interval Timer's advantage is ratings volume (19K vs 57) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Interval Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Shift sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Interval Timer against 4.5 for Shift. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 19K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 77% of Shift's.
Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, Shift every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Interval Timer | Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (19K ratings) — better | 4.5 (57 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | 76.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19K — better | 57 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | NEO PIXEL LABS PTE. LTD. | Jazzlab Tech AS |
Customer experience
Interval Timer
Shift
Bugs and requests
Interval Timer
Reported bugs
3 issues- Ads block functionality
- App freezes or crashes
- Timer doesn't work in background
Requested features
5 requests- Add notes to workouts
- Provide workout history and analytics
- Allow syncing with Apple Health
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Add more customization options
Shift
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Interval Timer
- Plus - 1 Month$0.991 Month
- Premium - 1 Month$1.991 Month
- Plus - 1 Month$1.991 Month
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- Premium - 1 Month$2.991 Month
- Plus - 1 Year2 variants$4.991 Year
- Premium - 1 Year7 Days trial2 variants$9.991 Year
Shift
- Unlimited access$4.991 Month
- Unlimited access7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Questions
Is Interval Timer free?
Is Shift free?
Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or Shift?
Do Interval Timer or Shift have ads?
Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or Shift?
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