VertexTimer vs Cortex

VertexTimer is a next-generation timer app you can rely on even when you can’t make a sound. In meetings, presentations, lectures, or at the library—you can manage time accurately while staying considerate of everyone around you. ■ A silent timer you can trust Timeboxing in meetings, keeping track during presentations, pacing lectures, focused study in a library. Even in places where you can’t use sound, VertexTimer notifies you with vibration. It can notify you in the background and even while your phone is locked. ■ Start instantly from your Home Screen Just tap a widget to start a timer without even opening the app. “30 minutes” before a meeting, “Pomodoro 25 minutes” when you begin studying, “HIIT 45 seconds” for workouts— your timers are right on the Home Screen, so you can act before you even have to think. Supports three widget sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. Choose the layout that fits your style (Medium/Large are available with the Plus plan). ■ Automate complex schedules with Routines With Routines, you can run multiple timers in sequence—perfect for workflows that have several steps. [Pomodoro Technique] Automatically chain “Focus 25 min → Break 5 min → Focus 25 min → Break 15 min” to stay in the zone. [HIIT Training] Run “Workout 45 sec → Rest 15 sec” automatically—great for gym sessions. [Step-by-step Cooking] Set timers per step like “Boil pasta 10 min → Make sauce 5 min → Plate 2 min.” [Bedtime Routine] Quietly manage “Reading 15 min → Stretching 10 min → Meditation 5 min” so you can unwind at your pace without waking anyone up. ■ Three timer modes [Tap (One-Tap) Mode] Start a preset timer with one tap—the simplest, easiest mode. [Key (Keypad) Mode] Set time fast with number keys. Type “25” and tap the “min” button to start a 25-minute timer. [Tilt Mode] Start a timer just by tilting your iPhone right, left, forward, or backward. Assign frequently used durations (5, 10, 25, 60 minutes, etc.) to each direction. ■ Preset & Routine management [Save Timers] Save frequently used timers and organize them by purpose [Routines] Run multiple timers in sequence. Set a name and duration for each step, then run them in order. ■ Check progress even on the Lock Screen Supports Dynamic Island and Live Activity. ■ Example use cases [Meetings & Presentations] For meetings with strict timeboxes or presentations with time limits. Start instantly from a widget, keep an eye on remaining time via Dynamic Island. Silent notifications help you manage time confidently without disturbing others. [Library & Study Rooms] Track study time without bothering anyone. Vibration-only alerts keep you focused, and Pomodoro routines boost efficiency. Run “25 min focus → 5 min break” automatically. [Bedroom & Bedtime Routines] Manage bedtime habits without waking your family. Automate reading, stretching, meditation, and more with routines. Stay on your own pace in a quiet environment. [Gym & Workouts] Great for HIIT or circuit training. A routine like “45 sec workout → 15 sec rest” is incredibly handy. Start instantly from a widget without breaking your flow. [Parenting & Childcare] For bedtime routines, feeding intervals, nap tracking, and more. Measure time without sound—no need to worry about waking your baby. ■ Pricing [Free Plan] • 1 Tilt preset • 1 Routine • Unlimited single timers • Small widget only • All timer modes available [Plus Plan] • Unlimited presets • Unlimited routines • All widget sizes (Small / Medium / Large) ■ Recommended for • Anyone who wants to manage meeting/presentation timeboxes • Anyone using the Pomodoro technique to improve focus • People who want a quiet bedtime routine timer in the bedroom • Anyone who needs workout intervals at the gym • Parents who want to manage time without waking their baby ■ Support For questions or requests, feel free to contact us at: https://kohakuwebdesign.net/apps/vertextimer#support Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Cortex is a focus timer for deep work and study — Pomodoro 25/5, Long Focus 50/10, Short Sprint 15/3, an open-ended Flow mode, 19 ambient tracks and a sleep timer. Built for people who think for a living: students revising for exams, developers and designers in deep work, writers, and anyone with ADHD who needs sound and structure to get started. Four timer modes, three focus sounds, session history, streaks, heatmaps and Apple Health are free. Premium adds the AI Adaptive mode, 16 more sounds, the sleep timer, custom presets, Health Insights and the weekly report. No ads, no account, no sign-up. You track your workouts. Your sleep. Your macros. But not your focus. Cortex closes that gap: it measures your sessions, sizes the next one around your recovery, and shows you the hours your attention actually peaks. STRUCTURED FOCUS MODES Pomodoro (25/5) — Classic deep work intervals Long Focus (50/10) — Extended sessions for complex tasks Short Sprint (15/3) — A low-friction way to start on a bad day Flow Mode (no limit) — Open-ended, stop when you are done AI Adaptive (Premium) — Session length set for you, not guessed Custom Timers (Premium) — Your own work rhythm, up to 10 presets AI ADAPTIVE TIMER (PREMIUM) Instead of asking how long you can concentrate, Cortex works it out. With Apple Health connected it reads your heart rate variability and last night's sleep; without Health it falls back to a time-of-day model. Keep finishing your sessions and it extends them. 19 AMBIENT TRACKS Focus: lo-fi beats, acoustic, downtempo, neo-classical, space ambient, cinematic, chillwave, jazz hop, deep pulse, ethereal piano. Sleep: ethereal pads, deep drone, analog wash, submarine, harp lullaby, binaural, distant choir, zen garden, zero gravity. Three focus tracks ship inside the app and are free. The other 16 come with Premium and download on demand, Wi-Fi recommended. Audio keeps playing with the screen locked. SLEEP TIMER (PREMIUM) Six durations from 15 minutes to 2 hours. Sound fades out gradually and stops — no alarm at the end. A morning check-in records how you slept and whether you woke up rested; with Apple Health connected, the sleep screen also shows last night's stages and a sleep score. DATA, NOT FEELINGS Focus Score — weekly performance metric Peak Hours — the hours your attention actually peaks Heatmaps — focus patterns across the month Weekly Report — personalized recommendations computed on device from your own sessions (Premium; the first week is free) Streaks & Achievements — gamified progress that compounds daily CSV export of every session (Premium) APPLE HEALTH, READ ONLY Only when you tap Connect, and only three data types: heart rate variability, resting heart rate and sleep analysis. Cortex never writes anything to Apple Health. Those readings, and the recovery and sleep scores computed from them, stay on your device and are not sent to analytics. The app works fully without Health. 10 languages · Neo-brutalist design · No ads · No data selling · Usage analytics can be switched off in Settings Built for people who use Notion, Linear, and Arc — not pastel wellness apps Your brain is a machine. We help you run it at peak RPM. --- SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Cortex Premium is available as Monthly, Annual, or Lifetime purchase. - Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation - Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled 24+ hours before period end - Manage or cancel anytime in Account Settings after purchase - Privacy Policy: https://cortex-focus.com/privacy/ - Terms of Use: https://cortex-focus.com/terms/