# Interval Timer vs PacePal

The clearest difference is rating: PacePal at 5.0 against Interval Timer's 4.5. PacePal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). Interval Timer's advantage is ratings volume (19K vs 1). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

PacePal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 19K ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of PacePal's.

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, PacePal daily. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Interval Timer | PacePal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interval-timer-tabata-timer/id406473568/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacepal-running-pace-and-speed/id6476523841/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 143 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| 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) | [Coding Corner LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1161584321) |

## 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


### PacePal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacepal-running-pace-and-speed/id6476523841)

This app helps runners calculate and understand their speed, pace, and finishing times for various race distances. It offers a simple interface to adjust one metric and instantly see the impact on others, with customizable themes for personalization.

**Highlights:** Speed, pace, and finishing time conversion, Supports various race distances, Instant updates with simple adjustments, Customizable themes, Minimalist Apple Watch interface

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Interval Timer free?

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

### Is PacePal free?

PacePal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

PacePal is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while PacePal averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Interval Timer or PacePal have ads?

Interval Timer shows ads; PacePal does not.

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

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, and PacePal daily. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on September 27, 2026 and PacePal on September 9, 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.*