Comparison

Podo vs Rostrum

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

Head to head
About

Podo

Features
Read full description

Stay Focused, Stay Productive with Podo. Are you looking for a simple, distraction-free way to manage your time? Podo is a minimalist Pomodoro timer designed to help you focus on what matters most. Unlike other timer apps cluttered with ads and unnecessary features, Podo offers a clean, calm environment for your study, work, or creative sessions. Just set the timer, pick your favorite theme, and dive into your flow state. Key Features: 100% Ad-Free: Enjoy a completely uninterrupted focus experience. No pop-ups, no banners. Minimalist Design: A clean interface that does not distract you. It is intuitive and easy to use from the moment you open it. Beautiful Themes: Customize your timer with various color themes to match your mood and style. Privacy First: We respect your data. Podo runs entirely on your device and does not collect or transmit any personal information. No internet connection required. Battery Efficient: Optimized to run smoothly without draining your battery. Perfect For: - Students preparing for exams - Freelancers and remote workers - Writers and creatives - Anyone practicing the Pomodoro Technique Download Podo today and reclaim your focus!

About

Rostrum

This app provides a silent, visual countdown timer for speakers, with customizable color cues to indicate time remaining. It offers intuitive gesture controls for adjustments and can mirror the display to a larger screen.

Highlights
  • Silent visual countdown
  • Customizable color stages
  • Gesture-based editing
  • External display mirroring
  • Never dims screen
  • Remembers settings
Features
Read full description

Rostrum shows a speaker how much time is left, as a clock large enough to read from the back of the room — or from a phone propped on the podium. The background changes color at times you choose. Green while there's plenty left, amber when it's time to move on, red when it isn't. You decide how many stages there are and exactly when each one starts — most timers give you three fixed colors and no say in the matter. SILENT BY DESIGN No chimes. No alerts. No notifications. Not "sounds turned off by default" — Rostrum contains no code that can make a sound. Your audience never knows the timer is there. THE CLOCK IS THE CONTROL No buttons over your countdown. Tap to start or pause. Pause it and the clock becomes the editor: swipe with one finger to adjust seconds, two fingers for minutes, three for hours. A running clock refuses those swipes on purpose — a hand steadying the phone should not be able to rewrite a talk in progress. Pinch in to leave. A one-time overlay teaches the gestures, and a quiet line along the bottom of the clock keeps the key ones in view whenever the clock is stopped. Mid-talk, nothing but the time. BUILT FOR WHOEVER IS RUNNING THE ROOM Changing a talk length takes one tap. Set your common slot lengths once — 5, 15, 30, 45 minutes, whatever your event uses — and switch between speakers instantly. ON A BIG SCREEN WHEN YOU NEED IT Connect a display with AirPlay or USB-C and the clock fills it while your phone becomes the remote: start, pause, and adjust from your hand while the speaker watches the screen. WHEN TIME RUNS OUT The screen turns red and flashes briefly, then counts upward so a speaker can see exactly how far over they are. Impossible to miss, impossible to mistake for anything else. DETAILS THAT MATTER ON STAGE • The screen never dims while the clock is up • A phone call or a lock screen never stops the countdown — the full time is there when you come back • Digits never jitter or shift as the numbers change • Text color adapts automatically so it stays readable on any background • Remembers your setup between launches Also on the Mac App Store — one free app, both platforms. Free, with no purchases, no accounts, and no data collection of any kind. Rostrum has no network code — there is nowhere for your information to go.

Screenshots

Podo4 screens
Rostrum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Podo at weekly against Rostrum's every 3 weeks. Podo also leads on iOS requirement (15.2 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Podo ships an update weekly, Rostrum every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Podo versus Rostrum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPodoRostrum
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 purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.2 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size146 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSooHwan LimScott GREER

In-app purchases

None

Podo

No in-app purchases

None

Rostrum

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Podo free?
Podo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rostrum free?
Rostrum is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Podo or Rostrum have ads?
Neither Podo nor Rostrum shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Podo or Rostrum?
Podo ships an update weekly, and Rostrum every 3 weeks. Most recently, Podo was updated on October 28, 2026 and Rostrum on October 29, 2026.

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