Comparison

Not Another Stage Timer vs Act Timer

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

Head to head
About

Not Another Stage Timer

Features
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Not Another Stage Timer is a clean, simple, and reliable countdown timer designed for presentations, classrooms, meetings, rehearsals, and live events. Its minimal interface provides a clear view of your remaining time with automatic color changes that help you stay on track without breaking focus. Whether you are delivering a speech, managing a class session, hosting an event, or timing a rehearsal, this app offers a straightforward and professional experience. Features β€’ Large, easy-to-read countdown display β€’ Automatic background color changes (Green β†’ Yellow β†’ Red) β€’ Adjustable duration β€’ Configurable warning and critical thresholds β€’ Customizable stage colors β€’ Simple start, pause, and reset controls β€’ Presets for saving your commonly used timers β€’ Works fully offline β€’ No ads, no accounts, no data collection Designed for Professionals The interface is optimized for visibility from a distance, making it useful for speakers on stage, teachers managing lessons, worship leaders, performers, and anyone needing a reliable visual cue for time. Fast, Practical, and Minimal Not Another Stage Timer avoids clutter and unnecessary features. It focuses on clarity, consistency, and reliabilityβ€”exactly what you need when every minute counts.

About

Act Timer

Features
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Tired of timers that rush you? Act Timer is built for the people who run workshops, meetups, and conferences β€” the ones holding the room together across multiple sessions. It shows no remaining time. It never rings at zero. It simply shows where you are, and how long you have been there. Every timer feature is free, with no limits. β–  Why no countdown? Real events run long, run short, swap order, and improvise. A countdown clock pressures the speaker and the room as zero approaches. Act Timer counts up instead. When to cut, when to ring β€” you decide, by reading the room. The host stays in charge. β–  Two clocks, side by side - TOTAL: time elapsed across the whole event - ACT: time elapsed in the current session Borrowing from the stage, one event is a Show, and each segment β€” a talk, an exercise, a break β€” is an Act. You can see at a glance that the event is on track while this Act is running long. Moving on takes one tap on NEXT ACT. That is the whole operation. β–  The chime is yours Nothing rings automatically. When you want to gather the room, ring it with one tap. It sounds even in silent mode, so it carries when it matters. β–  Look back when it's over Every Show is recorded automatically. Check the numbers β€” "the third Act ran long" β€” and build a better timetable next time. Records copy out as plain text, ready for speaker feedback or your debrief. Rehearsals and the real performance stay separate Shows. β–  No need to keep staring While the timer runs, the current Act stays visible in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen. Glance at your iPhone and you know where you are. β–  A tool for professionals No flashy effects. Just the precision that people who know the floor will use, show after show. When the curtain rises, the rest is up to you. β–  Free vs. Pro The free version includes every timer feature β€” timing, chime, Dynamic Island β€” with no limits. History shows your latest 5 Shows; an in-app purchase unlocks all of them. Ads appear only right after launch and around the history screen β€” never while the timer is running. No ads in front of your audience is a rule this app will not break. Act Timer Pro, with no ads and unlimited history, is also available. * History cannot be transferred to the paid version.

Screenshots

Not Another Stage Timer4 screens
Act Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Not Another Stage Timer at none against Act Timer's 2. Not Another Stage Timer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). On price, update cadence and device support 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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Act Timer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Not Another Stage Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Not Another Stage Timer versus Act Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNot Another Stage TimerAct Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 β€” better26.5
Further details β€” not scored
Size7 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndy ArevaloO2Cafe

In-app purchases

None

Not Another Stage Timer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Act Timer

One-time2
  • Unlock Full History$1.99
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is Not Another Stage Timer free?
Not Another Stage Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Act Timer free?
Act Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Not Another Stage Timer or Act Timer have ads?
Act Timer shows ads; Not Another Stage Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Not Another Stage Timer or Act Timer?
Not Another Stage Timer ships an update every 2 months, and Act Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Not Another Stage Timer was updated on October 30, 2026 and Act Timer on November 5, 2026.

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