Comparison

Chime vs EM

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

Head to head
About

Chime

Features
Read full description

Chime gets you from zero to training in seconds. Pick a mode, tap start, and move. Run Tabata, EMOM, AMRAP, or any HIIT-style workout with clear audio cues and haptic feedback that keep pace with you, even when your phone is locked. WORKOUT MODES Tabata The classic 20-on / 10-off format. Eight rounds. AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible) Set the clock and chase as many rounds as possible. EMOM (Every Minute On the Minute) Set your rounds and move on the minute, every minute. Custom Dial in your own rounds, work time, and rest time for circuits, conditioning blocks, or strength intervals. FEATURES • Configurable pre-session countdown • Large progress ring, readable at a glance • Audio and haptic cues with independent controls • Timer and cues keep running with your phone locked • Play, pause, skip, and rewind controls during any session • Dark mode support • No ads, no login, no account, no tracking

About

EM

This interval timer app is designed for serious training, offering customizable workouts like EMOM, HIIT, and Tabata. It features clear visual cues, audio and haptic alerts that play over music, and a unique breathing mode for rest periods. Unlock advanced features and unlimited timers with a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • Customizable interval timers (EMOM, HIIT, Tabata)
  • Visual countdowns with phase-specific colors
  • Audio and haptic cues over music
  • Breathing mode for rest periods
  • Save and organize custom workouts
  • Apple Watch integration (Pro)
  • Workout planning and history (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Set it, start it, get to work. EM:OM is an interval timer for people who actually train. Kettlebell circuits, EMOM, Tabata, HIIT, grip repeaters, boxing rounds, or one long block. No clutter, no accounts, no ads, no tracking. READ IT FROM ACROSS THE GYM The countdown fills the screen in the color of the phase: volt for work, blue for rest, amber for the lead-in, red for the last few seconds. You can check the clock mid-set without walking over or squinting. Turn your phone sideways and it goes bigger still. SIX WAYS TO SEE THE CLOCK Steady keeps a dark screen and lets the number carry the phase. Tide fills and drains with the clock, so the level is the timer. Four more come with Pro: Tally gives every second its own cell, Ropes closes a ring in as the round runs out, Glow heats the whole screen toward the switch, and Lanes lays your whole workout out as columns. CUES THAT MIX OVER YOUR MUSIC Beeps and haptics fire right over Spotify, Apple Music or a podcast. Nothing pauses. They keep working on silent and with the screen locked, so you never miss a switch. Warning beeps count you into every change. BREATHE THROUGH THE REST During rest the countdown slowly swells and settles, six breaths a minute. Recover on purpose instead of scrolling. Turn it off any time. BUILT THE WAY YOU TRAIN Interval, EMOM, Tabata, a single block, or a custom circuit where every exercise is its own mini timer with its own work, rest and rounds. Name them, save them, start them in one tap. CHAIN TIMERS INTO ONE RUN (PRO) Programs link your saved timers back to back: warm-up, workout, finisher, with no tapping in between. PLAN YOUR WEEK (PRO) Assign workouts to days and let EM:OM tick them off from your history. A simple repeating template. No streaks, no guilt. ON YOUR WRIST (PRO) Run any timer from Apple Watch with a phase ring and a tap on every switch, so your phone can stay across the gym. Follow your rounds from the lock screen and Dynamic Island. FREE AND PRO Free: up to 5 saved timers, the Steady and Tide styles, every timer type, all the cues, and iCloud sync. Pro is a one-time unlock, no subscription: Tally, Ropes, Glow and Lanes, Programs, Weekly Plan, Apple Watch, Live Activity, voice countdown, unlimited timers, and workout history. Your timers and settings sync through your private iCloud on every plan, including free.

Screenshots

Chime4 screens
EM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chime at none against EM's 1. EM's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). 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. EM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chime asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chime ships an update monthly, EM every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Chime versus EM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChimeEM
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS1717.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKunal ParmarUnbridled Labs

In-app purchases

None

Chime

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

EM

One-time1
  • EM:OM Pro$5.99

Questions

Is Chime free?
Chime is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EM free?
EM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chime or EM have ads?
Neither Chime nor EM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chime or EM?
Chime ships an update monthly, and EM every 6 days. Most recently, Chime was updated on October 25, 2026 and EM on October 28, 2026.

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