# Chime Squirrel vs Timer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chime Squirrel at 68% against Timer's 20%. Chime Squirrel also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chime Squirrel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 94 and 442 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Chime Squirrel's written reviews are positive against 20% of Timer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Chime Squirrel ships an update monthly, Timer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chime Squirrel | Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (94 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-squirrel/id556415124/reviews) | **[4.4 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer-minimal-timer/id1661418622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 94 | **442** |
| Positive reviews | **67.9% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 8 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.2** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luke Ryan, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/556415127) | [Studio 1J, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639917300) |

## What reviewers say

### Chime Squirrel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-squirrel/id556415124)

This app helps you stay productive by setting customizable recurring chimes for repetitive tasks, exercise routines, or study sessions. It runs in the background, providing timely audio reminders without requiring manual dismissal. Optimize your daily workflow with flexible interval settings and a user-friendly interface.

**Highlights:** Variable interval chimes, Quick chime setup, Multiple chime sounds, Light and dark themes, Runs in the background, Repeating interval sequences

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade To Pro | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective
- 👍 Great for repeating timers
- 👍 Useful for exercise reminders
- 👍 Perfect for meditation prompts
- 👍 Reliable for study sessions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not work in background
- 🐛 Last update erased data
- 🐛 Stops working when app is not on screen
- 🐛 Poor interface for some users
- 🐛 Quiet sounds for some users

**Reported bugs**

- App stops working when in background
- Interval data lost after update
- Timer resets to start when app is not on screen
- App behaves erratically
- Edit page does not change settings

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch compatibility
- Ability to set different intervals within a timer
- Siri integration for speaking chime titles
- Option to have notifications announce chime start instead of finish
- More subtle and longer chime sounds (like a gong)


### Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer-minimal-timer/id1661418622)

This app offers a simple and intuitive way to manage your time for various activities. Set custom timers, utilize quick presets, and adjust alarm volumes to suit your needs. Stay on track with home screen widgets and an optional ambient ticking sound.

**Highlights:** Easy timer setting, Customizable presets, Adjustable alarm volume, Ambient ticking sound option, Home screen widgets, Flexible subscription options

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minimal Timer+ | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Minimal Timer+ | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Minimal Timer+ | $79.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimal and simple design
- 👍 Great for meditation timers
- 👍 Custom volume feature
- 👍 Sleek and wonderful app
- 👍 Imposes discipline for time monitoring

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Extremely high weekly subscription cost
- 💸 Unfair trial requiring subscription
- 💸 Predatory pricing model
- 💸 No free version for basic use
- 💸 App is too expensive

**Reported bugs**

- App swirls for over a minute before loading
- No widgets found after paying for subscription
- Unable to get past the first screen without subscribing

**Requested features**

- Allow limited access to try before subscribing
- Add an option to control the timer from the widget
- Add shortcuts support for setting and naming timers
- Add a 24-hour timer option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chime Squirrel free?

Chime Squirrel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chime Squirrel or Timer?

Timer is rated higher. Chime Squirrel averages 4.0 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Timer averages 4.4 from 442 ratings.

### Do Chime Squirrel or Timer have ads?

Neither Chime Squirrel nor Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chime Squirrel or Timer?

Chime Squirrel ships an update monthly, and Timer every 4 days. Most recently, Chime Squirrel was updated on October 15, 2026 and Timer on October 8, 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.*