GymBrain vs Rest Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GymBrain
This app helps you track your gym sets and recovery times with a single tap. It includes a HIIT timer, customizable alarms, and automatic workout timing. Store your workout history and share your progress with friends.
- Automatic set counter
- Recovery timer with alarms
- Automatic workout timer
- HIIT timer
- Workout history storage
- Apple Watch support
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GymBrain combines a set counter with a recovery and workout timer - all with one tap. Plus, a High-intensity interval training timer (HIIT). - Automatic set counter. - Recover timer with alarms. - Automatic workout timer. - Apple Watch support. - Highly configurable. - High-intensity interval training timer (HIIT). - Workout History stored in iCloud. - Share your workouts via Twitter, Facebook, etc. - iAd supported with In App purchase to disable. Here's how it works: Once you’ve completed your set tap “Start”. The recovery timer will begin and GymBrain will count your set. When your recovery has completed, GymBrain will alert you using a tone, vibration or flash. When you’ve finished your repetitions, tap “Zero” to start your next set of exercises. By default, GymBrains recovery timer counts up, not down. So if your varying your recovery periods for different exercises you don’t need to mess about changing settings during your workout. GymBrain is highly configurable though. Choose recovery duration, the type of alarm you want, countdown style and more. When you start your first recovery, GymBrain will automatically start timing your entire workout. When your done, GymBrain will keep a record of your workout.
Rest Timer
This app provides a simple countdown timer for rest periods during workouts. It features customizable sounds, notification-based restarts, and dynamic display support. Easily manage your workout intervals without interrupting your music or unlocking your phone.
- One-tap timer start
- Customizable rest periods
- Plays music during countdown
- Restart from notification
- Dynamic Island and Live Activity support
- Adjust timer while running
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Free app. No ads. Start the timer with one tap. Keeps playing music after a short alarm sound. Restart the timer from the notification. Dynamic Island and Live Activity supported. This is the simplest countdown timer out there, with a set of convenience features you can't find in any other similar app. It's primarily used for timing rest periods during a strength training workout. It works great in the gym, at home, and outdoors. Let your phone notify you when it's time to start the next set or exercise. *** Instructions *** Start the countdown by pressing one of the 9 timer buttons. Reset it if you don't need it anymore. Press'n'hold the button to change its timer duration. === Important! === Please make sure to allow the app to send you notifications, otherwise, you might not hear sound warnings, and it won't work with the screen locked. *** What makes this app better than the others? *** You can change the timer duration while the timer is already running. The app recalculates the remaining time and keeps the time that has already passed. Sometimes there is not enough energy in the tank, and you need an extra minute to rest. Or you started the wrong timer and want to change it to the correct one. The app uses carefully selected custom sounds that play nicely with your workout music. They are noticeable enough not to miss them but still easy on your ears. A gentle sound warning signals you to start preparing for the next set (for time intervals of 30 seconds and higher). Another more distinct sound follows when the time is up. When you're done with the set, you can restart the timer from the notification without unlocking the screen! No need to think about how long your rest time is after each set. *** FAQ *** Q. I can't hear the sound notifications. What's wrong? A. Please make sure that you have allowed the app to send you notifications. Go to Settings App -> Notifications -> find WaitWaitGo! -> Allow notifications and Sounds need to be On. Also, make sure that the silent switch on the phone is off, and if you have any iOS focus modes active, make sure they allow notifications from WaitWaitGo!. As a last resort, go to Settings -> Sounds and make sure that the Ringer And Alerts volume slider is set to some higher value.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rest Timer at none against GymBrain's 1. Rest Timer also leads on ratings volume (11 vs 3). GymBrain's advantage is iOS requirement (11.4 vs 14.0). 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
Both are free to download. GymBrain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Rest Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for GymBrain against 4.9 for Rest Timer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 11 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
GymBrain ships an update every 3 months, Rest Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GymBrain | Rest Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.9 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 11 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.4 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ross Tulloch | Srdan Stanic |
Customer experience
GymBrain
Rest Timer
In-app purchases
GymBrain
- Ad Free Upgrade$0.99
Rest Timer
No in-app purchases









