Comparison

Gym Rest Timer vs Ares

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

Head to head
About

Gym Rest Timer

Features
Read full description

The simple, powerful timer made for weightlifters, HIIT, and gym training. Gym Rest Timer is your no-fuss workout timer - built for strength training, HIIT, sets, circuits, and even yoga or Tabata. Whether you’re lifting heavy or doing interval workouts, this app helps you rest the right amount and stay on track. Made for Weights, Sets, and Circuits • Quick-start buttons for 30, 60, 90, or 180 seconds • Easy-to-edit custom times to match any routine • Perfect for progressive overload, supersets, and timed rest between sets Clean, Focused Interface • Visual countdown with haptic feedback • Set counter to track your progress • Optional screen-on mode to keep timer visible Custom Alerts & Smart Notifications • Vibration or sound alert when rest ends • Works even while using other apps • Fully customizable notification settings Simple, Effective, Reliable No complicated features. Just a smooth gym timer that works exactly how you need it to. Whether you’re training for strength, endurance, or recovery, this timer helps you stay focused, efficient, and consistent. Download now and upgrade your gym sessions. Privacy Policy: https://ninetysixsoftware.co.uk/simple-gym-rest-timer-privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

About

Ares

This app provides a customizable interval timer for various workouts like HIIT, Tabata, yoga, and stretching. It features real-time heart rate zone tracking with Apple Watch integration and allows users to create and save unlimited training sessions and workout sets. Voice cues guide users through workouts, ensuring focus remains on exercise.

Highlights
  • Customizable interval timer
  • HIIT, Tabata, Yoga, Stretch modes
  • Apple Watch control and heart rate zones
  • Unlimited training session saving
  • Workout set creation
  • Voice and sound cues
  • Training history tracking
Features
Read full description

An interval timer that does the counting for you. Set rounds, work and rest in seconds, and Ares guides you by voice through the whole workout: HIIT, Tabata, EMOM, AMRAP, circuits, yoga, stretching and mobility. Heart rate from Apple Watch or earbuds, your workout on the Lock Screen, no ads. INTERVAL TIMER • Work time, rest time and number of rounds, down to the second • Left/Right mode times each side for you. Perfect for stretching, yoga and exercises done one side at a time • Countdown before you start, the option to begin with a warmup and an optional final rest • Pin favorite workouts to the Home Screen and repeat your last one with a single tap WORKOUTS, SETS AND EXERCISES • Save as many workouts as you like, each with its own name and icon, and edit or duplicate them anytime • Workout sets: rounds, custom rests between workouts, edit straight from the list • Exercise library, expanded regularly • Exercise names read aloud during your workout HEART RATE: APPLE WATCH AND EARBUDS • Control your workout from your wrist: pause, skip, resume • Live heart rate and heart rate zones on Apple Watch and iPhone • Heart rate from earbuds too, no watch needed, even on iPad: AirPods Pro 3, Powerbeats Pro 2 or newer (iOS and iPadOS 26 or later) • Train with just your watch: put a workout on Apple Watch and leave your iPhone at home • Calories tracked in every workout • Automatic sync with Apple Health ALWAYS AT HAND • Your workout on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, with a timer and a pause button, no unlocking needed • Widgets for the Home Screen and the Lock Screen • Keeps running with the screen locked and never stops your music, it just turns it down for voice cues • A big, clear timer on iPad that you can read from across the room PROGRESS AND HISTORY • Heart rate chart for every workout: work and rest with the average heart rate of each phase • Weekly trends for number of workouts and training time • Calendar, list and details of every workout • Weekly streak: one workout a week keeps it alive • A reminder when your streak is at risk, at most once a week Privacy Policy: https://ares.eris.one/privacy-policy/ License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Gym Rest Timer4 screens
Ares4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Ares at none against Gym Rest Timer's shown. Ares also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Gym Rest Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Gym Rest Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.39 per month and Ares sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gym Rest Timer ships an update monthly, Ares fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Gym Rest Timer versus Ares: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGym Rest TimerAres
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (25 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—25 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNinety Six Software LtdKrzysztof Orlowski

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Gym Rest Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$0.391 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$2.99
3 purchases

Ares

Subscriptions2
  • Ares Plus$1.991 Month
  • Ares Plus$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Ares Plus Forever$24.99

Questions

Is Gym Rest Timer free?
Gym Rest Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ares free?
Ares is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Gym Rest Timer or Ares have ads?
Gym Rest Timer shows ads; Ares does not.
Which is updated more often, Gym Rest Timer or Ares?
Gym Rest Timer ships an update monthly, and Ares fortnightly. Most recently, Gym Rest Timer was updated on October 10, 2026 and Ares on October 14, 2026.

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