# Best Sand Timer vs Disco Timer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Disco Timer at 89% against Best Sand Timer's 46%. Disco Timer also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 14 months). Best Sand Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Disco Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Best Sand Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Disco Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Disco Timer has 97 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 89% of Disco Timer's.

Best Sand Timer ships an update every 14 months, Disco Timer every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Best Sand Timer | Disco Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-sand-timer/id501940934/reviews) | **[4.7 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disco-timer-visual-countdown/id986510052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **97** |
| Positive reviews | 45.6% of reviews | **89.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serhii Simkovskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/959904647) | [Codulis](https://appshunter.io/developer/335542761) |

## 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


### Disco Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disco-timer-visual-countdown/id986510052)

This app provides a visually intuitive countdown timer for various tasks, from cooking to presentations. Its unique rotary gesture for setting time and large display make it easy to use and read from a distance. Customize alerts and colors for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Rotary gesture time setting, Large, high-contrast display, Glanceable from a distance, Disable auto-lock option, Customizable color combinations (Premium), Variety of exclusive alert tones

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disco Timer Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Best Sand Timer free?

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

### Is Disco Timer free?

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

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

Disco Timer is rated higher. Best Sand Timer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Disco Timer averages 4.7 from 97 ratings.

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

Neither Best Sand Timer nor Disco Timer shows ads.

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

Best Sand Timer ships an update every 14 months, and Disco Timer every 5 months. Most recently, Best Sand Timer was updated on October 4, 2026 and Disco Timer on October 7, 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.*