# Interval Timer vs Best Interval Timer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Best Interval Timer at none against Interval Timer's 8. Best Interval Timer also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 69%). Interval Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (19K vs 81). On price, rating and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Interval Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Best Interval Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Interval Timer against 4.6 for Best Interval Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 19K ratings behind it against 81, 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 89% of Best Interval Timer's.

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, Best Interval Timer every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Interval Timer | Best Interval Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interval-timer-tabata-timer/id406473568/reviews) | **[4.6 (81 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-interval-timer/id547542742/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 81 |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | **89.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 143 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NEO PIXEL LABS PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788472183) | [倩 赵](https://appshunter.io/developer/376557917) |

## 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


### Best Interval Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-interval-timer/id547542742)

This app acts as your personal coach, guiding you through workouts with customizable routines. Focus on your exercise while it manages timing for warm-up, high/low intensity intervals, cool-downs, and rest periods.

**Highlights:** Customizable workout routines, Warm-up, intensity, cool-down, rest periods, Background and multitasking support, Adjustable interval sounds and vibrations, Workout practice tracking, Landscape and portrait orientation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Simple and functional
- 👍 Free
- 👍 Customizable intervals
- 👍 Works in background

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Too many ads
- 🐛 Limited programmable routines (free version)
- 🐛 Ads block screen in landscape
- 🐛 Small numbers hard to read
- 🐛 Side view unusable

**Reported bugs**

- App stops working after rating notification
- Buttons don't work after rating notification
- Crashes when saving timers
- Crashes when editing exercises
- Freezes and stops working

**Requested features**

- Ability to save multiple intervals/routines
- Voice cues for start/stop
- Apple Watch compatibility
- Larger buttons and text
- Option to save different schedules (e.g., Tabata)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Interval Timer free?

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

### Is Best Interval Timer free?

Best Interval Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or Best Interval Timer?

Best Interval Timer is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Best Interval Timer averages 4.6 from 81 ratings.

### Do Interval Timer or Best Interval Timer have ads?

Both Interval Timer and Best Interval Timer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or Best Interval Timer?

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, and Best Interval Timer every 12 months. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Best Interval Timer on September 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*