# Transcend Timer vs Cairn

The clearest difference is monetization model: Transcend Timer at free against Cairn's freemium. Transcend Timer also leads on iOS requirement (18.4 vs 26.0). Cairn's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Transcend Timer ships an update every 5 weeks, Cairn every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Transcend Timer | Cairn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transcend-timer/id6762544559/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 11 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.4** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Martin Di Giglio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814382701) | [Robin Fitzpatrick](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786061217) |

## What reviewers say

### Transcend Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transcend-timer/id6762544559)

This app provides a guided meditation experience with customizable phases for warming up, meditating, and cooling down. It automatically logs sessions to Apple Health and prioritizes user privacy with no account or internet required.

**Highlights:** Three-phase meditation timer (Warm Up, Meditate, Cool Down), Customizable phase durations, Screen stays on during sessions, Automatic Apple Health logging, Adjustable brightness reduction, Background operation with screen lock, No account or internet required

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cairn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cairn-journal-and-mood-tracker/id6786061215)

This private journal app stays entirely on your device, offering AI-powered reflection and mood tracking. Write, speak, or scan handwritten notes, and gain insights into your patterns without any data leaving your phone. It's designed for gentle self-discovery and personal growth.

**Highlights:** On-device journaling, AI-powered reflection prompts, Mood and theme pattern analysis, Voice and handwriting input, Offline functionality, Face ID lock

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Transcend Timer free?

Transcend Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cairn free?

Cairn is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Transcend Timer or Cairn have ads?

Neither Transcend Timer nor Cairn shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Transcend Timer or Cairn?

Transcend Timer ships an update every 5 weeks, and Cairn every 10 days. Most recently, Transcend Timer was updated on October 24, 2026 and Cairn on October 9, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*