Comparison

Hourglass vs Sablio

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
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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

Sablio

Features
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Sablio is an hourglass timer you set in the middle of the table. Everyone can see the sand. A turn that runs long, a fight that drags on, a timed round: one tap to pause, another to start again. Set 30 seconds, 1 minute, or any duration you want. For board-game nights and role-playing sessions. Also a kitchen timer, a focus timer, or just a pleasure to watch. The hourglass is alive: slow it down, speed it up, or reverse the flow (0.1ร— to 10ร—). Styles, materials, and your name on the base. 20 languages. No ads. Run up to 4 timers side by side, each with its own time and speed. More ways to show time: analog clock, flip counter, nixie tubes, candle, sundial, ice cube, marble run, and more. Free: the full hourglass with every style and content, and up to 4 timers at once. Each other counter type is $2.99 with all its styles and contents included, and can be tried for 1 minute. Or $9.99 to unlock everything for life (updates included).

Screenshots

Hourglass2 screens
Sablio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hourglass at none against Sablio's 10. Hourglass also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). Sablio's advantage is ads (none vs shown). 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. Sablio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Hourglass asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hourglass ships an update every 4 days, Sablio every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Hourglass versus Sablio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHourglassSablio
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days โ€” betterEvery 9 days
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS16.015.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size27 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkenji abeGIFTO

In-app purchases

None

Hourglass

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Sablio

One-time10
  • Dragon incense$1.49
  • Candle$1.49
  • Nixie$1.49
Show 7 more
  • Sundial$1.49
  • Orbit$1.49
  • Ghati$1.49
  • Pulpit glass$1.49
  • Marble run$1.49
  • Bloom$1.49
  • Analog clock$1.49

Questions

Is Hourglass free?
Hourglass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sablio free?
Sablio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hourglass or Sablio have ads?
Hourglass shows ads; Sablio does not.
Which is updated more often, Hourglass or Sablio?
Hourglass ships an update every 4 days, and Sablio every 9 days. Most recently, Hourglass was updated on November 4, 2026 and Sablio on October 31, 2026.

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