# Interval Timer vs 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer at none against Interval Timer's 8. 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). Interval Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (19K vs 31). On price and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Interval Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 19K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 84% of 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer's.

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Interval Timer | 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interval-timer-tabata-timer/id406473568/reviews) | **[4.9 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12-minute-athlete-hiit-timer/id673973596/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 72.9% of reviews | **84.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 143 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **7.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NEO PIXEL LABS PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788472183) | [12 Minute Athlete](https://appshunter.io/developer/665678343) |

## 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


### 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12-minute-athlete-hiit-timer/id673973596)

This app provides a programmable interval timer and stopwatch for various workout types, including HIIT and bodyweight exercises. It offers features like saving favorite timers, playing your own music, and sharing workouts. An upgrade unlocks a large library of guided HIIT workouts with exercise demonstrations.

**Highlights:** Programmable interval timer, Save favorite interval timers, Intuitive and easy-to-use design, Play your own music during workouts, Share workouts on social media, Library of guided HIIT workouts (paid), Exercise instructions and videos (paid)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Interval Timer free?

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

### Is 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer free?

12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer?

12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer averages 4.9 from 31 ratings.

### Do Interval Timer or 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer have ads?

Interval Timer shows ads; 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer?

Interval Timer ships an update every 9 days, and 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer every 4 months. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on October 23, 2026 and 12 Minute Athlete HIIT Timer on October 20, 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.*