Comparison

Cold Shower Timer vs PlungeLab

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

Head to head
About

Cold Shower Timer

Features
Read full description

Cold Shower Timer turns every cold shower, ice bath or plunge into one clear number: how long it takes your heart rate to settle. The cold hits as a spike. Your Apple Watch shows it live, and the moment your heart rate calms and holds steady, the watch marks it: Settled. Week by week, that moment tends to come sooner. ON YOUR WRIST β€’ Big presets for wet fingers: 1, 2 or 3 minutes, or Next, which adds 15 seconds to your last session β€’ Live heart rate during the cold, with your peak β€’ The Settled moment, marked with its own haptic β€’ Optional breathing haptics (in 4, out 6) and a tick every 30 seconds β€’ Works without your phone, and saves each session to Health as a workout ON YOUR IPHONE β€’ Today: the heart rate curve of your last session with the Settled marker β€’ Your week at a glance: sessions, cold minutes, streak β€’ A phone timer for days without the watch, including contrast shower rounds COLD SHOWER PRO, ONE-TIME PURCHASE β€’ Adaptation: your time to Settled week by week, plus patterns such as mornings versus evenings β€’ Full history with water temperature β€’ Custom protocols and contrast shower intervals β€’ Watch complication and Smart Stack card Your sessions stay on your devices. Usage analytics are off unless you turn them on. Cold Shower Timer is a timer and a log, not medical advice. If you have a heart condition, ask your doctor before cold exposure. Terms of Use: https://trifoiltrailblazer.com/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://trifoiltrailblazer.com/privacy-policy

About

PlungeLab

Features
Read full description

PlungeLab turns every cold session into a clear picture of your routine and recoveryβ€”not just another streak. Start a session from Apple Watch, or log it manually on iPhone. PlungeLab records duration, temperature, and heart rate, then uses your Apple Health data to help you explore how plunge days align with sleep, HRV, and resting heart rate. TRACK EVERY SESSION β€’ One-tap Apple Watch capture with live heart rate and elapsed time β€’ Automatic water-entry detection and water temperature on supported Apple Watch Ultra models β€’ Two-minute post-session heart-rate recovery measurement β€’ Manual logging for cold plunges, cold showers, open water, sauna, and contrast sessions β€’ Complete history with editing, notes, mood, and perceived intensity FIND YOUR RHYTHM β€’ Weekly cold-minute target and progress ring β€’ Vacation-friendly weekly streaks β€’ Reminders that update when you record a session β€’ Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, plus Apple Watch complications UNDERSTAND YOUR PATTERNS WITH PRO β€’ Compare HRV, resting heart rate, sleep, and mood on plunge days and rest days β€’ Explore adaptation trends across similar temperatures and durations β€’ Review dose guidance based on your own history β€’ Export your sessions as CSV PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account is required. Session history and Apple Health analysis stay on your devices. RevenueCat processes limited purchase, entitlement, and technical information, but never receives your health or session data. SAFETY FIRST Built-in guidance covers cold shock, afterdrop, and gradual progression. PlungeLab is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice. WORKS WITH Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or later, Apple Watch Ultra, iPhone, and Apple Health. Apple Watch Ultra adds automatic detection and water-temperature capture when available. PlungeLab Pro is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. The yearly subscription includes a 7-day free trial for eligible customers. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm your purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Terms: https://plungelab.app/terms/ Privacy: https://plungelab.app/privacy/

Screenshots

Cold Shower Timer4 screens
PlungeLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Cold Shower Timer at 17.0 against PlungeLab's 26.0. 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. Cold Shower Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PlungeLab sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Cold Shower Timer versus PlungeLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCold Shower TimerPlungeLab
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsβ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.0 β€” better26.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size12 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIvan TerekhinEggyolk

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cold Shower Timer

One-time1
  • Cold Shower Pro$14.99
3 purchases

PlungeLab

Subscriptions2
  • PlungeLab Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • PlungeLab Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • PlungeLab Pro Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Cold Shower Timer free?
Cold Shower Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PlungeLab free?
PlungeLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cold Shower Timer or PlungeLab have ads?
Neither Cold Shower Timer nor PlungeLab shows ads.

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