# Best Sand Timer vs Sand Timer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Best Sand Timer at 46% against Sand Timer's 6%. Best Sand Timer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). Sand Timer's advantage is ratings volume (150 vs 19). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sand Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Best Sand Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Best Sand Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Timer has 150 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Best Sand Timer's written reviews are positive against 6% of Sand Timer's.

Best Sand Timer ships an update every 14 months, Sand Timer every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Best Sand Timer | Sand Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-sand-timer/id501940934/reviews)** | [3.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **150** |
| Positive reviews | **45.6% of reviews** | 6.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 8 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serhii Simkovskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/959904647) | [Vicki Partridge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114861973) |

## What reviewers say

### Best Sand Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-sand-timer/id501940934)

A digital hourglass timer that visually represents the passage of time. It's designed to be kid-friendly, offers customizable alarm sounds, and allows users to personalize the timer's color. This universal app provides a stylish way to manage tasks and stay notified.

**Highlights:** Digital hourglass visualization, Kid-friendly time perception, Customizable alarm sounds (16 options), Notification even when inactive, Color themes for timer customization, Universal app for iPhone and iPad

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Visually appealing sand timer
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Good for focus and visual timing
- 👍 Customizable colors
- 👍 Works well for kids and educational purposes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No sound/alarm issues
- 🐛 Alignment and graphics issues
- 🐛 Maximum timer limit of 1 hour
- 🐛 Ads can be intrusive
- 🐛 App crashes/freezes

**Reported bugs**

- No sound when timer reaches zero
- Sand not aligned with hourglass
- Graphics not aligned properly
- Buttons partially off screen
- App not configured for certain iPhone screens (e.g., XR)

**Requested features**

- Display current time on screen
- Keypad for setting timer
- Option to hide digital timer
- Longer timer duration (beyond 1 hour)
- Vibrate function


### Sand Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-timer-countdown-clock/id1205335548)

This app provides a visually engaging and intuitive way to track time with realistic sand flow animations. It's perfect for various activities like studying, workouts, or cooking, offering customizable themes and sound alerts to keep you on track.

**Highlights:** Realistic sand flow animation, Adjustable timer settings, Multiple timers management, Customizable themes, Sound alerts

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Best Sand Timer free?

Best Sand Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sand Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Best Sand Timer or Sand Timer?

Best Sand Timer is rated higher. Best Sand Timer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Sand Timer averages 3.8 from 150 ratings.

### Do Best Sand Timer or Sand Timer have ads?

Sand Timer shows ads; Best Sand Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Best Sand Timer or Sand Timer?

Best Sand Timer ships an update every 14 months, and Sand Timer every 8 months. Most recently, Best Sand Timer was updated on October 4, 2026 and Sand Timer on October 6, 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.*