Swimming Lap Tracker vs LapView
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Swimming Lap Tracker
This app transforms your Apple Watch into an accurate lap counter for swimming. Easily track laps, view live metrics, and analyze detailed swim statistics on your iPhone. Supports both pool and open water swimming with GPS tracking.
- Fast lap marking with Digital Crown/Action Button
- Manual lap timing and rest
- Live swim metrics
- Customizable pool lengths
- Open water mode with GPS
- Post-swim analysis on iPhone
- HealthKit sync
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Swimming Lap Tracker gives you precise manual control over laps, intervals and structured swim training on Apple Watch, with detailed workout analysis on iPhone. Mark laps with the Digital Crown or the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra. You decide exactly when each lap or interval is recorded instead of relying on automatic lap detection. Live swim metrics stay visible on your wrist, and completed workouts are saved to Apple Health. BUILD CUSTOM SWIM SETS Create structured training sessions in the Set Builder and sync them to Apple Watch. • Build workouts with multiple named stages • Set distance or repeats with a separate interval distance • Choose stroke, drills, equipment, rest and notes • Add breathing targets and bilateral breathing • Set target pace and cadence in seconds per stroke or strokes per minute • Reorder stages and save multiple training sets • Follow stage-by-stage prompts and progress on Apple Watch • Sync new, edited and deleted sets between iPhone and Watch DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO GUIDES Create a downloadable audio guide for a custom workout before you swim. Voice prompts and timing cues support pace and tempo training. • Choose Standard timing or a flowing Waltz 1–2–3 pattern • Use clear timing cues, including the Piano tone • Preview the timing pattern and tone before generating the file • Keep your preferred audio settings between sessions • Generate audio in the background with smoother progress estimates Download or transfer the finished audio file to compatible swimming headphones with onboard storage. Audio guides do not play through swimming headphones over Bluetooth while you are in the water. EQUIPMENT FOR EVERY SESSION Select equipment in supported Apple Watch workout modes, including fins, paddles, pull buoy, kickboard and snorkel. Your choices persist between workouts, the live screen shows a bag icon with the selected item count, and completed workouts show equipment as capsules in iPhone history. PRECISE LAP AND INTERVAL TRACKING • Fast manual lap marking with the Digital Crown • Action Button support on Apple Watch Ultra • Manual Lap Mode for separate swim and rest timing • Interval modes with distance, fixed rest or manual rest • Repeat intervals with optional send-off times • Mixed-distance interval sessions • Metres and yards • Pool presets or custom lengths from 1m to 250m or 1y to 250y • Open Water Mode with GPS distance LIVE METRICS ON APPLE WATCH See lap time, total time, distance, completed lengths, strokes and heart rate while you swim. Custom workouts also show the current stage, interval progress, stroke, drill, equipment, breathing target and rest. DETAILED SWIM ANALYSIS ON IPHONE Review total distance, duration, average pace, individual lap and interval times, custom workout stages, heart rate, strokes, active calories, motion charts, equipment used and recorded swim locations. Export motion data as CSV. HOW IT WORKS Choose your pool length or Open Water Mode, select a workout mode and tap Start Swim. Mark each lap or interval from your wrist while Swimming Lap Tracker records your workout for later review. PERMISSIONS Health access is required to record workouts and heart rate. Motion access enables stroke and movement analysis. Location access enables swim locations and open-water GPS distance. APPLE WATCH ULTRA ACTION BUTTON After installation, open Settings on Apple Watch and choose Action Button. Select Swimming Lap Tracker as the app, set First Press to Start a Workout, and choose Swim Laps as the workout. Open Swimming Lap Tracker with the Action Button before using it to mark laps. Requires iOS 18.2 or later and watchOS 11.2 or later.
LapView
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LapView offers a simple and intuitive way to monitor swimming sessions in a pool. While you swim, LapView displays current lap and distance in large fonts, making it easier for farsighted people to check their progress. A selection of themes, including high-contrast ones, is available. Furthermore, the app provides haptic feedback at the end of each lap, letting you know the lap has been registered. Once you finish, the app on your phone provides detailed statistics, including lap times, stroke counts and heart rate change during the exercise. Highlights: - Simple, one-touch interface to start a new swim session - Large fonts displaying lap count and distance covered - High contrast themes, aligned with WCAG recommendations - Pool length is adjustable both on the watch and the phone - Details post-session information on the phone The app offers 10 free workouts, after which unlimited workouts can be unlocked through a small, one-off purchase. Terms and Conditions: https://www.instant-ps.com/terms-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.instant-ps.com/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: LapView at Free against Swimming Lap Tracker's $1.99. Swimming Lap Tracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
LapView is free to download; Swimming Lap Tracker costs $1.99 up front. LapView sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Swimming Lap Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.
Swimming Lap Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, LapView monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Swimming Lap Tracker | LapView |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christopher Riches | Instant Professional Services Ltd |
In-app purchases
Swimming Lap Tracker
No in-app purchases
LapView
- Unlimited Laps$4.99









