Comparison

Surface Time vs PD Meter

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

Head to head
About

Surface Time

This app encourages you to put your phone down with an intuitive, button-free timer. It uses subtle haptics and visual cues to guide you, and offers unique notification options like LED flash or calming sounds. Track your progress towards daily goals and customize them for different tasks.

Highlights
  • Button-free timer operation
  • Intuitive haptic feedback
  • Visual timer progression
  • LED flash notifications
  • Calming sound alerts
  • Customizable daily goals
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Timer apps are usually always simple with few buttons, but Surface takes this simplicity to the next level. With no buttons, taps, or swipes, the timer just turns on and off. It is designed to intuitively encourage you to put your phone down. The timer values peek from a small circle, and as you move your iPhone across angles, the circle expands with subtle haptics, nudging you to keep going and rest your phone on the surface facing down. The hidden yet visible options for Settings and Goals are not only designed to prevent opening when you might accidentally touch or swipe when flipping your phone, but are also intentionally uninviting for you to interact. However, the moment you choose to do interact, it transforms itself into a beautiful control. A control that encourages you to make a gesture and intentionally reveal the hidden features. The app is mainly aimed to help you stay focused in your work while keeping your phone at arms reach. But it is truly versatile, and I personally found myself using this everywhere. For instance in the kitchen, when my hands are dirty and I don't want to touch the screen or shout at my voice assistants, or to monitor my workouts with intervals. I'm sure there are many more ways to use this! For basic timer features, you'll never have to touch the screen or press any buttons. Just flip your iPhone back up to reveal the screen and the timer pauses. Then, you can shake to reset or flip back down to resume. Notifications: Surface uses backside LED flash to signal when timer begins. You can also set periodic notifications using LED flash or using calming sounds, such as of Himalayan Bowl or Guitar Strum to keep rough track of duration without looking at your timer. Goals: By default, your surface time per day is always saved and visible from the Goals view. You can adjust this goal to whatever duration you want. Plus, you can create custom everyday color-coded goals for different tasks and monitor your everyday progress.

About

PD Meter

Easily measure your pupillary distance (PD) at home using your phone's camera and a standard card for scale. Get a quick, repeatable estimate in millimeters to order glasses online accurately. The app guides you through the process for reliable results.

Highlights
  • Measure PD with phone camera
  • Use standard card for scale
  • Get PD in millimeters
  • Guided measurement process
  • Repeatable results for confidence
  • Single (binocular) PD measurement
Features
Read full description

Ordering glasses online and need your PD? PD Meter helps you measure your pupillary distance (PD) in millimeters using a front-camera selfie and any standard-size card, like a credit card, for scale — no ruler, no second person, no trip to the optician. Your pupillary distance is the gap between the centers of your pupils. Online eyewear stores ask for it so your lenses are centered correctly in the frame. PD Meter gives you a quick, repeatable estimate from the comfort of your home. HOW IT WORKS • Hold a standard card (a credit card, ID or any ISO-size card) under your eyes — its known width gives the app a real-world scale. • Take a front-camera selfie, looking straight at the lens. • Mark the center of each pupil and the edges of the card. • PD Meter converts pixels to millimeters and shows your PD instantly. WHAT YOU GET • PD in millimeters, ready to enter at checkout. • Single (binocular) PD, the value most retailers request. • A clear, guided flow with on-screen tips for good lighting and head position. • Re-measure as many times as you like and average your results for confidence. WHO IT'S FOR Anyone buying prescription or blue-light glasses online, parents checking a child's fit, or anyone who simply wants their PD on hand without booking an appointment. A NOTE ON ACCURACY PD Meter provides an estimate based on your photo and the card scale. Results depend on lighting, camera angle and how precisely you place the markers. For high prescriptions or progressive lenses, confirm your PD with an optician. This app is not a medical device.

Screenshots

Surface Time4 screens
PD Meter3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PD Meter at none against Surface Time's 1. Surface Time's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence 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. Surface Time sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PD Meter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Surface Time against 5.0 for PD Meter. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surface Time ships an update weekly, PD Meter every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Surface Time versus PD Meter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurface TimePD Meter
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB65 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperNeel Makhechaheekyung moon

Customer experience

Surface Time

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PD Meter

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Surface Time

One-time1
  • Surface - One Time Purchase$5.99
None

PD Meter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Surface Time free?
Surface Time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PD Meter free?
PD Meter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Surface Time or PD Meter?
Surface Time and PD Meter are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Surface Time or PD Meter have ads?
PD Meter shows ads; Surface Time does not.
Which is updated more often, Surface Time or PD Meter?
Surface Time ships an update weekly, and PD Meter every 4 days. Most recently, Surface Time was updated on October 5, 2026 and PD Meter on October 17, 2026.

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