Sandy Timer vs Hourglass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sandy Timer
Simulates a real sand timer using your device's orientation. Simply flip your phone to start the countdown. Tap the screen to adjust timer settings.
- Realistic sand timer simulation
- Device orientation control
- Tap to change settings
- Simple and intuitive interface
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This a real sand timer app simulator. Gravity does its job... Just turn your device upside down to start the timer! Single tap the screen to change the timer options. Make sure to turn the device orientation lock Off... and turn it upside-down!
Hourglass
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This is an approximately 3-minute hourglass that uses physics simulation to recreate realistic movements. You can enjoy watching the grains of sand smoothly fall under natural gravity while keeping track of time. With a simple and intuitive design, it's an ideal tool for meditation or improving focus. When the gyroscope sensor is enabled, the movement of the sand adjusts in real-time according to the tilt of your device. Each session offers a different atmosphere, allowing you to relax and experience the comforting analog feel within a digital space.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hourglass at none against Sandy Timer's 1. Hourglass also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Sandy Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Sandy Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hourglass asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sandy Timer ships an update weekly, Hourglass every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sandy Timer | Hourglass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cesar Mejia Valero | kenji abe |
In-app purchases
Sandy Timer
- Pro$3.99
Hourglass
No in-app purchases
