# Sous Chef vs The Fondue Timer

The clearest difference is ads: The Fondue Timer at none against Sous Chef's shown. The Fondue Timer also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Sous Chef's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 60%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sous Chef sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and The Fondue Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Fondue Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 338 and 262 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of Sous Chef's written reviews are positive against 60% of The Fondue Timer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sous Chef ships an update every 3 months, The Fondue Timer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sous Chef | The Fondue Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (338 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sous-chef-cook-tools-and-timer/id496365430/reviews) | **[4.8 (262 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-fondue-timer/id1286829404/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **338** | 262 |
| Positive reviews | **90.0% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ChuChu Train Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/415772087) | [Andrew Becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/1286829403) |

## What reviewers say

### Sous Chef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sous-chef-cook-tools-and-timer/id496365430)

This kitchen helper offers a suite of tools for meal preparation, including multiple configurable timers that function even when the app is closed. It also features a servings calculator and a handy conversion chart to simplify cooking tasks.

**Highlights:** 5 configurable timers, Timers work in background, Servings calculator, Popular conversions chart, Stores notes and favorite websites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| KS - Remove Ad Banner | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Reference Entries | $9.99 | one-time |
| Enable All Timers | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Features | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⏱️ Multiple simultaneous timers (5 timers)
- 🏷️ Ability to label each timer
- 📱 Portable and convenient to use
- 🔊 Loud and audible alerts
- 📊 Useful conversion charts included

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Inconsistent alert volume levels
- 🔔 Alert only rings briefly then shows notification
- 📵 Doesn't ring when phone is locked
- 📺 No landscape mode support
- 🎵 Limited and repetitive alarm sounds

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently during use
- Timer doesn't alert when phone is in lock mode
- Accidental timer reset when phone placed in pocket
- Pop-up ads appear during timer setup
- Free version upgrade doesn't convert to Pro (requires repurchase)

**Requested features**

- Custom alarm sounds for each timer
- Different ringtones/tones for different timers
- Count-up feature after timer reaches zero
- Larger readout/display text
- Cooking temperature reference charts


### The Fondue Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-fondue-timer/id1286829404)

Never guess fondue cooking times again. This app offers preset and customizable timers for various meats and seafood, ensuring perfect consistency and temperature. Track fork colors, food types, and cook times for an impressive fondue experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple timer options, Preset times for different meats, Customizable cook times, Track fork color, Track food type, Track preferred cook time

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Unlock | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sous Chef free?

Sous Chef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Fondue Timer free?

The Fondue Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sous Chef or The Fondue Timer?

The Fondue Timer is rated higher. Sous Chef averages 4.5 out of 5 from 338 ratings, while The Fondue Timer averages 4.8 from 262 ratings.

### Do Sous Chef or The Fondue Timer have ads?

Sous Chef shows ads; The Fondue Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sous Chef or The Fondue Timer?

Sous Chef ships an update every 3 months, and The Fondue Timer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sous Chef was updated on October 30, 2026 and The Fondue Timer on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*