Comparison

Metta Timer vs SetBeat

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

Head to head
About

Metta Timer

This app provides a customizable interval timer for various activities like training, meditation, and daily rituals. It offers unique visual styles, text-to-speech cues, and a variety of sounds to enhance focus and presence during practice.

Highlights
  • Customizable interval sequences
  • Text-to-speech spoken cues
  • Six unique visual styles
  • Zen Mode for distraction-free sessions
  • Import custom sounds
  • Timer presets and history tracking
  • Data backup and sharing
Features
Read full description

Metta Timer: train, sit, brew. A beautifully crafted interval timer for physical training, meditation, and mindful daily rituals. Set a different photo for every interval — your meditation cushion, the trail ahead, the tea kettle, the stance you're holding — and let each phase of your practice have its own visual anchor. PHOTO BACKGROUNDS FOR EVERY INTERVAL This is what makes Metta Timer different. Assign your own image to each interval in a timer. Not one wallpaper for the whole session, but a unique photo per phase. Warm-up, work, rest, cool down: each can show the image that keeps you focused. Photos display on the Current screen and in Zen Mode fullscreen, with a subtle progress bar so you always know where you are. Share timers with photos embedded in `.mttimer` files so friends and students see your setup before they import. TRAIN Build custom interval sequences with groups and rounds. Chain phases together, each with its own duration, sounds, spoken cues, and photo. Keep your eyes on your practice, not your phone. SIT Gentle temple bells mark your meditation transitions. No jarring alarms. A photo of your altar during sitting, incense or candle visuals during transition, whatever helps you stay present. Swipe to change animated visuals without breaking your session. BREW A mindful bell when your patience is rewarded. A photo of the cup while the water steeps. Set it and forget it. SCHEDULE MODE Plan intervals by clock time, not just duration. Set start and end times for each phase, ideal for a morning routine, timed tea steps, or a class on a schedule. The timer waits until the right moment and can join mid-schedule if you open the app late. SIX ANIMATED VISUALS PLUS PHOTO Breathing Circle, Spiral Incense, Vertical Incense, Diagonal Incense, Hourglass, and Burning Candle, each crafted with care. Or choose Photo on any interval. Mix freely: photo for meditation, hourglass for exercise, candle for cool-down, all in one timer. ZEN MODE Tap the fullscreen icon for a distraction-free screen. Animated visuals fill the darkness; photo intervals go edge-to-edge with time and progress along the bottom. Swipe to cycle styles mid-session. Tap anywhere to exit. TEXT-TO-SPEECH Type any phrase and hear it at the start or end of any interval. Customize voice, speed, and pitch. Works with voice packs on iPhone and Android. SOUNDS Bell, Chime, Gong, Beep, Singing Bowl, Temple Brass Bell, Temple Bell, Temple Chime, Wooden Fish (1x and 3x), Big Temple Bell, Giant Temple Bell. Import your own MP3, M4A, WAV, or AIFF files. TIMER BUILDER Unlimited timers and intervals. Groups organize phases with independent round counts. Per interval: name, duration, color, sounds, announcements, animated visual or photo. Duplicate presets with one tap. Reorder with drag and drop. STREAKS AND HISTORY Completed timers are recorded automatically. Track consecutive practice days, total completions, and total time. Delete individual records anytime. SHARE Send any preset as a `.mttimer` file via AirDrop, Messages, email, Quick Share, or any app. Photos travel with the timer. Recipients preview everything before importing. PRESETS One Minute of Silence, Chan (Zen) Meditation, Brew High Mountain Green Tea, Horse Stance, Kung Fu Stances, and HIIT Training, ready out of the box. Set any preset as your default. BACKUP AND RESTORE Export presets and completion history as JSON. On Android, files save to Downloads automatically. Import presets or merge history onto a new device. PRIVACY All data stays on your device. No accounts. No ads. No tracking. Ever. PERFECT FOR Meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, yoga, HIIT, circuit training, martial arts, tea ceremony, kung fu, qi gong, taiji, Chan, Zen, Pomodoro, and any practice where a picture is worth a thousand reminders. Made with love and care by Metta Grove.

About

SetBeat

Features
Read full description

SetBeat is the interval training timer that works the way you train. SCREEN OFF, TIMER ON All transitions are pre-scheduled as local notifications. Pocket your phone and never miss a beat — audio + haptic alerts for every set. SILENT MODE? NO PROBLEM SetBeat uses the same audio category as music apps. Timer plays sound even when your phone is silenced. MUSIC STAYS ON SetBeat layers timer audio over Spotify or podcasts without interrupting them. WHAT YOU GET • Unlimited custom workouts — sets, active time, rest time, warm-up, cool-down • 12 exercise types with real-time MET-based calorie calculation • Weekly bar chart, monthly calendar, streak tracking, all-time totals • Wheel picker for all durations — no keyboard, no typing • Live Activity on lock screen and Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro+) • Turkish and English, auto-detected from device language • Sign in with Apple, all data stored locally on device PLANS • Monthly ($2.99 / 3-day free trial) • Annual ($14.99 / 3-day free trial) • Lifetime ($19.99 one-time — never pay again) Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://setbeat.app/privacy

Screenshots

Metta Timer4 screens
SetBeat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Metta Timer at none against SetBeat's 2. Metta Timer also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads, device support 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. SetBeat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Metta Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Metta Timer ships an update every 3 days, SetBeat every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Metta Timer versus SetBeat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMetta TimerSetBeat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLoc HuynhCYT BILISIM HIZMETLERI MAKINA SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI

In-app purchases

None

Metta Timer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SetBeat

Subscriptions1
  • SetBeat Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • SetBeat Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is Metta Timer free?
Metta Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SetBeat free?
SetBeat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Metta Timer or SetBeat have ads?
Neither Metta Timer nor SetBeat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Metta Timer or SetBeat?
Metta Timer ships an update every 3 days, and SetBeat every 10 days. Most recently, Metta Timer was updated on November 5, 2026 and SetBeat on November 5, 2026.

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