Pulse vs IntervalForge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pulse
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Pulse: HIIT Interval Timer makes high-intensity interval training simple and effective. No sign-ups, no clutter — just fast, easy-to-use timers for your workouts. FEATURES: - Pre-set HIIT & Tabata workouts - Customizable intervals & rounds - Clear visual and sound alerts - Works fully offline - Lightweight and ad-supported (optional) Perfect for beginners and pros alike — Pulse keeps your training focused, simple, and motivating. Start your workout today!
IntervalForge
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72-point digits you can read from across the gym. Live Activity countdown right on your Lock Screen. Pay once, use forever — no subscriptions. READY-MADE PRESETS Three built-in templates to get you started instantly: Tabata Classic (20s/10s × 8 sets), HIIT 30/15 (3 sets with 60s rest), and Circuit 3-Exercise (4 sets with 90s rest). BIG NUMBERS FOR THE GYM 72-point digits you can read from a distance. The entire screen turns red during work and green during rest — a quick glance tells you exactly where you are. LIVE ACTIVITY See your countdown on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island in real time. No need to open the app to check your remaining time. Live Activity is available for free. BACKGROUND TIMER Lock your screen, switch apps, play music — the timer keeps running. Notifications alert you at every interval change. FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE Set work and rest durations, number of sets, and rest between sets. Add a name, icon, and color to each workout. BUY ONCE, USE FOREVER No monthly fees. The Pro upgrade ($2.99) is a one-time purchase that unlocks unlimited workout saves and preset editing. Free users get 3 presets plus 1 custom workout. FEATURES - Buy once — no subscriptions - 72pt large display - Live Activity & Dynamic Island (free) - Full-screen color indicators (red = work, green = rest) - 3-second countdown alerts - Haptic feedback - Background operation - 3 preset templates - Workout history - Screen sleep prevention
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Pulse at 16.0 against IntervalForge's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Pulse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and IntervalForge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Pulse ships an update fortnightly, IntervalForge every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pulse | IntervalForge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Girish Padavala | Shuto Nishiyama |
In-app purchases
Pulse
- Pulse Pro Lifetime$3.99
IntervalForge
- IntervalForge Pro$2.99
Questions
Is Pulse free?
Is IntervalForge free?
Do Pulse or IntervalForge have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pulse or IntervalForge?
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