Comparison

Interval Timer vs Exercise Timer

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

***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

About

Exercise Timer

Create and guide custom interval training routines with this app. It supports timed and rep-based exercises, offers voice coaching, and logs your workout history with detailed analytics. Track progress over time and organize routines into training plans.

Highlights
  • Custom workout routines
  • Voice coach for next exercise
  • Timed and rep-based exercises
  • Workout logging and analytics
  • Training plans
  • Background operation
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Create custom workout routines & let Exercise Timer guide you through your interval training. Exercise Timer supports both timed exercises and even reps-based exercises (press 'done' when exercise complete). Use Exercise Timer with your screen on or even in the background with your screen locked. Keep your phone in your pocket & Exercise Timer will still let you know which exercise is coming up by voice, vibration & bell. Keep a log of every workout along with an exercise breakdown & take notes. Know how much time you spend exercising with weekly, monthly & yearly charts. In addition to this, Exercise Timer generates reports of individual exercises with overall totals & Exercise Progression charts FEATURES • Create your custom workout routines • Voice Coach announces the next exercise • Optional Metronome to improve cadence • Multiple Bell Sounds • Group Exercises. E.g.: for Warm-Up/Cool-Down • Timed Exercises & Reps exercises supported • Color code your Exercises • Explain your exercises better with our library of exercise GIFs • Log & keep track of your workouts • Workout Analytics • Organize your workouts in Training Plans • Training plans designed by our fitness experts • Works in Background with device locked and screen off • Use Exercise Timer on your Apple Watch IDEAL FOR: • Interval Training, Tabata & Circuit Training • Yoga • Boxing • Keeping all your Workout Routines & Plans in one place • Gym Timer ARE YOU A FITNESS TRAINER? Create your Training Plans and workout routines in Exercise Timer and easily share them with your clients. APPLE WATCH Yes, Exercise Timer works on your Apple Watch! All your workouts are automatically synced on your Apple watch. Workouts performed on your apple watch are also logged on your phone. Download Exercise Timer Now and get moving! UNLOCK PREMIUM FEATURES Exercise Timer Premium is available with a monthly or annual subscription. If you choose to purchase Exercise Timer Premium, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and your account will be charged for renewal 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24hrs before the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to the ‘Manage Subscription’ page after purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of service: https://exercisetimer.net/terms Privacy policy: https://exercisetimer.net/privacypolicy

Screenshots

Interval Timer4 screens
Exercise Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Exercise Timer at none against Interval Timer's shown. Exercise Timer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Interval Timer's advantage is ratings volume (19K vs 1K) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Interval Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Exercise Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Exercise Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 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 73% of Exercise Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, Exercise Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Interval Timer versus Exercise Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInterval TimerExercise Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (19K ratings)4.8 (1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews73.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings19K — better1K
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size143 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNEO PIXEL LABS PTE. LTD.Neurondigital Ltd

Customer experience

Interval Timer

All ratings19,032 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews1,236 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral5.7%
Negative25.2%

Exercise Timer

All ratings1,000 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative19.6%

User reviews

Interval Timer

From 19K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Exercise Timer

From 1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great value without fluff
  • 👍 Simple but customizable
  • 👍 Awesome HIIT timer with exercise naming
  • 👍 Versatile and customizable exercise timer
  • 👍 A very underrated app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, freezes constantly
  • 🐛 Apple Watch version dysfunctional
  • 🐛 Input nightmare, difficult to use
  • 🐛 Landscape mode not available on iOS
  • 🐛 Reordering exercises in edit stage is a nightmare

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

Exercise Timer

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Syncing issues with Apple Watch
  • Randomly locking users out and requiring upgrade
  • Deleting all routines after uninstalling
  • Exercises not updating properly on Apple Watch
  • Apple Watch app causing native exercise app to crash
Show 1 more
  • Phone locked, no chime when locked

Requested features

5 requests
  • Sync workouts across devices without logging out/in
  • Ability to duplicate workouts on iPhone
  • Search, sort, or reorder routines
  • Connect with Apple Health app
  • Shortcut/automation support

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Interval Timer

Subscriptions6
  • Plus - 1 Month$0.991 Month
  • Premium - 1 Month$1.991 Month
  • Plus - 1 Month$1.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Premium - 1 Month$2.991 Month
  • Plus - 1 Year2 variants$4.991 Year
  • Premium - 1 Year7 Days trial2 variants$9.991 Year
3 purchases

Exercise Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Exercise Timer Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Exercise Timer Premium Yearly3 Days trial$30.991 Year
One-time1
  • Exercise Timer Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is Interval Timer free?
Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Exercise Timer free?
Exercise Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or Exercise Timer?
Exercise Timer is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Exercise Timer averages 4.8 from 1K ratings.
Do Interval Timer or Exercise Timer have ads?
Interval Timer shows ads; Exercise Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or Exercise Timer?
Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, and Exercise Timer monthly. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Exercise Timer on September 21, 2026.

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