Comparison

Laboratory Timer vs StartWatch

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

Head to head
About

Laboratory Timer

Manage multiple countdown timers simultaneously for scientific experiments. This app features a user-friendly interface, the ability to save presets, and notifications when alarms sound. It also offers Apple Watch integration for real-time visualization and alerts.

Highlights
  • Run multiple timers concurrently
  • Save preset timers with names
  • Pause and resume timers
  • Receive alarm notifications
  • Apple Watch real-time visualization
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

Laboratory Timer is an easy-to-use countdown timer designed to run multiple alarm timers for laboratory at once. With Laboratory Timer’s gorgeous interface and user friendly navigation, it has never been easier to manage scientific experiments. You can also use your Apple Watch to visualize all your timers in real-time, and get notifications on your wrist. To use the Laboratory Timer app just pull down to add a new timer, set the duration and press “Play”. Key Features: • Add and run as many timers as you need • Save preset timers with name and duration • Pause and resume timers • Receive a notification when the alarms go off Learn more about shazino at www.shazino.com Follow us on Twitter @shazino

About

StartWatch

This app allows you to start a stopwatch instantly and then convert it into a timer. You can run multiple timers and stopwatches simultaneously, with options to customize display and track past events. It offers advanced features like markers and live activities for efficient time management.

Highlights
  • Instant stopwatch start
  • Convert stopwatch to timer
  • Run multiple timers/stopwatches
  • Customize display units
  • History and undo functionality
  • Markers for elapsed time
  • Live Activities with Dynamic Island
Features
Read full description

Start the stopwatch instantly, then turn it into a timer. Most timers are inaccurate because it takes 5 to 30 seconds to set the timer while time slips away. With StartWatch, you start the timer like a stopwatch, then you can take as much time as you need to set the alarm. Features Include: Run multiple stopwatches and timers. Convert a stopwatch to a timer and back to a stopwatch. Stopwatch continues to count after the timer is finished. Set a timer based on the time the stopwatch began, or the current time. Change a timer without losing the start time. Customize how the StartWatch is displayed. For example you can choose to show in weeks, days, or years. History - Undo an accidentally stopped StartWatch or change the start time of any event. Markers - Mark a moment in time on a running StartWatch. View how much time has elapsed from the previous Marker. Icon Badges - View how many StartWatches are running at a glance. Live Activities with support for Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro Watch Features: Complications for timers and stopwatches. Run timers and stopwatches in the background.

Screenshots

Laboratory Timer2 screens
StartWatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: StartWatch at every 6 days against Laboratory Timer's every 3 months. Laboratory Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Laboratory Timer against 4.7 for StartWatch. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 49 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Laboratory Timer's written reviews are positive against 86% of StartWatch's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Laboratory Timer ships an update every 3 months, StartWatch every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Laboratory Timer versus StartWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLaboratory TimerStartWatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (47 ratings)4.7 (49 ratings)
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews — better85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4749 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro
Requires iOS8.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DevelopershazinoApostol & Hall

Customer experience

Laboratory Timer

All ratings47 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%

StartWatch

All ratings49 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

Laboratory Timer

No in-app purchases

None

StartWatch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Laboratory Timer free?
Laboratory Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is StartWatch free?
StartWatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Laboratory Timer or StartWatch?
Laboratory Timer and StartWatch are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 47 and 49 ratings respectively.
Do Laboratory Timer or StartWatch have ads?
Neither Laboratory Timer nor StartWatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Laboratory Timer or StartWatch?
Laboratory Timer ships an update every 3 months, and StartWatch every 6 days. Most recently, Laboratory Timer was updated on October 2, 2026 and StartWatch on October 12, 2026.

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