Comparison

Sandy Timer vs Hourglass The Sand Timer

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Realistic sand timer simulation
  • Device orientation control
  • Tap to change settings
  • Simple and intuitive interface
Features
Read full description

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!

About

Hourglass The Sand Timer

Features
Read full description

Watch real falling sand count your time. Hourglass simulates thousands of grains, and every grain is metered by the clock - the top bulb runs empty at the exact moment your timer ends, for any duration from 5 seconds to 24 hours. Hold it like the real thing. Gravity mode is on from the first launch: tilt your phone and the piles lean, slip and avalanche exactly like real sand - while the timer stays perfectly on time at any angle. • Gravity mode: tilt your phone and the sand leans and avalanches like the real thing • Beautiful glass hourglass with seven sand themes • No buttons needed: turn your phone over to start the glass, and turn it over again when it runs out - just like the real thing • Alarm-grade alerts, even after a reboot • Zen mode: hide the digits, let the sand tell the time • Timers library: save the durations you use most and build multi-phase sequences like Pomodoro or interval workouts that advance on their own • Works offline, no account needed - your timers and settings stay on your device. • Free with a small banner ad. One purchase removes it forever and unlocks every sand color.

Screenshots

Sandy Timer4 screens
Hourglass The Sand Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hourglass The Sand Timer at none against Sandy Timer's 1. Hourglass The Sand Timer also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Sandy Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price 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. Sandy Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hourglass The Sand Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sandy Timer ships an update weekly, Hourglass The Sand Timer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sandy Timer versus Hourglass The Sand Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSandy TimerHourglass The Sand Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCesar Mejia ValeroMichal Dobrzanski

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sandy Timer

One-time1
  • Pro$3.99
None

Hourglass The Sand Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sandy Timer free?
Sandy Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hourglass The Sand Timer free?
Hourglass The Sand Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sandy Timer or Hourglass The Sand Timer have ads?
Hourglass The Sand Timer shows ads; Sandy Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Sandy Timer or Hourglass The Sand Timer?
Sandy Timer ships an update weekly, and Hourglass The Sand Timer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sandy Timer was updated on September 29, 2026 and Hourglass The Sand Timer on October 11, 2026.

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