# Timely­ vs Instead

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Timely­ at 94% against Instead's 0%. Timely­ also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Instead's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Timely­ sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Instead sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Timely­ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Timely­ has 26 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Timely­'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Instead's.

Timely­ ships an update every 4 days, Instead every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Timely­ | Instead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timely/id6478568044/reviews)** | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instead-things-to-do/id6774246848/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **26** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **93.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 14 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Krishna Aluru](https://appshunter.io/developer/912597489) | [Sarthak Jain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868060371) |

## What reviewers say

### Timely­

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timely/id6478568044)

This app ensures you're never late for your appointments by providing timely call reminders. It seamlessly integrates with your calendar, allowing for customizable notification settings and prioritizing user privacy with advanced security measures.

**Highlights:** Call reminders for meetings, Google Calendar integration, Customizable reminder settings, Privacy and security features, Never miss an appointment

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Timely Pro Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| Timely Pro Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Timely Pro Monthly Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Timely Pro Yearly Plan | $69.99 | per year |
| Timely Pro Yearly Plan | $99.99 | per year |
| Timely Pro Yearly Plan | $119.99 | per year |


### Instead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instead-things-to-do/id6774246848)

This app offers a curated menu of real-life activities to help you break the habit of excessive scrolling. It suggests small, engaging tasks based on your available time and mood, promoting mindfulness and intentional downtime.

**Highlights:** Personalized activity suggestions, Time-based activity filtering, Mood-based activity filtering, Customizable activity menu, Streak tracking, Weekly statistics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instead Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Instead Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Timely­ free?

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

### Is Instead free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Timely­ or Instead?

Timely­ is rated higher. Timely­ averages 4.8 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Instead averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Timely­ or Instead have ads?

Timely­ shows ads; Instead does not.

### Which is updated more often, Timely­ or Instead?

Timely­ ships an update every 4 days, and Instead every 11 days. Most recently, Timely­ was updated on October 1, 2026 and Instead on October 7, 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.*