TetherSwim vs LapView
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TetherSwim
This app accurately tracks swimming workouts performed with resistance cords or endless pools, overcoming the limitations of traditional trackers. It estimates distance based on stroke count and efficiency, providing comprehensive workout data.
- Accurate distance estimates
- Automatic SWOLF tracking
- Full workout data (calories, heart rate)
- Exclude test swims
- Strava integration
- Automatic Water Lock mode
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TetherSwim is built for swimmers training with resistance cords, swim tethers, or endless pools. Traditional swim trackers can struggle with these sessions, giving you wildly inaccurate distances or ignoring your efforts altogether. With TetherSwim, your distance is estimated intelligently based on your real stroke count, SWOLF, and previous swim history — all from your Apple Watch. Features: • Accurate distance estimates – Uses your stroke rate, efficiency, and past workouts to calculate real swim distance. • Automatic SWOLF tracking – Measures your swim efficiency in tethered conditions. • Calories, heart rate, and more – Full workout data, just like in regular pool swims. • Exclude test swims – Keep your baselines clean by excluding warm-ups or experiments. • Strava integration – Upload your tethered swim sessions directly. • Water Lock mode – Automatically engages when you start, so your watch screen won’t go crazy mid-session.
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 in-app purchases: TetherSwim at none against LapView's 1. TetherSwim also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, 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
Both are free to download. LapView sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TetherSwim asks for nothing beyond the download.
TetherSwim ships an update every 2 weeks, LapView monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TetherSwim | LapView |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Patrick Biggin | Instant Professional Services Ltd |
In-app purchases
TetherSwim
No in-app purchases
LapView
- Unlimited Laps$4.99
