# Timer! vs StartWatch

The clearest difference is update cadence: StartWatch at every 3 weeks against Timer!'s every 13 months. StartWatch also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (86% vs 62%). Timer!'s advantage is ratings volume (455 vs 49) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

StartWatch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Timer! has 455 ratings behind it against 49, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Timer!'s written reviews are positive against 86% of StartWatch's.

Timer! ships an update every 13 months, StartWatch every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Timer! | StartWatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (455 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer/id616033718/reviews) | **[4.7 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startwatch-instant-timers/id1537732824/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **455** | 49 |
| Positive reviews | 61.8% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 53 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DROXIC OOD](https://appshunter.io/developer/595303748) | [Apostol & Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/320592318) |

## What reviewers say

### Timer!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timer/id616033718)

Manage your time effectively with this versatile app. Set multiple countdowns, create sub-timers, and organize tasks. It functions as a reminder, task manager, to-do list, and alarm, helping you optimize workouts and daily routines.

**Highlights:** Multiple countdown timers, Sub-timer creation, Parallel timer mode, Save timers for future use, Workout timer, Task management, Apple Watch support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- ⏱️ Flexible multi-timer with sub-tasks functionality
- 🎨 Clean, professional design and visual appeal
- ⌚ Apple Watch integration and support
- 🔊 Multiple pleasant alarm sound options

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⌚ Apple Watch functionality is unreliable and limited
- 🔊 Alarm sounds are too brief and easily missed
- 📱 App doesn't work reliably in background
- 🐛 Inconsistent notification delivery
- 😤 Aggressive ad removal prompts

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Watch app doesn't display play/start buttons
- Timers don't sync properly to Apple Watch
- Watch app keeps loading and never starts
- Sound alerts fail to trigger on timer completion
- App sometimes starts then stops without user interaction

**Requested features**

- Live activity functionality for iOS
- Apple Watch complications support
- Color-coding for timer categorization
- Timer repetition/looping capability
- Folder or group organization system


### StartWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startwatch-instant-timers/id1537732824)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Timer! free?

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, Timer! or StartWatch?

StartWatch is rated higher. Timer! averages 4.5 out of 5 from 455 ratings, while StartWatch averages 4.7 from 49 ratings.

### Do Timer! or StartWatch have ads?

Neither Timer! nor StartWatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Timer! or StartWatch?

Timer! ships an update every 13 months, and StartWatch every 3 weeks. Most recently, Timer! was updated on November 1, 2026 and StartWatch on November 3, 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.*