Comparison

Tempo vs Round Timer

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

Head to head
About

Tempo

Features
Read full description

Tempo is an interval timer for people who actually train. Two tools in one app: a rest timer for between sets, and a routine builder for HIIT, Tabata, EMOM and circuits. FREE, FOREVER - Rest timer with 30s, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00 and 3:00 presets and a live progress ring - Set and round counters you tap as you go - Four built-in routines: Tabata 20/10, HIIT 30/30, EMOM 10 and a Pyramid - Build and save a routine of your own - Keeps running with the screen locked, and tells you when rest is over - Editing and deleting your routines is free, and always will be - Everything stays on your device. No account, no sign-up THE WORKOUT PLAYER Start a routine and the whole screen becomes the workout. A large ring counts the current interval down, the colour tells you whether you are working or resting, and the line underneath shows what is coming next and how far through the routine you are. Pause, skip an interval, or stop at any point. BUILD ANY INTERVAL PATTERN Work and rest from 5 seconds to 10 minutes, any number of rounds, and a separate break between rounds. Drag the intervals into the order you want. Tempo shows you the total workout time before you start. TEMPO PRO - Save as many routines as you want, instead of one - Every pattern you can build, kept: work, rest, rounds and round breaks - Restored on every iPhone and iPad signed into your Apple Account WHAT YOU WILL NOT FIND No ads. No account to create. No quiz before the app works. No coach selling you a programme. Tempo Pro is a subscription: 2.99 USD per month, or 19.99 USD per year with the first 14 days free. Prices are shown in local currency by region. Cancel any time during the free trial and you are not charged. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically for the same price and period unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://thedolceway.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://thedolceway.com/privacy

About

Round Timer

This app provides a simple and clear interval timer for various workout types like HIIT, Tabata, and boxing. It offers quick start options, large visual cues, and voice prompts to keep you focused during your training sessions.

Highlights
  • Quick start for last workout
  • Built-in workout presets
  • Custom workout builder
  • Large visual countdown
  • Voice cues
  • Lock Screen and Live Activity support
  • Workout history tracking
Features
Read full description

Stop fumbling with complicated timers and start your workout in seconds. Get clear interval cues, a big easy-to-read countdown, and a round timer that keeps pace without breaking your flow. Round Timer: HIIT & Tabata helps you start, run, and track interval workouts on iPhone. Built for people who want to drop the phone, glance once, and keep moving, this HIIT timer focuses on quick starts and clear feedback. The GO card always launches your most recent workout, so your usual Tabata timer or interval timer is never more than one tap away. When a workout is running, the Live Activity and Lock Screen card keep the current phase, time left, and controls in view, and you can pause, skip, or stop from there. If you train with music, voice cues speak over your audio and then your music returns to normal volume. That makes it handy for Tabata abs while watching TV, sprint repeats at the track, or boxing rounds in the gym. • Start your last workout instantly from the GO card on Quick Start. • Pick from built-in presets including Classic Tabata, Beginner HIIT, EMOM 10, AMRAP 20, Boxing Rounds, and Sprint Intervals. • Build custom workouts with your own work, rest, rounds, get ready, and cooldown times. • Choose a protocol like Tabata, HIIT, EMOM, AMRAP, Circuit, Rounds, Sprint, or Custom. • Add per-round labels so voice cues can say Burpees or Push-ups instead of a generic work prompt. • See a giant full-screen countdown with color changes for work, rest, prep, cooldown, and finish. • Keep the next step in view with the UP NEXT preview and the round counter. • Control a session with large Restart, Play or Pause, and Skip buttons. • Let a saved workout start a playlist from your music library automatically and stop it when the workout ends. • Keep cues going when the screen locks, with optional haptics on every phase change. • Check History for this week, total time, streak, and session details, then share or delete a session. • Start from Home Screen, Lock Screen, Control Center, or a shortcut for even faster access. It fits real training moments. Start Classic Tabata for a quick core set, throw together a Circuit for class, run EMOM 10 in a garage gym, use Sprint Intervals for repeats, or keep Boxing Rounds visible from across the room. If you want one clean workout record instead of a pile of tiny entries, Pro can save each completed session to Apple Health as a single workout. The free version lets you save up to 3 custom workouts. Pro removes that limit and adds Apple Health saving for completed sessions. Music access is only needed if you want to play a playlist from your library, and Health access is only needed if you choose to save workouts there. Pick a preset, tap GO, and turn your iPhone into a clear, dependable HIIT timer for Tabata, EMOM, AMRAP, boxing rounds, and more. Terms of Use (EULA) - http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Tempo4 screens
Round Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tempo at none against Round Timer's 3. Tempo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Round Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price 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. Round Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Tempo asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tempo ships an update every 5 months, Round Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Tempo versus Round Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTempoRound Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDt novaSandeep Bhandari

In-app purchases

None

Tempo

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Round Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Forever Pro$99.99

Questions

Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Round Timer free?
Round Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tempo or Round Timer have ads?
Round Timer shows ads; Tempo does not.
Which is updated more often, Tempo or Round Timer?
Tempo ships an update every 5 months, and Round Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Tempo was updated on October 28, 2026 and Round Timer on October 25, 2026.

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