Comparison

SteepMate Tea Timer vs Tea Journal Brew Timer

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

Head to head
About

SteepMate Tea Timer

Features
Read full description

Transform your tea brewing with SteepMate, the elegant tea timer designed for tea enthusiasts who appreciate precision and simplicity. Features: โ€ข Comprehensive Tea Database - Choose from a curated selection of teas including Green, Black, Oolong, Pu-erh, Yellow, White, and Herbal varieties โ€ข Smart Infusion Tracking - Track multiple steepings with automatic timing adjustments for each infusion โ€ข Customizable Timing - Adjust steep times within recommended ranges for your perfect cup โ€ข Temperature & Dosage Guide - Get precise brewing instructions with optimal water temperature and tea amounts โ€ข Live Activities Support - See your timer progress on the lock screen and Dynamic Island (iOS 16+) โ€ข Background Notifications - Never miss the perfect steep time, even when the app is closed โ€ข Persistent Preferences - Remember your favorite timing for each tea and infusion combination Whether you're brewing a delicate first flush Darjeeling or a robust Pu-erh, Steep provides the guidance and timing precision you need for consistently excellent results. The app includes detailed descriptions for each tea variety, helping you understand flavor profiles and brewing characteristics. Perfect for both tea novices learning proper brewing techniques and experienced tea lovers who want a refined, reliable timing tool. Tea Varieties Include: * Green teas (Sencha, Matcha, Jasmine, and more) * Black teas (English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Assam, etc.) * Oolong teas (Ti Kuan Yin, Da Hong Pao) * Pu-erh teas (Sheng and Shou varieties) * White teas (Silver Needle, White Peony) * Yellow teas (Jun Shan Yin Zhen) * Herbal teas (Chamomile, Peppermint, Rooibos) SteepMate. Time it right. Taste perfection.

About

Tea Journal Brew Timer

Features
Read full description

Steep is the beautiful tea journal for serious tea lovers. Track every brew session, perfect your technique, and discover what makes each cup exceptional. From your first gongfu session to your thousandth infusion, Steep captures every detail. BREW TIMER - Precision countdown timer for gongfu and Western brewing - Infusion tracking with automatic time increments - Per-infusion notes and mini ratings - Smart presets: gaiwan, teapot, kyusu, mug TEA COLLECTION - Build your personal tea library with unlimited entries (Pro) - Track vendor, origin, harvest year, and quantity - Flavor tagging with 40+ descriptors - Visual quantity tracker (full, half, empty) SESSION JOURNAL - Detailed tasting records for every brew - Rate aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, aftertaste, sweetness, and cha qi - Flavor descriptor tags - Session notes and photos INSIGHTS AND STATS - Track your daily brewing streak - Most-brewed teas and brewing history - Tasting evolution over time GO PRO - UNLOCK EVERYTHING - Unlimited tea collection (free tier: 5 teas) - Unlimited session history (free tier: 20 sessions) - AI Tea Advisor - personalized recommendations powered by Grok - Advanced tasting analytics and palate evolution - Session comparison side by side - CSV export and sharing Whether you brew longjing at 75 degrees or aged pu-erh at full boil, Steep honors the ritual. Warm parchment design, airy spacing, no clutter. Just you and the tea. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SteepMate Tea Timer3 screens
Tea Journal Brew Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SteepMate Tea Timer at none against Tea Journal Brew Timer's 3. Tea Journal Brew Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (17 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Tea Journal Brew Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SteepMate Tea Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
SteepMate Tea Timer versus Tea Journal Brew Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteepMate Tea TimerTea Journal Brew Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Every 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size12 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBenjamin Carl KarstKarol Jaworski

In-app purchases

None

SteepMate Tea Timer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Tea Journal Brew Timer

Subscriptions3
  • Steep Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Steep Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
  • Steep Pro Yearly - Intro Offer1 Year trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is SteepMate Tea Timer free?
SteepMate Tea Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tea Journal Brew Timer free?
Tea Journal Brew Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SteepMate Tea Timer or Tea Journal Brew Timer have ads?
Neither SteepMate Tea Timer nor Tea Journal Brew Timer shows ads.

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