Comparison

S.D Timer vs SourTime

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

Head to head
About

S.D Timer

Features
Read full description

S.D TIMER computes the exact feeding schedule for your sourdough starter, working backward from your target ready time to give you a precise feed time and gram-level recipe. HOW IT WORKS Enter six parameters: target ready time, quantity of starter needed (grams), desired hydration percentage, flour type, starter activity level (%), and ambient temperature (°C or °F). The app applies a fermentation kinetics model that factors temperature-dependent metabolic rates of lactic acid bacteria and wild yeast to calculate when your starter will hit peak activity. OUTPUT — YOUR FEEDING PLAN • Feed time: the exact moment to feed so your starter peaks on schedule • Starter / flour / water quantities in grams • Feed ratio (e.g., 1:9.8:9.8) • Estimated peak pH • Predicted flavor profile (mild, balanced, tangy, complex) • Recommended bread types suited to the resulting starter profile • Fermentation timeline chart with 80% activity window marked Set process alarms directly from the results screen to get notified at feed time and at peak. DESIGNED FOR PRECISION Temperature has a nonlinear effect on fermentation speed. A 5°C difference between summer and winter kitchens can shift peak time by 2–4 hours. S.D TIMER accounts for this so your timing stays consistent regardless of ambient conditions. Supports both Celsius and Fahrenheit. Works across all flour types including whole wheat, rye, spelt, and einkorn. Starter activity input lets you calibrate for your specific culture's behavior. PROFESSIONAL & HOME BAKERS Built for bakers who want repeatability and data-driven control over their sourdough process. Used by professional bakery instructors for workshop demonstrations and planning. No login required. Works offline once loaded. FREE VERSION This is the free edition of S.D TIMER, supported by banner ads. For an ad-free experience, upgrade to S.D TIMER Pro.

About

SourTime

This app helps bakers meticulously manage sourdough bread creation. It calculates precise ingredient quantities based on desired loaf weight and guides users through each stage of the baking process with timed phases. Features include starter care, a baking history, and customizable quiet hours for overnight proofs.

Highlights
  • Ingredient quantity calculator
  • Multi-phase baking timer
  • Starter care and feeding schedule
  • Baking history and notes
  • Customizable quiet hours
  • Lock Screen and Dynamic Island integration
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Sourdough forgives almost everything. Except bad timing. SourTime takes over the part that goes wrong when you try to keep it in your head: the quantities and the clock. Tell the app how big your loaf should be — it works out flour, water, starter and salt to the gram, then walks you through every phase, from autolyse to out of the oven. THE CALCULATOR Dial in the loaf weight and every ingredient follows. Hydration and ratios stay adjustable, and your own blends of wheat, rye, spelt and wholemeal take seconds to set up. If you want, the app also works out how warm the water needs to be for the dough to hit its target temperature. THE TIMER Five phases, each with the step that belongs to it: autolyse, bulk ferment, shaping, final proof, bake. The remaining time sits on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island — pause and resume without opening the app. ON APPLE WATCH Time remaining right on the watch face. Start, pause and resume the timer without taking your iPhone out of your pocket. ON THE HOME SCREEN The widget shows something even when no timer is running: starter care with the progress towards the next feeding, the next step from plan mode, or the recipe in short — depending on the widget size. You can feed the starter right there, with a confirmation step against mistaps and an undo button in Settings. YOUR STARTER A starter of your own in seven days, guided day by day. After that SourTime keeps track of the feeding rhythm and brings a timer of its own. QUIET HOURS Long overnight proofs come with the territory. Tell SourTime when you sleep and it shifts its reminders instead of waking you at three. YOUR LOAVES Every bake goes into your history with its recipe, notes, rating and a photo. So you can find your way back to what worked last time. NO ACCOUNT, NO ADS SourTime has no sign-in and no server. Everything stays on your device. No advertising, no tracking, no third-party analytics. SOURTIME PRO The free version isn't a demo: the calculator, the full phase timer, the starter assistant and your history are in it and stay in it. Pro lifts the limits and unlocks Plan mode, which works backwards from the time you want bread on the table. It adds the overnight cold proof in the fridge and a reminder to preheat the oven. The running timer on the Lock Screen, in the widget and on the Apple Watch is part of Pro as well — everything else in the widget shows without it. Buy once. No subscription.

Screenshots

S.D Timer4 screens
SourTime4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: S.D Timer at none against SourTime's 1. S.D Timer also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). SourTime's advantage is ads (none vs shown). 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. SourTime sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. S.D Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
S.D Timer versus SourTime: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterS.D TimerSourTime
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Fortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB9 MB
Age rating17+4+
Developeroran kamelgarnRupert Andreas Maier

In-app purchases

None

S.D Timer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

SourTime

One-time1
  • SourTime Pro$8.99

Questions

Is S.D Timer free?
S.D Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SourTime free?
SourTime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do S.D Timer or SourTime have ads?
S.D Timer shows ads; SourTime does not.

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