Comparison

Stretch Timer vs Pulse

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

Head to head
About

Stretch Timer

This app provides a simple, repeating timer for stretching that runs in the background on your Apple Watch. It guides you through custom stretch and rest periods with gentle sound or haptic cues, allowing you to multitask with other activities.

Highlights
  • Background timer for multitasking
  • Tap to start/stop
  • Custom stretch and rest intervals
  • Haptic and sound alerts
  • Repeat count tracking
  • Countdown for final seconds
Read full description

Stretch while you stream, scroll, or listen to a podcast. Free, with no ads. GetFlexy is the dead-simple repeating stretch timer that runs in the background on your Apple Watch while you do anything else. Just tap to start, and the app will guide you through rounds of stretching and rest using gentle sounds or haptics, your choice.
 No playlist, no program, and nothing to fuss with. It’s built for podcasting, binge-watching, and getting bendy—without needing to manage a timer or check a screen. Whether you're doing a few stretches during a break or building a more consistent routine, GetFlexy helps you add flexibility to the things you already love doing. FEATURES * Hands-free timing: Timer runs in the background while you do anything else * Tap to Start/Stop: One tap starts your flow, another ends it * Stretch + Rest Timer: Alternate between custom-length stretch and rest periods * Set & forget. Your previous times are saved for next time * Haptics & Sound Alerts: Customize how you want to be cued * Repeat Count: Keep track of how many reps you’ve done * Countdown for the final few seconds of each stretch and rest period * 3-second count up before the first activity begins Scroll, stream, and stretch. Multitask your way to better mobility. ABOUT US Get Flexy is a project by JT & Leslie (aka Tiny Tools Studio), two indie makers who enjoy building simple solutions to everyday problems, and we hope you like them too! We’d love to add some premium features to this app. Let us know if you have any ideas. We’re also here to answer your questions about GetFlexy. Feel free to reach out to us at hello@tinytools.studio

About

Pulse

This customizable interval timer offers a vibrant and personalized experience for various timed activities. With extensive color options and quick setup templates, it's designed to be glanceable and non-intrusive. Enjoy features like Live Activity and an Apple Watch app for seamless tracking.

Highlights
  • Full color customization with 136 palettes
  • Quick start templates (Tabata, Pomodoro, Boxing)
  • Live Activity and Dynamic Island support
  • Apple Watch app for wrist-based control
  • Beeps and haptics for interval cues
  • Save and name custom timer sequences
Features
Read full description

A fast, colorful timer for the things you do in chunks — and the things you do until you're done. Intervals, Pomodoro, and open-ended flow sessions. 168 palettes. WHY PULSE Every interval timer looks the same — red background, green active state, none of it yours. And they all only count down, so when the work doesn't fit a fixed box you fight the timer. Pulse counts both directions, brightly, and gets out of your way. Big numbers. Live Activity. Apple Watch. $3.99 once unlocks it all. FLOW MODE (NEW) A flow session counts UP. Focus until you decide to stop; the break you earn is proportional to the focus you put in. • Tap START and go — no countdown, no cap • Tap BREAK for focus ÷ 5 (or ÷ 4, or ÷ 3). 50 minutes of focus earns a 10-minute break • Optional target: a chime when you reach it, then it keeps counting — it never stops you • Optional reminders every 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes: a soft tick and a haptic • Works locked: the count-up rides your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, cues still fire 168 PALETTES, SEARCHABLE • Coral — bright red + lime + black (the classic) …and 167 more. Search by color ("orange"), vibe ("neon", "calm"), or era ("70s"). Eight ship free; the one-time unlock opens all 168 and repaints the whole app instantly. QUICK START IN TWO TAPS Work, rest, rounds — three tiles and a big START. Or start from a template: • Flow Session, Flowmodoro 25, Deep Work 90 — the new flow templates • Tabata — 8 × 20s work / 10s rest • Pomodoro — 25/5 focus cycle • Boxing Rounds — 3 min / 1 min corner Save any setup as a named timer — one tap next time. WHAT'S INSIDE • Big-number timer — glanceable across the room, color-coded: focus, work, rest, done • Live Activity — Lock Screen + Dynamic Island keep ticking in other apps: down in intervals, up in flow • Beeps + haptics — 3-2-1 countdown and interval cues that fire with the screen locked • Your timers — save, name, edit, reuse (three free; Pro unlimited) HISTORY & LABELS • Label a timer Work, Study, Gym, Boxing — or anything you type • Every session logged: timer, label, duration, rounds, outcome, grouped by day. Tap any row • Streak — days in a row with a finished session. No shame, no confetti • This week's focus time, six stat cards, an activity grid, time by label • Export CSV (Pro) — your whole history in one file Free keeps the last 7 days. Pro keeps everything. SHORTCUTS & CONTROL CENTER • Ask Siri: "Start a flow in Pulse" — or "Start my Boxing Rounds in Pulse" • Add "Start Flow" to Control Center or your Lock Screen (iOS 18 and later) • Both actions work in the Shortcuts app for your automations ON YOUR WRIST • Apple Watch app — start any saved interval timer, or Quick Start, from the watch • Palette-matched work/rest states, haptic taps at every transition • The watch runs its own timer — it can't drift or freeze • Flow sessions are iPhone-only for now WHO IT'S FOR • Writing, coding and studying — flow sessions, deep work • HIIT and Tabata circuits, boxing rounds, EMOM • Pomodoro sprints and focus blocks • Meditation, breathwork, yoga, cooking, music practice WHO IT'S NOT FOR • People who want a workout video library (this is a timer, not a fitness app) • People who want an app that blocks other apps — Pulse gets out of the way instead • Anyone looking for a subscription — Pulse is one payment, forever PRICING • Pulse Pro — $3.99 one-time: all 168 palettes, unlimited timers, unlimited history + CSV export • Supporter unlock — $9.99 one-time: same features, bigger thank-you Flow, labels, reminders, Shortcuts and Control Center are free. No subscription. No auto-renew. No ads. Ever. PRIVACY Pulse runs entirely on-device. No account, no analytics, no tracking, no ad SDKs. Your timers and history stay on your phone. Privacy Policy: https://trypulsetimer.com/privacy. SUPPORT support@trypulsetimer.com · https://trypulsetimer.com/support Time things in chunks. Or go until you're done. $3.99.

Screenshots

Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stretch Timer at none against Pulse's 2. Stretch Timer also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Pulse sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Stretch Timer 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 Stretch Timer against 5.0 for Pulse. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stretch Timer ships an update every 9 days, Pulse every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Stretch Timer versus Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStretch TimerPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTiny Tools Studio LLCLance Merrill

Customer experience

Stretch Timer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Pulse

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Stretch Timer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Pulse

One-time2
  • Pulse — Standard$3.99
  • Pulse — Supporter$9.99

Questions

Is Stretch Timer free?
Stretch Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Stretch Timer or Pulse?
Stretch Timer and Pulse are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Stretch Timer or Pulse have ads?
Neither Stretch Timer nor Pulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stretch Timer or Pulse?
Stretch Timer ships an update every 9 days, and Pulse every 5 weeks. Most recently, Stretch Timer was updated on September 15, 2026 and Pulse on September 19, 2026.

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