Comparison

Hourglass vs Minimal Hourglass

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

Head to head
About

Hourglass

Features
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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.

About

Minimal Hourglass

Features
Read full description

Minimal Hourglass is a simple and elegant visual timer app designed to help you stay focused without distractions. Watch time flow naturally with a beautifully animated hourglass timer that makes it easier to stay calm, centered, and productive. Whether you’re meditating, studying, cooking, or managing your child’s screen time, this sand timer provides a soothing and effective way to track time visually β€” without numbers or loud alarms. Key Features: β€’ Minimalist hourglass animation with flowing sand β€’ Multiple sand color options to match your mood or focus β€’ Custom timer durations – set minutes and seconds freely β€’ Elegant circular progress indicator β€’ Simple one-tap start, pause, and reset controls β€’ No internet required – works fully offline

Screenshots

Hourglass2 screens
Minimal Hourglass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hourglass at every 4 days against Minimal Hourglass's every 2 months. Minimal Hourglass's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hourglass ships an update every 4 days, Minimal Hourglass every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Hourglass versus Minimal Hourglass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHourglassMinimal Hourglass
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days β€” betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS16.013.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size33 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkenji abeSeulki Eom

In-app purchases

None

Hourglass

No in-app purchases

None

Minimal Hourglass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hourglass free?
Hourglass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Minimal Hourglass free?
Minimal Hourglass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hourglass or Minimal Hourglass have ads?
Both Hourglass and Minimal Hourglass show ads.
Which is updated more often, Hourglass or Minimal Hourglass?
Hourglass ships an update every 4 days, and Minimal Hourglass every 2 months. Most recently, Hourglass was updated on September 15, 2026 and Minimal Hourglass on September 6, 2026.

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