GymBrain vs Top Set 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.
Top Set Timer
This workout timer helps you manage rest and intervals for strength training. It offers flexible modes for self-paced sets, HIIT, and EMOM, allowing you to focus on your workout without watching the clock. It runs in the background and notifies you when it's time for the next set.
- Flexible rest timer for strength sets
- HIIT and EMOM interval modes
- Background operation and notifications
- Supports strength, powerlifting, and conditioning
- Simple, no-frills interface
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Top Set Timer is a no frills workout timer with one job: keeping your rest and intervals on track so you can focus on training. Unlike most timers on the App Store that are designed for HIIT programs and force fixed work and rest blocks, Top Set Timer is built for real strength sessions where sets take as long as they take. Finish your set, rack the bar, then tap once to start your rest. When the timer goes off, you are ready for the next set. When you want more structure, switch to HIIT or EMOM modes for classic interval work. Use it for barbell strength programs, powerlifting, bodyweight and calisthenics sessions, sprints and hill runs, or conditioning blocks in the gym. Top Set Timer includes three modes: Rest mode lets you start the timer only when you finish a set, ideal for longer 2 to 5 minute rests or any self paced work. HIIT mode runs repeated work and rest intervals for conditioning and finishers. EMOM mode keeps every minute on the minute, or any interval you choose, locked in for focused training blocks. Top Set Timer keeps track of your rests even when it's off the screen. If you navigate away the timer will continue to run in the background and will notify you when its time to get back to work. Top Set Timer keeps your rest honest and your intervals consistent so you can train harder, recover better, and stop staring at the clock.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Top Set Timer at fortnightly against GymBrain's every 3 months. Top Set Timer also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). GymBrain's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.4 vs 17.5). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Top Set Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for GymBrain against 5.0 for Top Set Timer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.
GymBrain ships an update every 3 months, Top Set Timer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GymBrain | Top Set Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.4 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ross Tulloch | Greg McInnes |
Customer experience
GymBrain
Top Set Timer
In-app purchases
GymBrain
- Ad Free Upgrade$0.99
Top Set Timer
- Top Set Timer Pro$2.99







