Show Timer vs Sync
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Show Timer
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Show Timer is a powerful, minimalist and performer-focused visual timer that helps you stay on track without breaking your flow. Whether you're on stage, hosting an event, leading a workshop or giving a talk, Show Timer lets you manage time silently using bold, colour-coded cues - green, yellow and red - so you and your team know exactly where you are in the set. No clocks in the venue? No tech support? No problem. Show Timer turns your phone into a silent, colour-changing cue light - ideal for self-managed performances, talks or group work where staying on time matters. Built for performers by performers, Show Timer was designed with comedians, improvisers, actors and workshop leaders in mind. Put your phone at the side of the stage, on a stool or backstage. The screen colour will change at key points during your show, letting you see at a glance when to keep going, when to wrap up and when timeβs up - without pulling focus or relying on someone else. TIMER MODES 1. Timer Counts up from 0. Always starts green. You can specify when it turns yellow and red. It keeps counting up forever - ideal for open-ended sets or rehearsals. 2. Duration Counts down from a set time. Starts green, turns yellow when you choose and red at the end (default red is at 0:00). After hitting zero, it starts counting up in negative numbers - great for tracking overruns or managing strict time slots. 3. Clock Displays the current time in green. You can set a time for it to turn yellow or red, for example from 19:00 to 19:50. Great for festival shows, conferences or classes with set start and end times. DISPLAY MODES 1. Border The screen background stays black, with a bright green/yellow/red border. Time is shown in white text - ideal for low-light settings or backstage use. 2. Background The full screen changes to green, yellow or red. The time is displayed in contrasting text. Great for mid-stage visibility. 3. Background Only Full background colour with no visible text (time is technically shown in a very faint colour to indicate that the app is still running). Designed for group use or immersive settings where you only want to see the cue, not the clock. FEATURES Keeps running even when you close and reopen the app Saves your active timer and preferences between sessions Screen never goes to sleep while a timer is running No ads, no sound, no distractions - just clean, visual timing WHO ITβS FOR Show Timer is used by performers, presenters and teams across many contexts: Stand-up comedians Improv teams and sketch groups Spoken word artists and poets Solo shows and festival acts Workshop leaders and facilitators Teachers and educators Speakers, MCs and panel moderators Therapists and mindfulness coaches Productivity timers and deep work sessions Game nights and group challenges ABOUT PLAYFACE Show Timer is built by Playface - a collective creating playful tools and training for comedians, facilitators and creatives. We also run: Clown and comedy workshops in London and online Creativity tools and solo devising resources Digital and physical tools for performers Learn more at https://www.playface.fun DOWNLOAD TODAY Skip the stress. Skip the guessing. Show Timer gives you the confidence to stay on track, on stage and in the flow - all at a glance. Have feedback? Weβd love to hear from you. Email contact@playface.fun
Sync
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Sync-it Plus is a professional companion app for any Sync-it hardware device. Get real time AV sync measurements when used with a hardware Sync-it. Record sync measurements and analyse them in slomo later using the app. Generate the Sync-it test pattern for hardware to measure. Works at all common frame rates and displays NTP time in the correct timecode format.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Sync at Free against Show Timer's $2.99. Sync also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 14 months). Show Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Sync is free to download; Show Timer costs $2.99 up front. Sync sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Show Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Show Timer ships an update every 14 months, Sync every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Show Timer | Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free β better |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 9 days β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.6 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Charlie Jackson | Sync-it.co.uk |
In-app purchases
Show Timer
No in-app purchases
Sync
- Hardware UnlockFree
- Sync-It 14 Day TrialFree
- Sync-it legacy unlock$44.99
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- Sync-It Full Unlock$89.99









