# Best Timer vs Sand Timer

Best Timer and Sand Timer both sit at 3.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 61% of Best Timer's written reviews are positive against 6% of Sand Timer's. Best Timer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). Sand Timer's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and ratings volume (150 vs 22). On rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Sand Timer is free to download; Best Timer costs $0.99 up front. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Best Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Best Timer against 3.8 for Sand Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Best Timer's written reviews are positive against 6% of Sand Timer's.

Best Timer ships an update every 7 months, Sand Timer every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Best Timer | Sand Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.9 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-timer/id415656570/reviews)** | [3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **150** |
| Positive reviews | **60.8% of reviews** | 6.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 49 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serhii Simkovskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/959904647) | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) |

## What reviewers say

### Best Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-timer/id415656570)

This app offers a versatile suite of timekeeping tools, including a sand timer, kitchen timer, countdown, and stopwatch. It visually represents time, making it easy to understand for all ages, and provides customizable alarm sounds and color themes.

**Highlights:** Digitized sand timer with artistic design, Kitchen timer with visual minute indicator, Futuristic countdown/count up timer, Powerful stopwatch with lap/split modes, Kid-friendly time visualization, Customizable alarm sounds and repeat options, Multiple color themes

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Elegant design
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🕰️ Versatile timer options
- 🔊 Nice selection of alarm sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound issues (no sound, alarm not working)
- ⏱️ Limited timer duration (e.g. hourglass max 12 mins)
- 🎨 Limited color/theme options
- 🔍 Lack of high-contrast mode

**Reported bugs**

- Stopwatch lap timer bug
- Compatibility issues with iOS updates
- Freezing/crashing on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to use custom music/sounds for alarms
- Interval/workout timer mode
- Vibration option for alerts
- More color/theme customization
- Larger/full-screen timer display


### Sand Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548)

This app provides a visually engaging and intuitive way to track time with realistic sand flow animations. It's perfect for various activities like studying, workouts, or cooking, offering customizable themes and sound alerts to keep you on track.

**Highlights:** Realistic sand flow animation, Adjustable timer settings, Multiple timers management, Customizable themes, Sound alerts

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Best Timer free?

Best Timer costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

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

Best Timer is rated higher. Best Timer averages 3.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Sand Timer averages 3.8 from 150 ratings.

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

Sand Timer shows ads; Best Timer does not.

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

Best Timer ships an update every 7 months, and Sand Timer every 8 months. Most recently, Best Timer was updated on October 19, 2026 and Sand Timer on October 13, 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.*