Simple Interval Timer vs ChiMarathon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simple Interval Timer
This app provides a straightforward interval timer for various training types like running, cycling, and HIIT. Customize sets, action, and break durations for a personalized workout experience. It runs in the background and saves recent configurations.
- Customizable sets, action, and break durations
- Plain and simple design
- Saves last 5 configurations
- Runs in the background
- iOS screen dimming prevention
- Apple Watch integration with heart rate monitoring
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Simple Interval Timer (SIT) can be used for any kind of interval training, such as running, cycling, HIIT sessions (including Tabata method), stretching, etc. SIT is exactly what you would expect. An interval timer, which is easy to set up and use. It features a nice plain design, with no unnecessary controls. Adjust Number of Sets, Action and Break duration to your needs and you are ready to go! On the iOS an extra switch control allows you to prevent the screen from dimming. SIT remembers the last 5 configurations you have used. Swipe left across the Settings screen to switch to another configuration. SIT can run in the background, while you are playing music, watching videos or doing anything else on your iOS device. SIT Watch features the same simplicity as the iOS app while offering the same functionality, plus it will measure your heartbeat during the workout sessions. The recordings will be available in the Apple's Health app. SIT Watch runs independently of the phone, so no need to have your phone around during your workouts (although you will need your phone during the very first time you launch SIT watch). SIT lets you avoid any tedious set up and focus on your training!
ChiMarathon
Prepare for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with this comprehensive resource. Track runners live, view athlete profiles, and access real-time weather and course maps. Spectators can send digital cheers to be displayed on the course.
- Live runner tracking
- Athlete profiles
- Live broadcast streaming
- Real-time weather
- Interactive course map
- Digital cheer submission
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The Bank of America Chicago Marathon App, Powered by Tata Consultancy Services is the perfect resource to prepare for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Whether you’re running or spectating, the free mobile app includes everything you’ll need to be prepared for a great race week experience. The app features unlimited live race day runner tracking, professional athlete profiles, live broadcast streaming, real-time weather, an interactive course map, participant bib share and more!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simple Interval Timer at 84% against ChiMarathon's 33%. Simple Interval Timer also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (5.6K vs 45). ChiMarathon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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
Both are free to download. Simple Interval Timer sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. ChiMarathon asks for nothing beyond the download.
Simple Interval Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Interval Timer has 5.6K ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Simple Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 33% of ChiMarathon's.
Simple Interval Timer ships an update every 8 months, ChiMarathon every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simple Interval Timer | ChiMarathon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (5.6K ratings) — better | 2.5 (45 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 84.4% of reviews — better | 32.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.6K — better | 45 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.5 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 112 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 0FF | Tata Consultancy Services |
Customer experience
Simple Interval Timer
ChiMarathon
User reviews
Simple Interval Timer
From 5.6K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient and straightforward
- 💰 Actually free, no paywall
- 🔊 Unobtrusive audio cues
- 🎶 Works well with music playback
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- ⚙️ Limited customization options
- 🔋 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🔍 Difficulty deleting/managing saved configurations
ChiMarathon
From 45 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great for tracking runners
- 👍 Works well in the UK
- 👍 Able to track runner entire time
- 👍 Loved tracking friends
- 👍 Very useful for watching friend run
Room to improve
- 🐛 Map tracker not spectator-geared
- 🐛 Mile markers inconsistent
- 🐛 Map shows water stations for runners
- 🐛 Units displayed incorrectly (miles vs km)
- 🐛 App doesn't update times
Bugs and requests
Simple Interval Timer
Reported bugs
3 issues- Timer stops working when screen is locked
- Countdown beeps not syncing with timer
- Interval times not accurately tracked
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to name and delete saved configurations
- More granular interval time settings (e.g., 1-second increments)
- Stronger haptic feedback on Apple Watch
- Integration with workout tracking apps
ChiMarathon
Reported bugs
59 issues- Mile markers inconsistent
- Map shows water stations for runners
- Units displayed incorrectly (miles vs km)
- App doesn't update times
- Links in map don't work
Show 54 moreShow fewer
- Won't connect to server
- X-axis incorrect units (miles vs km)
- Y-axis decreasing (unhelpful visualization)
- Race day timer shows race is a day away
- Cannot track racer, times out
- Tracking feature not trustworthy
- No way to switch to miles
- Incredibly glitchy
- No mile markers this year
- Pace graph based on 100 seconds
- Needs to track distance by miles
- Default to kilometers with no option to change
- Map not updated on race day
- Worthless app
- No buttons work
- Cannot enter bib number
- Live data shows server error
- No way for runners to claim profile
- Mixes up miles and kilometers
- Pace graph based on minutes/100 seconds
- App defaults in metrics
- No ability to change pace to min/mile
- Leaderboard defaults to male runners
- App stalled, tracking didn't work
- Tracking search bar doesn't work
- App missed me at starting line and 15k mark
- App reported time over an hour slower
- Time still wrong on app after 2 days
- Tracking isn't real-time, only check-in points
- App insists on zooming back to user location
- Tracking experience disappointing
- Cannot connect to server
- Rubbish app
- Worst site for tracking a runner
- App could never connect to server
- Difficult to track multiple friends due to lack of splits
- App splits calculated in kilometers
- Doing calculations for miles/kilometers is not a good experience
- Can't track runners on map
- Useless app
- Only gives times at 10k, 20k, 30k and finish
- Impossible to track individual runner
- Missed our runner
- Doesn't work
- App freezing
- Cannot track anyone
- Cannot connect to server
- Map doesn't work
- Program stalled
- Tracking didn't work
- Search bar doesn't work
- App missed runner at start and 15k
- App reported time over an hour slower
- Time still wrong on app after 2 days
Requested features
31 requests- Geared towards spectators for map tracking
- Display mile markers clearly
- Option to switch between miles and kilometers
- Update app design to be more modern
- Real-time updates and alerts for runners
Show 26 moreShow fewer
- Add mile markers
- Option to convert kilometers to miles
- Add spectator viewing route feature
- Preload anticipated pace for recommended viewing points
- Allow users to switch between miles and kilometers
- Add option to change pace to minutes per mile
- Allow users to change pace to minutes per mile
- Add cheer cards feature
- Improve customer support
- Add automatic updates like Boston's app
- Update map for current year's event
- Fix tracking for runners
- Add a toggle or default to miles
- Provide a single click tracking link
- Add splits every 5 miles
- Streamline measurements (miles and kilometers)
- Allow viewing splits in miles or kilometers
- Add spectator 'viewing route' feature
- Add ability to send real-time messages to runners
- Add ability for runners to access messages easily
- Fix search bar for runner information
- Add end of race picture at finish line
- Add feature to track self for PR
- Add option to default to female runners on leaderboards
- Improve GPS tracking data
- Make tracking real-time
In-app purchases
Simple Interval Timer
- Espresso$0.99
- Americano$1.99
- Ad-free version$2.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Caramel Cappuccino$2.99
ChiMarathon
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simple Interval Timer free?
Is ChiMarathon free?
Which has better reviews, Simple Interval Timer or ChiMarathon?
Do Simple Interval Timer or ChiMarathon have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simple Interval Timer or ChiMarathon?
Other comparisons
