Comparison

Hourglass vs Fill

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

Head to head
About

Hourglass

Features
Read full description

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

Fill

Features
Read full description

Fill-Timer isn't just a countdown it makes time something you can actually see. Start a timer and watch the hourglass slowly fill up. Seasonal particles drift across your screen. When time's up, a gentle chime brings you back. Simple. Intentional. Calming. Timer โ€ข Intuitive dial interface โ€” spin to set your time in seconds โ€ข Animated hourglass โ€” sand grains fall and pile up as time passes โ€ข Push notification when timer ends, even when the app is in the background โ€ข Multiple alert sounds to choose from Seasonal Themes โ€ข Spring: soft cherry blossom petals โ€ข Summer: clear raindrops sliding down โ€ข Autumn: drifting maple leaves and pumpkin season โ€ข Winter: pure white snowflakes Premium Themes Unlock exclusive themes including Candy Cane, Soccer, Carnation, Colour Ball and more. Go ad-free and make Fill-Timer your own personal time space. Life Clock Enter your birthday and see how many seasons you have left. Not to create anxiety โ€” but to remind you to savour them. Available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French and Spanish.

Screenshots

Hourglass2 screens
Fill4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hourglass at none against Fill's 3. Fill's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 4 days). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Fill sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Hourglass asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hourglass ships an update every 4 days, Fill daily. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Hourglass versus Fill: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHourglassFill
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysDaily โ€” better
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 โ€” better16.6
Further details โ€” not scored
Size33 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkenji abeCheng Hung Lo

In-app purchases

None

Hourglass

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Fill

One-time3
  • Remove Ads$1.99
  • Premium Scenes$1.99
  • Bundle Package$2.99

Questions

Is Hourglass free?
Hourglass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Fill free?
Fill is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hourglass or Fill have ads?
Hourglass shows ads; Fill does not.
Which is updated more often, Hourglass or Fill?
Hourglass ships an update every 4 days, and Fill daily. Most recently, Hourglass was updated on September 15, 2026 and Fill on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons