Comparison

Rest vs Ben’s Timer

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

Head to head
About

Rest

This app automatically starts rest timers between sets based on exercise type, eliminating guesswork. It offers fast set logging, routine creation, and detailed progress tracking with charts. Enjoy offline functionality and data export for a seamless workout experience.

Highlights
  • Automatic rest timer by exercise type
  • Lock screen and Dynamic Island Live Activities
  • Fast set logging with pre-filled data
  • Customizable routines and workout history
  • Exercise progression charts and personal records
  • Offline functionality and data export
Features
Read full description

Log a set and Rest starts your rest timer on its own, with the right duration for the exercise: more time after heavy squats and deadlifts, less after curls and lateral raises. No guessing, no forgetting to start the clock. AUTOMATIC REST TIMER • 5 rest tiers by exercise type: heavy compound 4 min, compound 3 min, accessory 2 min, isolation 90 s, light isolation 60 s • 100+ exercises already classified • Set your own rest time for any exercise and Rest remembers it LOCK SCREEN & DYNAMIC ISLAND • The countdown stays on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island with Live Activities • See the exercise and set at a glance, without unlocking your phone • Haptics and a notification when it's time for the next set FAST SET LOGGING • Weight and reps, nothing else • Last session's numbers are pre-filled: one tap logs the set and starts the timer ROUTINES, HISTORY & PROGRESSION • Save your splits as routines (push, pull, legs...) or start an empty workout • Browse and edit past sessions, copy a clean workout summary to your notes • Charts per exercise: max weight, estimated 1RM, volume and personal records • Weekly volume and muscle group breakdown PRIVATE & OFFLINE • No account, no sign-up • Your workouts are stored on your iPhone and the app works without a connection, even in a basement gym • Export and import your data to move to a new phone kg or lbs, light and dark themes. REST PRO Rest Pro unlocks the whole app: automatic rest timer, Live Activities, unlimited routines, history and progression. Choose a yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial, or a monthly subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase (at the end of the trial for the yearly plan). Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Built by a lifter, for lifters. Terms of Use (EULA): https://rest.naelostudio.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://rest.naelostudio.com/privacy

About

Ben’s Timer

Features
Read full description

Ben's Timer is a simple interval timer for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch – no ads, no account, no tracking. Set up work, rest, rounds and sets in seconds, then train right on your Apple Watch: a big countdown, a colored progress ring and noticeable haptics on your wrist – even with your wrist down. Or turn your iPhone or iPad sideways: the remaining time fills the screen and is easy to read from a few meters away. FEATURES • Fully adjustable: get ready, warm-up, work, rest, rounds, sets, set rest, cool-down • Custom sections: build each round from your own work and rest sections, each with its own duration and name, e.g. sprint 30 s, rest 15 s, push-ups 45 s • Choose the figure per phase and section: e.g. squat, burpee, running, walking or riding at a walk, trot and canter • Large round counter, countdown for the last seconds and an optional end-of-round warning (e.g. 10 s in boxing) • Elapsed and remaining total time at a glance • Signals per phase: sound and countdown adjustable for each phase • Phase names that match your sport (“Fight”, “Relaxation”, “Exercise” …) – or your own, like “Sparring” • Sounds: real recordings of a boxing bell, gong, wind chimes, singing bowl, tubular bells, hand bells, metallophone and kalimba, synthesized tones or vibration only • 22 themes, e.g. the flip clock with flipping digits (in color or all black, optionally with a soft flip sound), Zen, Dojo, Neon, Ocean, Retro, High Contrast or Night Vision (red on black) – per preset • Full screen: hide the controls – the remaining time fills the screen, tap to pause • Animated stick figure for your sport during the work phase – with a rope for jump rope, a bike for indoor cycling and a rowing machine for rowing and a horse at a rising trot for riding • Ready-made presets: Tabata-style intervals (20/10), HIIT 40/20, Yoga final relaxation, Kumite, Boxing, Mobility, Run & Walk, Stretching / Physio, Norwegian 4×4, Jump Rope, Indoor Cycling, Rowing, Riding intervals • Start now without the get-ready phase • iPad: presets and editor side by side, full-screen timer in any window size • Mac: its own app with the timer in a window or full screen and keyboard shortcuts • Apple Watch: runs on its own, shows phase, round and heart rate; tap the center to pause, end on a separate page to avoid accidental taps • iPhone and Apple Watch together: one workout, controllable on both devices • iCloud sync (optional): keep presets the same on iPhone, iPad and Mac • Apple Health: saves workouts with the matching workout type, e.g. jump rope, indoor cycling, rowing or equestrian sports (can be turned off) • English, German, Spanish and French PRIVACY Your presets stay on your devices – and, if you turn on sync, in your own iCloud. Health data is only read from or written to Apple Health with your permission and is never sent to the developer. Requires iOS or iPadOS 17, macOS 26 for the Mac app and – for the Watch app – watchOS 10 or later.

Screenshots

Rest4 screens
Ben’s Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ben’s Timer at none against Rest's 2. Ben’s Timer also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Rest sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. Ben’s Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rest ships an update every 3 weeks, Ben’s Timer daily. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Rest versus Ben’s Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRestBen’s Timer
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVeil-itBenjamin Hargarten

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Rest

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Rest Pro$59.99
None

Ben’s Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rest free?
Rest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ben’s Timer free?
Ben’s Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Rest or Ben’s Timer have ads?
Neither Rest nor Ben’s Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rest or Ben’s Timer?
Rest ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ben’s Timer daily. Most recently, Rest was updated on October 31, 2026 and Ben’s Timer on October 31, 2026.

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