# Sous Chef vs Thyme

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.

Both are free to download. Sous Chef sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Thyme asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sous Chef | Thyme |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (338 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sous-chef-cook-tools-and-timer/id496365430/reviews)** | [3.0 (73 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thyme-a-modern-kitchen-timer/id771737226/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **338** | 73 |
| Positive reviews | **90.0% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 21 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ChuChu Train Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/415772087) | [Thuy Gia Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378832816) |

## 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


### Thyme

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thyme-a-modern-kitchen-timer/id771737226)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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