Comparison

Seconds Interval Timer vs Custom Fitness Timer

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

Head to head
About

Seconds Interval Timer

This app provides a versatile interval timer for various workout types like Tabata, HIIT, and circuit training. It features a clear, full-screen display, customizable alerts, and background operation. Users can also utilize a stopwatch and countdown timer, with integration for Apple Health.

Highlights
  • Full-screen colored display
  • Templates for HIIT, Tabata, Circuit Training
  • Voice and audio alerts
  • Music assignment per interval
  • Background operation
  • Apple Health integration
  • Stopwatch and countdown timer
Features
Read full description

Seconds is an interval timer for HIIT, Tabata, EMOM, circuits and any workout built from timed intervals. It calls each interval out loud, keeps running with the screen off, and runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Apple has featured it, and Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has said it is the fitness app he uses more than any other. BUILD ANY WORKOUT - Start from a HIIT, Tabata or circuit template, or build a timer from scratch with sets, rounds and intervals of different lengths. - Chain timers into one compound timer, so a warm-up flows into the main set and then a cool-down. - Color-code every interval so you know what is coming before the beep. - Share a timer with a friend in one tap. HEAR IT, DON'T WATCH IT - Voice cues call out each interval by name and warn you before the next one starts. - Beeps and bells are there too if you would rather not be talked at. - Play your own music, per timer or per interval. Cues duck the music and it comes back up when they are done. - The timer keeps going in the background while you use other apps or the screen sleeps. ON THE GYM FLOOR - A full-screen, color-coded display you can read from across the room, in portrait or landscape. On iPad it uses the whole screen. - A lock button stops a stray tap from pausing your set. APPLE WATCH - Seconds runs on the watch by itself, so the phone can stay in the locker. Timers you build on the phone sync to the wrist, and Quick Intervals builds a basic circuit on the watch itself. MORE TIMERS - A stopwatch that marks your best and worst laps. - A countdown timer with five preset durations (three on Apple Watch). APPLE HEALTH - Save workouts and mindful sessions to Health. With a heart rate monitor connected, Seconds reads your body measurements and year of birth from Health to estimate calories burned. FREE TO TRY, ONE PAYMENT TO UNLOCK - Everything is available from the first launch. Build any timer and run it. - Each timer locks after you run it once. A single in-app purchase removes the lock on every timer you make. SECONDS AND SECONDS PRO - Seconds Pro is the same app, paid once up front, with nothing to unlock. The two are separate products and a purchase in one does not carry over to the other. If you bought Seconds Pro, download Seconds Pro. If you bought the unlock in Seconds, download Seconds and use Restore Purchases.

About

Custom Fitness Timer

Create and manage custom timers for various fitness activities like countdowns, intervals, and work/rest periods. Features include intuitive navigation, a press-and-hold stopwatch, and optional sound alerts. Personalize timers with custom names and colors to match different phases.

Highlights
  • Unlimited custom timer creation
  • Countdown timer
  • Interval timer
  • Work/Rest timer
  • Press and hold stopwatch
  • Optional timer sounds
  • Color-coded timer phases
Read full description

This custom fitness timer application offers: -Intuitive navigation -A Press and Hold Stop Watch -Free unlimited new timer creation -Three timer varieties: -Countdown -Interval -Work/Rest -Optional timer end and warning sounds -Color change to indicate timer phase -Customer timer naming

Screenshots

Seconds Interval Timer4 screens
Custom Fitness Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Custom Fitness Timer at none against Seconds Interval Timer's 1. Custom Fitness Timer also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). Seconds Interval Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (24K vs 6). On price and device support 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. Seconds Interval Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Custom Fitness Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Custom Fitness Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Seconds Interval Timer has 24K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Seconds Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Custom Fitness Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Seconds Interval Timer ships an update monthly, Custom Fitness Timer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Seconds Interval Timer versus Custom Fitness Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSeconds Interval TimerCustom Fitness Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (24K ratings)5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24K — better6
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size95 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRunloop LtdJared Rosenthal

Customer experience

Seconds Interval Timer

All ratings23,662 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral1.9%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews1,237 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.1%
Negative18.8%

Custom Fitness Timer

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Seconds Interval Timer

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Timer sometimes stops working unexpectedly
  • Issues with restoring purchases on new devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to change beep/alert volume independently
  • Option to delay transition between intervals
  • Sync workouts across devices
  • More preset workout templates
  • Heart rate monitoring integration

Custom Fitness Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Seconds Interval Timer

One-time1
  • Advanced Version$7.99
None

Custom Fitness Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Seconds Interval Timer free?
Seconds Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Custom Fitness Timer free?
Custom Fitness Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Seconds Interval Timer or Custom Fitness Timer?
Custom Fitness Timer is rated higher. Seconds Interval Timer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Custom Fitness Timer averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Seconds Interval Timer or Custom Fitness Timer have ads?
Custom Fitness Timer shows ads; Seconds Interval Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Seconds Interval Timer or Custom Fitness Timer?
Seconds Interval Timer ships an update monthly, and Custom Fitness Timer every 4 days. Most recently, Seconds Interval Timer was updated on September 26, 2026 and Custom Fitness Timer on June 11, 2026.

Other comparisons