Comparison

Hourglass vs GameTimer For BoardGames

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

Head to head
About

Hourglass

A visual timer app that uses falling sand to help you track time peacefully. Ideal for focus sessions, meditation, or any activity where a calm sense of time passing is desired. Offers customizable colors and time visibility with a Pro upgrade.

Highlights
  • Visual falling sand timer
  • Customizable timer durations
  • Relaxing sand animation
  • Timer completion notifications
  • Restart recent timers
  • Customizable colors (Pro)
  • Toggle time visibility (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Watch the sand fall and enjoy a calmer way to keep track of time. Hourglass is a simple visual timer that lets you enjoy the gentle motion of falling sand while counting down your time. Use it for studying, focused work, reading, breaks, meditation, or any moment when you want time to feel a little more peaceful. Unlike an ordinary digital timer, Hourglass gives you a visual sense of time passing as the sand slowly falls. Perfect for: • Studying and focus sessions • Work and productivity • Reading and hobbies • Pomodoro sessions • Meditation and quiet time • Relaxing breaks Features: • Set any timer duration you like • Relaxing falling-sand animation • Quickly restart recently used timer durations • Notifications when the timer finishes • Customize sand and background colors with Pro • Show or hide the remaining time with Pro Whether you're studying, working, meditating, or taking a break, Hourglass gives you a simple and calming way to experience time. standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

GameTimer For BoardGames

This utility app helps manage board game sessions with up to eight players. Customize player profiles with names and icons, and save game settings for quick restarts. It's designed for a seamless board game experience.

Highlights
  • Supports up to 8 players
  • Customizable player names and icons
  • Handicap settings
  • Game save and reset function
  • Compatible with various board games
Features
Read full description

This is a game timer app that is perfect for board games. 【Features】 - Set up to 8 players. Compatible with various board games. - You can make detailed settings such as name, icon, and handicap settings in player settings. - Equipped with game save function. You can start various games by resetting the game settings.

Screenshots

Hourglass3 screens
GameTimer For BoardGames4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GameTimer For BoardGames at 100% against Hourglass's 30%. GameTimer For BoardGames also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Hourglass's advantage is ratings volume (255 vs 8). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Hourglass sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. GameTimer For BoardGames asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GameTimer For BoardGames holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hourglass has 255 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Hourglass's written reviews are positive against 100% of GameTimer For BoardGames's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hourglass ships an update weekly, GameTimer For BoardGames every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hourglass versus GameTimer For BoardGames: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHourglassGameTimer For BoardGames
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (255 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings255 — better8
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFocaccia, Inc.Takahiro Yoshii

Customer experience

Hourglass

All ratings254 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative50.0%

GameTimer For BoardGames

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Hourglass

Subscriptions1
  • Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Hourglass Timer Pro$4.99
None

GameTimer For BoardGames

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hourglass free?
Hourglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GameTimer For BoardGames free?
GameTimer For BoardGames is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hourglass or GameTimer For BoardGames?
GameTimer For BoardGames is rated higher. Hourglass averages 4.5 out of 5 from 255 ratings, while GameTimer For BoardGames averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do Hourglass or GameTimer For BoardGames have ads?
Both Hourglass and GameTimer For BoardGames show ads.
Which is updated more often, Hourglass or GameTimer For BoardGames?
Hourglass ships an update weekly, and GameTimer For BoardGames every 2 weeks. Most recently, Hourglass was updated on November 3, 2026 and GameTimer For BoardGames on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons