Comparison

Repeat Timer vs Periodic Timer

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

Head to head
About

Repeat Timer

This app provides a flexible repeating timer for work and relaxation. Set custom durations and repeat counts, and receive notifications for each cycle. It integrates with widgets, Siri, and Apple Watch for seamless use.

Highlights
  • Customizable duration and repeat count
  • Background notifications
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
  • Apple Watch companion app
  • Quick entry for common timers
Features
Read full description

Set a duration, set how many times it repeats, and Repeat Timer counts you through it. Leave the app open to watch the countdown, or close it and get an alert on every repeat. THREE KINDS OF TIMER - Repeat: one duration, looped as many times as you like - Interval: different phases in sequence, each with its own length - Standard: a plain countdown NEW IN 4.0 - A brand new Apple Watch app, rebuilt from scratch. All three kinds of timer live on your watch, so you can start, pause and finish a session with your phone nowhere near you - Watch face complications with a live progress gauge - Lock Screen alarms that get through silent mode and a locked phone - Confirmation mode: the next repeat will not start until you acknowledge the last one, so nothing gets skipped while you are not looking - A full redesign for iOS 26, with a rounded typeface and haptics throughout FEATURES - Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets you can start, pause and skip without opening the app - A full screen timer for when you want nothing else on the display - Timer cards that flip over to reveal their settings - Siri and Shortcuts support - Notifications on every repeat, so you can get on with something else PERFECT FOR - Cooking, when something needs turning every few minutes - Standing up and stretching at work - Drinking water through the day - Focus blocks and pomodoro sessions, with planned breaks - Physiotherapy sets and holds - Watering plants for a set time each - Looking away from the screen every twenty minutes - Medication on a schedule Repeat Timer Premium Subscription Upgrade to access all features Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Periodic Timer

This app provides a simple, repeating interval timer that can run in the background without distracting you. It offers customizable alerts, quick start options, and prevents your screen from locking while active. Ideal for various activities like fitness, cooking, and learning.

Highlights
  • Repeating interval timer
  • Background operation
  • Customizable alerts (vibration/sound)
  • Prevent lockscreen
  • Shake to start
  • Multiple timer output modes
Features
Read full description

Keep track of time without being distracted by the device! Simple and easy timer that repeats at your chosen interval. FEATURES - Vibration, if sound is off. - Works in the background. - 3 timer output modes: intervals, total time, countdown. - You can cancel or pause the timer with help of a notification. - Quick Start from icon. - Shake To Start - can be enabled in settings. - Prevent Lockscreen - another useful setting, the screen will not lock, while the timer is running. USE CASES Here is a list of known use cases based on the real feedback: Fitness and health: - Stretching - Stationary bicycle (interval training) - On a treadmill - For HIIT - Jogging - Timed medication - Boxing Cooking - While frying potatoes - Roasting steaks - Checking an over or a grill to prevent burning Learning & science - Foreign language learning - As a lab timer - Periodic data collection - Speech training - Presentation timing Other - Mindfulness - Communication - To have a sense of time flying away :) HELP Q: Why the timer doesn't work in the background? A: You should allow notifications. Q: How to turn off the sound and turn on the vibration? A: On the device, turn the Silent Mode on. (Side Switch) Q: Alert is limited for 5 seconds! A: Go to Settings app, then Periodic Timer > Notifications > Banner Style > Persistent. Q: How to switch the Timer Output Mode? A: To switch the Output Mode touch the timer display at the top of the screen. Q: What is Shake To Start for? A: Shake To Start setting allows to start/cancel the timer by shaking the device. Thus, you don't touch the screen, what can be useful while cooking, for example. In order for this mode to work, the app should be open. If you still have questions or suggestions, you can visit the support page (https://goo.gl/forms/pggVBcaBxdW85EGE3), the Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/PeriodicTimer/) or you can email me (periodictimer.sup@gmail.com). If you like the app - please, rate it!

Screenshots

Repeat Timer4 screens
Periodic Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Periodic Timer at none against Repeat Timer's 4. Periodic Timer also leads on ads (none vs shown). Repeat Timer's advantage is ratings volume (535 vs 167). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Repeat Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Periodic Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Repeat Timer against 4.1 for Periodic Timer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 535 and 167 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of Repeat Timer's written reviews are positive against 52% of Periodic Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Repeat Timer ships an update monthly, Periodic Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Repeat Timer versus Periodic Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRepeat TimerPeriodic Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (535 ratings) — better4.1 (167 ratings)
Positive reviews44.8% of reviews52.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings535 — better167
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFoobar CreativeVladimir Kelin

Customer experience

Repeat Timer

All ratings535 ratings
Positive77.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative15.5%
Written reviews183 reviews
Positive44.8%
Neutral14.2%
Negative41.0%

Periodic Timer

All ratings167 ratings
Positive75.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative18.6%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive52.1%
Neutral10.7%
Negative37.1%

User reviews

Repeat Timer

From 535 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent repeat timer
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 👍 Versatile for various use cases
  • 👍 Good notification sounds
  • 👍 Helpful for productivity and exercise

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Limited free version, requires subscription for full features
  • 🐛 Notifications/alarms not always reliable
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
  • 🔋 Drains battery when running in background
  • 🔒 Lack of customization options in free version

Periodic Timer

From 167 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
  • ⏱️ Effective repeating/interval timer functionality
  • 🎯 Does exactly what it's designed to do
  • 🔇 Vibration-only option available
  • 📱 Works in background with screen off

Room to improve

  • 🔊 Sound/notification issues (unreliable or missing)
  • 💰 Aggressive premium upselling in free version
  • 🐛 Timer cancels when phone is shaken
  • 🔋 Activates heart rate sensor, drains battery
  • 📵 Doesn't work reliably with screen locked

Bugs and requests

Repeat Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Timers not working consistently in background
  • Apple Watch integration issues
  • Inconsistent behavior when setting longer timer durations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to set custom intervals (e.g. 8 seconds)
  • Option for alternating interval lengths
  • Vibration mode for silent notifications
  • Ability to pause/resume timers
  • More timer sound options

Periodic Timer

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Sound/notifications fail to trigger despite settings enabled
  • Timer cancels when phone is shaken or moved
  • Vibration doesn't work when screen is locked or off
  • App crashes on launch (especially after updates)
  • Watch app crashes or doesn't function
Show 7 more
  • Notifications inconsistent on Apple Watch
  • Timer speed inaccurate (runs too fast)
  • App won't open after deletion and reinstall
  • Upgrade popup spams every second, making app unusable
  • Heart rate monitor stays active, draining battery
  • Vibration doesn't work on silent mode
  • Watch green light stays on continuously

Requested features

15 requests
  • Adjustable sound volume and custom alert sounds
  • Customizable vibration patterns
  • Settings menu for user preferences
  • Ability to add notes/labels to timers
  • Seconds-only timer option
Show 10 more
  • Simple countdown timer (non-repeating)
  • Separate exercise and rest period intervals
  • Start timer at specific time of day
  • Disable sound option for silent vibration-only mode
  • Prevent screen lock while timer is running
  • Apple Watch vibration support
  • Seconds increment option (not just minutes)
  • Better Apple Watch complications and integration
  • Free trial period before purchase requirement
  • Disable shake-to-cancel functionality

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Repeat Timer

Subscriptions3
  • Repeat Timer Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Repeat Timer Premium Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Repeat Timer Premium Annual7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Upgrade$49.99
None

Periodic Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Repeat Timer free?
Repeat Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Periodic Timer free?
Periodic Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Repeat Timer or Periodic Timer?
Repeat Timer is rated higher. Repeat Timer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 535 ratings, while Periodic Timer averages 4.1 from 167 ratings.
Do Repeat Timer or Periodic Timer have ads?
Repeat Timer shows ads; Periodic Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Repeat Timer or Periodic Timer?
Repeat Timer ships an update monthly, and Periodic Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Repeat Timer was updated on September 21, 2026 and Periodic Timer on September 24, 2026.

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