# Act Four vs Barista Espresso Timer

The clearest difference is price: Act Four at Free against Barista Espresso Timer's $0.99. Act Four also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Barista Espresso Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (daily vs every 8 days). On review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Act Four is free to download; Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99 up front. Act Four sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Barista Espresso Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Act Four ships an update every 8 days, Barista Espresso Timer daily. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Act Four | Barista Espresso Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-four/id6473959855/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **17** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AIV, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1693494613) | [Alexander Zimmermann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850545602) |

## What reviewers say

### Act Four

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-four/id6473959855)

Learn to brew perfect espresso with video guidance and taste analysis. The app tracks your brew automatically, helping you adjust your machine and recipe for your ideal cup. Designed for both beginners and experienced baristas.

**Highlights:** Video-guided brewing workflow, Speed and taste analysis, Machine and grinder adjustment guidance, Automatic recipe tracking, Hands-free operation, Brew Weight and Timing adjustments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| SwitchBot Integration | $19.99 | one-time |


### Barista Espresso Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barista-espresso-timer/id6792551264)

This app automatically times your espresso shots by listening to your grinder and espresso machine. It precisely measures the actual brewing time, ignoring brief noises, and allows you to set target times with visual and audio alerts. It also features auto-calibration for your kitchen environment.

**Highlights:** Automatic shot timing via sound detection, Separate timers for grinding and brewing, Precise 1/100th second measurement, Adjustable sensitivity and target times, Auto-calibration for kitchen environment, Apple Watch app for standalone use

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Act Four free?

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

### Is Barista Espresso Timer free?

Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Act Four or Barista Espresso Timer have ads?

Neither Act Four nor Barista Espresso Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Act Four or Barista Espresso Timer?

Act Four ships an update every 8 days, and Barista Espresso Timer daily. Most recently, Act Four was updated on October 9, 2026 and Barista Espresso 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.*