Comparison

While vs Anka

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

Head to head
About

While

This app provides a focused and distraction-free timer for experienced meditators. It offers a clean interface with customizable features to support your meditation sessions.

Highlights
  • Focused meditation timer
  • Clean interface
  • Customizable features
  • Distraction-free sessions
  • For experienced meditators
Features
Read full description

The While timer is designed for experienced meditators who are seeking a focused tool for their practice. Offering a clean interface and customizable features, While supports your sessions without distractions.

About

Anka

Features
Read full description

Anka is a professional interval and boxing timer built for high-intensity training. It delivers second-perfect timing for HIIT, Tabata, EMOM and boxing rounds, so you can focus on the work instead of your phone — guided by voice cues and vibration. WORKOUT TYPES • HIIT — Set work and rest periods exactly how you want them • Tabata — The classic 20 seconds work / 10 seconds rest protocol • EMOM — Every Minute on the Minute • Boxing — Ring timing with adjustable round and break lengths READY-MADE TEMPLATES Start with one tap. Tabata Classic, Classic HIIT, EMOM 10 and Boxing Round are included. Search templates by name or category and turn any of them into your own editable workout instantly. BUILD YOUR OWN WORKOUT Control every detail with the visual workout builder: • Work and rest durations • Round and set counts • Rest between sets • Optional warm-up and cool-down phases A live structure preview and total duration let you see the whole session before you save it. VOICE AND VIBRATION FEEDBACK • Voice guidance — Hear every phase change in English or Turkish (Warm-up, Work, Rest, Set Break, Cool-down) • Countdown beeps — Never miss the final seconds • Vibration — Feel phase changes and the finish • Start and pause feedback — Hear and feel every button press Keep your eyes off the screen and your head in the workout. RUNS IN THE BACKGROUND The timer keeps running while your screen is locked and plays cues over your own music. Even if you leave the app, every phase change and the finish reach you as a notification. There is also a keep-screen-on option for the whole session. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • Current streak and record streak • Weekly training chart with minutes per day • Recent workout history: duration, estimated calories and time of day All of your data stays local on your device — no account required. FEATURES • Four workout types: HIIT, Tabata, EMOM, Boxing • Unlimited custom workouts you can create and edit • Ready-made interval templates with search • Voice guidance, countdown beeps and vibration • Background operation with notifications while locked • Keep-screen-on option • Streaks, weekly stats and workout history • English and Turkish language support • No account needed, data stays on device • Clean, distraction-free dark theme Make every second count with Anka. CrossFit, boxing or HIIT at home — the interval timer your training deserves.

Screenshots

While3 screens
Anka4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Anka at none against While's 3. Anka also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 16 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. While sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. Anka asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

While ships an update every 16 months, Anka daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
While versus Anka: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhileAnka
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMike LaVigneKadir BARC IN

In-app purchases

3 purchases

While

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$2.001 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$10.001 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$3.99
None

Anka

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is While free?
While is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Anka free?
Anka is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do While or Anka have ads?
Neither While nor Anka shows ads.
Which is updated more often, While or Anka?
While ships an update every 16 months, and Anka daily. Most recently, While was updated on October 30, 2026 and Anka on October 25, 2026.

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