Comparison

Finger Timer vs AlarmChess

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

Head to head
About

Finger Timer

This app functions as a speedcubing and speedstacking timer, offering a simple and elegant interface. It allows users to time their solves, track statistics like averages, and even connect to a display device for shared viewing. The app offers both free and full versions with varying features and limitations.

Highlights
  • Speedcubing timer
  • Speedstacking timer
  • Automatic statistics tracking
  • Display connection
  • Scramble generation
  • Ao5 and Ao12 calculation
Features
Read full description

Finger Timer is a speedcubing/speedstacking timer in your pocket! It's a simple and elegant timer app that you must have! [HOW TO USE] 1. Put your fingers on the left and right pads, and hold. 2. When the red and green lights are both on, the timer is ready, and then you can release your fingers to start the timer. 3. When you want to stop the timer, put your fingers back on the left and right pads. 4. If you want to restart the timer, press "RESET" and do the steps 1 to 3. [DISPLAY CONNECTION] 1. Connect your Timer device (with this app) and Display device (any computer or mobile device with a web browser) to the same Wi-Fi network. (Sometimes Internet also works.) 2. In Timer device, tap the top-right icon, and check "Allow display connection" checkbox. 3. In Display device, enter the Timer address into the address bar of your browser, and then press "START". 4. Enjoy it! [Stats] When you using the timer, stats are generated automatically. The average time, Ao5 and Ao12 (full version only), are displaying the summary in the LED panel, and you can also get the details in About page. In About page, you can clear the stats or copy them to show off! Free version: > The maximum time is 10 minutes. > Display connection. (max 10 mins) > Scramble for only cube 2x2x2 and 3x3x3. > Showing Ao5 (average of 5) only. > With ads Full version: > The maximum time is 60 minutes. > Display connection. (max 60 mins) > Scramble for cube 2x2x2, 3x3x3, 4x4x4, and 5x5x5. > Showing both Ao5 (average of 5) and Ao12 (average of 12). > No ads, no distractions! Subscribe our YouTube channel to watch the latest cubing videos: https://youtube.com/omgcrafts Like us on Facebook for the latest news: https://facebook.com/omegastudiopage

About

AlarmChess

This alarm clock requires users to solve a chess puzzle to dismiss it, ensuring a mentally engaging start to the day. It offers customizable alarms, curated puzzles with adjustable difficulty, and hints to help users wake up alert and focused.

Highlights
  • Solve chess puzzles to dismiss alarm
  • Customizable alarm times and repeat days
  • Curated chess puzzles with adjustable difficulty
  • Hints available for stuck users
  • Intuitive and clean interface
  • Reliable notifications even when app is closed
Features
Read full description

Wake up your mind, not just your body. Chess Alarm is an alarm clock that requires solving a chess puzzle to dismiss. Start your day sharp and focused. How it works: Set your alarm time and repeat days When it goes off, a chess puzzle appears Solve the puzzle to dismiss the alarm Start your day mentally engaged Key Features: Smart alarm system — Set multiple alarms with custom times and repeat schedules Chess puzzles — Curated puzzles from real games, with difficulty levels from beginner to professional Progressive difficulty — Adjust puzzle difficulty to match your skill Hints — Get a hint after 10 seconds if you’re stuck Intuitive interface — Clean, easy-to-use design Reliable notifications — Alarms work even when the app is closed Multiple alarms — Manage different alarms for different days SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED After you complete the short setup questions, an active AlarmChess Premium subscription is required to set alarms and solve chess puzzles Why Chess Alarm? Traditional alarms can be dismissed while half-asleep. Chess Alarm requires active thinking, helping you wake up more alert and ready for the day. Perfect for: Chess players who want daily practice Anyone looking for a more engaging wake-up routine People who struggle to wake up fully Those who want to start the day with mental exercise Privacy & Security: Your alarm data is stored securely. We use Google Sign-In for authentication, and your information is kept private. Transform your morning routine. Download Chess Alarm and wake up your mind. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Finger Timer4 screens
AlarmChess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Finger Timer at 75% against AlarmChess's 33%. Finger Timer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). AlarmChess's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 16 months) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). On price 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. AlarmChess sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Finger Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AlarmChess holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Finger Timer has 347 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Finger Timer's written reviews are positive against 33% of AlarmChess's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Finger Timer ships an update every 16 months, AlarmChess weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Finger Timer versus AlarmChess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFinger TimerAlarmChess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (347 ratings)4.6 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings347 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYu-Mao FengMing Kang Siow

Customer experience

Finger Timer

All ratings347 ratings
Positive78.1%
Neutral6.6%
Negative15.3%
Written reviews228 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral6.1%
Negative18.4%

AlarmChess

All ratings17 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Finger Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Timer not stopping/resetting properly
  • Scrambles not displaying correctly
  • App crashing or freezing during use

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to save/view past times and averages
  • Expand to support more puzzle types (4x4, 5x5, etc.)
  • Improve timer responsiveness and reliability
  • Provide an ad-free paid version

AlarmChess

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Finger Timer

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

AlarmChess

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly subscription$12.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Finger Timer free?
Finger Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AlarmChess free?
AlarmChess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Finger Timer or AlarmChess?
AlarmChess is rated higher. Finger Timer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 347 ratings, while AlarmChess averages 4.6 from 17 ratings.
Do Finger Timer or AlarmChess have ads?
AlarmChess shows ads; Finger Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Finger Timer or AlarmChess?
Finger Timer ships an update every 16 months, and AlarmChess weekly. Most recently, Finger Timer was updated on October 19, 2026 and AlarmChess on October 9, 2026.

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