Comparison

Cook Timer vs Chef Tools

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

Head to head
About

Cook Timer

Features
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You set the timer. Put the phone down. Came back to overcooked pasta. One alarm isn't enough when you're cooking three things at once. Cook Timer runs multiple named timers side-by-side — pasta, chicken, veggies — all on one screen. Nothing gets forgotten because each timer tells you exactly what it's counting down for. [What Changes When You Use Cook Timer] • Multiple dishes in progress — nothing overcooked, nothing burnt • Each timer is labeled with the dish name — no more "which timer is that?" • Large countdown display readable from across the kitchen [Timers That Actually Go Off] - Triple alert: vibration + sound + screen flash - Works in silent mode — vibration and flash still fire - Background and lock screen compatible — keep cooking, we've got the timing People say things like: "Finally a timer that actually rings. Every time." "I'm doing laundry while pasta's going — no missed timer once." "The labeled timers saved dinner. I had 4 things going and nothing got overcooked." "I've had timers not ring when my phone was locked or on silent." — Cook Timer uses system notifications with triple-redundancy (vibration + flash + sound). Even with the screen off, even in silent mode, you'll know when your dish is done. "My last timer app broke after an update — right in the middle of dinner." — Core timer functionality is the one thing that cannot break. Cook Timer's alerts and countdown logic don't change with updates. "I opened my usual app and got a full-screen ad before I could even set the timer." — Cook Timer doesn't interrupt you at the moment you need it most. Open the app — the timer screen is already there. "Is it free?" — Up to 5 simultaneous timers and built-in presets are free. Premium unlocks unlimited timers and the full preset library ($0.99/month). Premium Subscription: Upgrade to Premium for unlimited timers and full preset access. - Monthly plan: $0.99/month - Payment charged to Apple ID account at purchase confirmation - Subscription automatically renews unless canceled 24 hours before period end - Manage subscriptions in Apple ID Account Settings Privacy Policy: https://cook-timer-prod.web.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://cook-timer-prod.web.app/terms.html Cook confidently. Everything lands on the table on time. [From the Kitchen Series — Related Apps] - FridgeCook AI (AI Recipe Generator): Use what's in your fridge, then time it perfectly with Cook Timer - FastWise (Fasting Timer): Manage your eating window and cook your best meal when it opens Search each app name on the App Store. You might also like - FridgeCook AI - Recipe Finder: 3-Second Recipe. No Thinking. - SweetLog - Cafe Sweets Diary: AI Writes Your Cafe Instagram. Search for these apps by name on the App Store.

About

Chef Tools

Features
Read full description

Chef Tools is an all-in-one kitchen companion built for chefs, cooks, culinary teams and serious home cooks who need speed, organization and clarity during prep, service and planning. Keep your recipes, timers, prep lists, kitchen photos, allergen checks, notes, schedules and unit conversions in one clean app designed for real kitchen workflow. Build and manage your recipe library with ingredients, steps, yield, categories, tags, photos and allergen information. Scale recipes by portion count, then share, save as PDF or print updated versions for prep, training or service. Run multiple kitchen timers with a compact layout, clear status, longer alerts, vibration support and overrun tracking so you can see how long an item stayed past the target time. Use Prep List to quickly capture what needs to be done before or during service. Add items fast, mark them complete, attach quantities, stations, notes and dates, and keep your mise en place organized without slowing down. Save kitchen photos for dishes, plating references, prep batches, labels, stations and other visual notes. View photos full screen, zoom in, share, print or export them as PDFs. Check allergens using an on-device allergen database and OCR-based photo scanning. Scan a recipe or ingredient text and Chef Tools helps identify possible allergens without relying on an internet connection. Allergen support is designed around common US, Canadian and international kitchen needs, including gluten/wheat, dairy/milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, sesame, fish, shellfish, mustard, sulphites and more. Plan your work with tasks, quick notes and schedule tools. Add reminders, organize prep, service, cleaning and admin items, and keep important kitchen notes easy to access from the home screen. Use the built-in converter for common kitchen measurements including weight, volume and temperature. Convert quickly while cooking, scaling or adjusting recipes. Chef Tools also supports iCloud sync, so your recipes, notes, schedules, tasks, prep lists and kitchen data can stay available across iPhone, iPad and Mac when iCloud is enabled. Why chefs use Chef Tools: • Recipe manager with ingredients, steps, yield and photos • Recipe scaling for different portion counts • Share, save PDF and print recipe sheets • Multiple compact kitchen timers • Timer overrun tracking • Prep list for fast kitchen organization • Kitchen photo library with zoom, PDF, share and print • On-device allergen keyword checks • OCR photo scanning for recipe and ingredient text • Tasks, reminders and quick notes • Schedule and service planning • Unit, volume and temperature converter • iCloud sync across Apple devices • Clean, compact interface built for daily kitchen use • Multilingual interface support Whether you are preparing service, documenting recipes, checking allergens, timing dishes, saving plating photos or organizing your daily prep, Chef Tools helps keep the kitchen moving with less friction. Designed for practical kitchen work. Built to keep important details close when timing, accuracy and organization matter.

Screenshots

Cook Timer4 screens
Chef Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chef Tools at none against Cook Timer's 3. Chef Tools also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Cook Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Chef Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Cook Timer versus Chef Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCook TimerChef Tools
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomohito KiiYaroslav Mykolaienko

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Cook Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly - Cook Timer$2.991 Month
  • Annual - Cook Timer$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$29.99
None

Chef Tools

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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