# Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) vs Kern

The clearest difference is price: Kern at Free against Time’s Up! Timer (VPP)'s $5.99. Kern also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Time’s Up! Timer (VPP)'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and device support (5 vs 1). On review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Kern is free to download; Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) costs $5.99 up front. Kern sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) asks for nothing beyond the download.

Kern holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) ships an update monthly, Kern every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) | Kern |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/times-up-timer-vpp/id6737355403/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kern-remember-what-you-read/id6777347570/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 60 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Overdesigned, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/914665832) | [Quantum IT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650178784) |

## What reviewers say

### Time’s Up! Timer (VPP)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/times-up-timer-vpp/id6737355403)

This app offers a visually engaging countdown timer designed for various uses, from managing work breaks and children's activities to focusing on tasks. It features unique visual styles that reveal or pixelate photos as time elapses, making time management more interactive and fun.

**Highlights:** Visual countdown timer, Photo reveal and pixelate styles, Customizable alert sounds and colors, iCloud timer synchronization, Live Activities support, Guided Access for kids, AirPlay and tvOS support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Kern

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kern-remember-what-you-read/id6777347570)

This app helps you retain knowledge from books you've read by creating interactive flashcards. It uses spaced repetition to resurface information as it begins to fade, supporting both fiction and non-fiction content. Review your library offline and see an honest picture of what you remember.

**Highlights:** Spaced repetition flashcards, Supports fiction and non-fiction, Offline review capability, Interactive cards, No account required, Book fading visualization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kern Plus (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Kern Plus (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlock One Book | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) free?

Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Kern free?

Kern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) or Kern?

Kern is rated higher. Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Kern averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) or Kern have ads?

Neither Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) nor Kern shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) or Kern?

Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) ships an update monthly, and Kern every 3 weeks. Most recently, Time’s Up! Timer (VPP) was updated on November 4, 2026 and Kern on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*