Comparison

AnyTimer vs Pulse

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

Head to head
About

AnyTimer

Features
Read full description

AnyTimer is a flexible interval timer for workouts, focus sessions, breathing exercises, and repeatable daily routines. Build your own timer structure with custom intervals, sets, reps, rest, countdowns, and stopwatch support. Start fast with common formats like Tabata and EMOM, then adapt them to your exact routine. Use AnyTimer for: • HIIT and Tabata workouts • EMOM sessions • Pomodoro and deep work blocks • Breathing exercises • Stretching and mobility routines • Countdowns and stopwatch timing What makes it useful: • Create fully custom timers with named intervals • Choose repetition or duration-based timer flows • Adjust sets, reps, rest, and interval structure • Run sessions with a clean visual countdown • Use audio and voice cues to stay on rhythm • Save routines for quick reuse • Access countdown and stopwatch in the same app • Use the app in multiple languages Whether you are training, focusing, recovering, or building a repeatable routine, AnyTimer gives you one flexible system instead of forcing you into a single timer style.

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. TWO TAPS TO START Pick Interval or Flow, set three simple controls, tap Start. Or open the Library for 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 inside one countdown ring — glanceable across the room, color-coded: focus, work, rest, done • Liquid Glass — rebuilt for iOS 26 • 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 • 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

AnyTimer4 screens
Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AnyTimer at none against Pulse's 2. AnyTimer also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. AnyTimer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AnyTimer ships an update weekly, Pulse every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
AnyTimer versus Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnyTimerPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIonut MocanuLance Merrill

In-app purchases

None

AnyTimer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Pulse

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

Questions

Is AnyTimer free?
AnyTimer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AnyTimer or Pulse have ads?
Neither AnyTimer nor Pulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AnyTimer or Pulse?
AnyTimer ships an update weekly, and Pulse every 3 weeks. Most recently, AnyTimer was updated on October 7, 2026 and Pulse on October 6, 2026.

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