Comparison

Sous Chef vs Thyme

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

Head to head
About

Sous Chef

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
Read full description

Kitchen Sous Chef is a set of everyday tools to assist you around the kitchen. This little kitchen helper is ready and waiting to help you serve up that delicious meal! *Note* Timers use the device notification system. Make sure notifications are turned on and that your device volume/ringer is not muted!! App Highlights • 5 Configurable timers. • Timers work even if app is not running. • Servings calculator • Chart of popular conversions. • Stores notes and favorite websites. • Available for both iPhone and iPad.

About

Thyme

This app offers a simple and intuitive kitchen timer experience with a unique stove-like interface. It allows users to set multiple timers simultaneously for various cooking tasks, ensuring precise timing for delicious meals.

Highlights
  • Multiple timers simultaneously
  • Stove-inspired UI
  • Easy timer setting
  • Hours and minutes support
  • Modern design
Features
Read full description

IT ONLY DOES ONE THING, BUT DOES IT VERY WELL. Over half a million home-chefs uses Thyme and knows that fine dining needs fine timing. “It gets the job done and makes those complicated meals a little bit easier." - Lifehacker “Thyme is a simple, yet cleverly designed app with an interface that looks like a kitchen stove and has a separate timer for each part..” - BuzzFeed “Thyme offers a unique combination of features that easily sets it apart from the rest.” - Beautiful Pixels Thyme is the simplest and easiest kitchen timer you could envision. It covers all your timer needs in the kitchen. This is so you can give full focus on that delicious food you’ve got cooking. Our kitchen timer gives you a simple and clean layout over your kitchen stove. Four hot plates on top and an oven in the front. To set a timer you simply tap it, swipe it. Boom! You’re done! It´s really that simple! Because fine dining needs fine timing. - The smart and simple UI makes setting new timers super easy. - Multiple timers running at the same time - Our timers support setting hours as well as minutes - Gorgeous and modern UI design that fits right in with iOS - It just works as you’d expect it to Since its launch in Christmas 2013 Thyme has won numerous awards and continues to receive critical acclaim.

Screenshots

Sous Chef4 screens
Thyme3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sous Chef at 90% against Thyme's 46%. Sous Chef also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (338 vs 73). Thyme's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Sous Chef sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Thyme asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sous Chef holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 338 and 73 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Sous Chef's written reviews are positive against 46% of Thyme's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sous Chef ships an update every 3 months, Thyme every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Sous Chef versus Thyme: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSous ChefThyme
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (338 ratings) — better3.0 (73 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better46.2% of reviews
Number of ratings338 — better73
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.09.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChuChu Train ProductionsThuy Gia Nguyen

Customer experience

Sous Chef

All ratings338 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative5.7%

Thyme

All ratings73 ratings
Positive46.6%
Neutral6.8%
Negative46.6%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral13.2%
Negative40.7%

Bugs and requests

Sous Chef

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

13 requests
  • 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
Show 8 more
  • More than 5 timers available
  • Gram conversion option
  • Landscape mode support
  • Volume control for alerts
  • Number of alert repetitions option
  • Menu planning features
  • Additional sous chef functionality
  • Ability to select iPhone system ringtones

Thyme

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Sous Chef

One-time4
  • KS - Remove Ad Banner$9.99
  • Unlimited Reference Entries$9.99
  • Enable All Timers$9.99
Show 1 more
  • All Features$24.99
None

Thyme

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sous Chef free?
Sous Chef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thyme free?
Thyme is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sous Chef or Thyme?
Sous Chef is rated higher. Sous Chef averages 4.5 out of 5 from 338 ratings, while Thyme averages 3.0 from 73 ratings.
Do Sous Chef or Thyme have ads?
Sous Chef shows ads; Thyme does not.
Which is updated more often, Sous Chef or Thyme?
Sous Chef ships an update every 3 months, and Thyme every 10 days. Most recently, Sous Chef was updated on October 18, 2026 and Thyme on October 15, 2026.

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