# Visual Timer vs Tempo

The clearest difference is rating: Tempo at 5.0 against Visual Timer's 4.6. Visual Timer's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Visual Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Tempo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Tempo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Visual Timer has 46 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Visual Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Tempo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Visual Timer | Tempo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-timer-focus-countdown/id6747144464/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-visual-countdown-timer/id6757446047/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Applorium Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688522804) | [Foundry24 LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828222955) |

## What reviewers say

### Visual Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-timer-focus-countdown/id6747144464)

This app offers a visually engaging countdown timer with multiple unique styles to represent the passage of time. Customize colors, backgrounds, and alarm sounds for various activities like focus work, cooking, or kids' routines.

**Highlights:** Nine unique visual timer styles, Customizable colors and backgrounds, Over 50 alarm sound options, Adjustable durations from seconds to hours, Presets and recent duration quick-picks, Designed for focus, cooking, kids, and workouts

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual Timer Unlock | $5.99 | one-time |


### Tempo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-visual-countdown-timer/id6757446047)

This app transforms countdown timers into clear visual progress indicators, helping you stay focused on tasks like work, study, or cooking. It offers multiple visualization options and a distraction-free interface, working reliably offline without requiring an account.

**Highlights:** Multiple visualization options, Clean, distraction-free interface, Works offline, No account setup, Reliable background operation, Privacy-focused

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tempo Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Visual Timer free?

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

### Is Tempo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Visual Timer or Tempo?

Tempo is rated higher. Visual Timer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Tempo averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Visual Timer or Tempo have ads?

Neither Visual Timer nor Tempo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Visual Timer or Tempo?

Visual Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Tempo every 2 months. Most recently, Visual Timer was updated on September 20, 2026 and Tempo on September 23, 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.*