Comparison

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer vs Pacer Fitness

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

Head to head
About

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer

This interval training app automates your exercise, rest, and cooldown periods for various workouts like Tabata, HIIT, and sprints. It offers customizable intervals, voice guidance, and music integration to enhance focus and workout efficiency. Track your progress with Apple Health integration.

Highlights
  • Automated exercise and rest intervals
  • Customizable workout presets
  • Voice and beep guidance
  • Music integration
  • Apple Health support
  • Color-coded display
Features
Read full description

Tabata Stopwatch Pro is the ultimate Tabata Interval Timer that works for 'all' your interval training needs. You can use it with Tabata, HIIT, kettlebells, bodyweight exercises, interval running, sprints, etc. Tabata Stopwatch Pro is a universal (both iPhone and iPad) feature packed interval timer for people who follow the Tabata training method. The main thing the Tabata app will aid you with is automating your exercise, rest, cooldown and other intervals. As simple as this sounds, it has a profound effect on your workout. You will be able to concentrate much better, won’t have to constantly count and honestly the whole workout just goes by faster. Try it with your Tabata, HIIT, kettlebells, bodyweight exercises, interval running, sprints, and other workouts. Designed with both beginners and advanced users in mind Tabata Stopwatch Pro comes ready to use with basic Tabata already set up for you. As you gain more experience you can customize all intervals to match your pace. You may even create and store your own interval presets to quickly change to different workouts. The app is loaded with beeps that help identify what part of a workout you are in, interval beeps for example tell you when a new interval has started. Tabata Stopwatch Pro also has voice support that announces intervals to further help you focus on your workout. Oh and what would an exercise app be without music, select your favorite tracks and enjoy that workout. The Apple Health app is supported and the Tabata app will write your workout times, calorie burned estimates and heart rates (needs a heart rate monitor and Pro purchase) after each workout. By far the best app for Tabata training available for your iPhone and iPad, this Tabata Timer app is well over a decade old with millions of downloads worldwide. Try out TSP you might really like it. Doesn't Include: - The free version limits the number of workouts every 7 days. - Self support with FAQs available on the help page linked below. Includes: + Pro grade Tabata timer. + Ready to use out of the box. Classic Tabata already set up for you. + Simple to use, just push play. + Works on both iPhone and iPad. + Comes with 2 beautiful themes. + Color coded display visible from afar. Colors represent the amount of energy you are using in an interval. + Customize initial countdown and warmup time. + Customize exercise, rest, recovery and cooldown intervals. + Adjust the number of sets and cycles to match your pace. + Jump between intervals in the middle of a workout as needed. + Build presets to support your multiple interval training needs (Pro purchase needed). + Pause your workouts if needed. + Works with the screen locked and in your pocket. + Interval beeps for each individual interval. Need a separate beep to mark when it's time to rest, no problem. + Interval vibration. + Continuous beeps. + Three second beeps. + Halfway beeps. + Voice assist so that you focus on your workout and not the screen. + Workout to music from your iPod. + Set music to pause to hear beeps and voice assist clearly. + Shuffle tracks or albums to suit your taste and workout. + Apple Health support. Pro Features Subscription: Some features of the app require a paid Pro Features In App Subscription. These include unlimited number of workouts, no ads, access to announcement settings, the ability to use chest strap heart rate monitors and more sounds. Learn more about these by clicking on the GET PRO button in the app settings on the top right. Health Disclaimer: Exercising can be extremely stressful for the body, please consult your doctor, trainer or coach before using this app. This app does not aim to teach, coach or guide you with fitness, exercises or working out. It is a utility for people (adults only) who already know what they are doing and why. Further, calculations for workout times, calories burned and heart rates when working out are only approximations and should not be used for any medical purposes.

About

Pacer Fitness

This app provides a beautiful and intuitive interval timer to help you maximize your workouts. Easily create, customize, and share timers with friends, and enjoy seamless music integration. It's designed to help you reach your fitness goals faster.

Highlights
  • Intuitive interval timer visualization
  • Easy timer creation and customization
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Timer sharing with friends
  • Autostart workout feature
  • Seamless music integration
  • Featured workouts for beginners
Features
Read full description

REACH YOUR FITNESS GOALS FASTER WITH PACER Using an interval timer is the best way to get the most out of your fitness time. Whether training for a sport or working toward specific fitness goals, interval training is a proven method to help you achieve your goals. TIMER SCREEN IS BEAUTIFUL & INTUITIVE Timer visualization displays the entire timeline of your workout with color-coded interval bars that transition from right to left as you exercise. Timer screen works seamlessly in portrait and landscape. CREATING TIMERS IS EASY AND FUN Intuitive gesture controls empower you to make and share timers in mere seconds, not fumbling through multiple screens. Swipe up and down to change duration. Tap and swipe up and down to increase or decrease intensity. You can name each interval to match your exercise. Apple Watch® Support • Timers are automatically synced from your phone to your watch any time you create, edit, re-order or delete timers from your iPhone® • Watch settings are just a swipe away. Swipe right from any open timer to access settings. • Integration with Health and Activity (see "Sync with Health" from settings on the watch app) • Full interval alert options with haptics & sound options including: Melodic, Arcade, US English (female) & US English (male) SHARE TIMERS WITH FRIENDS Pacer supports deep linking and timer sharing. Open a timer and tap share to send to a friend via AirDrop®, your favorite messaging app or share with your followers on social media. Recipients with Pacer will be able to open and save your timers to their devices. AUTOSTART Pacer knows when you are holding your phone and when you set it down. With Autostart enabled, once you open a timer just set it down to start it. Pick it up again to pause. Visit Settings in the app to enable Autostart. SEAMLESS MUSIC INTEGRATION Play music from your favorite music app with no interruptions. Pacer will play audio cues over your music and you can even adjust the volume independent of your music volume. No matter what music you’re listening to, the audio cues won’t be too loud or too quiet. FEATURED WORKOUTS HELP YOU GET STARTED If you’re new to interval training, check out our featured workouts. Pacer can be used for many different fitness disciplines, so take a peek at what the pros are doing. SWIPE TO DELETE - On Timers screen, swipe left on any timer to expose share, edit and delete REORDER TIMERS - Long press a timer and then drag-and-drop to customize timer position Pacer is created and maintained with the help of a NASM™ certified personal trainer.

Screenshots

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer4 screens
Pacer Fitness4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Pacer Fitness at none against Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer's shown. Pacer Fitness also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer's advantage is ratings volume (74K vs 306) and review sentiment (80% vs 60%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and Pacer Fitness sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer against 4.7 for Pacer Fitness. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer has 74K ratings behind it against 306, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer's written reviews are positive against 60% of Pacer Fitness's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Pacer Fitness every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer versus Pacer Fitness: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTabata Timer and HIIT TimerPacer Fitness
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (74K ratings) — better4.7 (306 ratings)
Positive reviews79.6% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings74K — better306
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB132 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperAnuj SethBright Mediums

Customer experience

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer

All ratings73,691 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral2.0%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews680 reviews
Positive79.6%
Neutral4.4%
Negative16.0%

Pacer Fitness

All ratings306 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral15.3%
Negative24.7%

User reviews

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer

From 74K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Versatile and customizable
  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 🎨 Helpful voice prompts and audio cues
  • 💪 Effective for HIIT and circuit training
  • 🎶 Ability to play music during workouts

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Limited free version with restrictions
  • 🐛 Inconsistent behavior when pausing/resuming
  • 🔍 Lack of visual indicators for exercise progress
  • 🔊 Loud audio alerts that can't be adjusted
  • 🔁 Inability to edit saved workout presets

Pacer Fitness

From 306 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
  • 🎨 Beautiful, clean, and visually appealing design
  • ⚙️ Highly customizable timer configurations
  • 🔊 Satisfying and audible sound notifications
  • 💾 Ability to save and reuse custom timers

Room to improve

  • 💰 Misleading free-to-premium pricing model
  • 🔐 Privacy concerns with Apple Health data syncing
  • 🐛 App crashes when screen is locked
  • 🐛 App stops when switching to other apps
  • 📢 Excessive and intrusive advertisements

Bugs and requests

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App freezing or crashing on some devices
  • Purchased pro version not restoring properly
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to label and customize individual intervals
  • Option to create more complex interval sequences
  • Integration with wearable devices and fitness trackers
  • Customizable audio alerts and voice prompts
  • Improved workout history and progress tracking

Pacer Fitness

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Intervals beyond the 8th one don't execute
  • Example workout has broken intervals
  • Apple Health sync toggle resets automatically
  • Timer stops when phone screen is locked
  • Timer stops when switching between apps
Show 5 more
  • App crashes during workout execution
  • Sound doesn't play over background music
  • App demands rating and stops timer without warning
  • Frequent crashing on startup (older versions)
  • Unable to purchase ad-free version

Requested features

10 requests
  • Auto-play functionality for continuous workouts
  • Apple Watch app support
  • GPS tracking for running workouts
  • Adjustable countdown time (longer than 3 seconds)
  • Ability to combine multiple timers in one workout
Show 5 more
  • Daily workout history instead of combined totals
  • Music control integration within the app
  • More pre-built workout templates (battle ropes, etc.)
  • Longer maximum timer duration (beyond 10 minutes)
  • Ability to run app with screen locked and other apps open

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Features Subscription$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Features$19.99
1 purchases

Pacer Fitness

One-time1
  • Unlock Pacer Plus$4.99

Questions

Is Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer free?
Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pacer Fitness free?
Pacer Fitness is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer or Pacer Fitness?
Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer is rated higher. Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 74K ratings, while Pacer Fitness averages 4.7 from 306 ratings.
Do Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer or Pacer Fitness have ads?
Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer shows ads; Pacer Fitness does not.
Which is updated more often, Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer or Pacer Fitness?
Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pacer Fitness every 9 days. Most recently, Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer was updated on October 30, 2026 and Pacer Fitness on October 21, 2026.

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