Comparison

xHours vs Hold Fast

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

Head to head
About

xHours

Features
Read full description

Turn intermittent fasting into a simple, visual habit. No more "can I eat yet?" A 24-hour ring shows where you are in your day, how long you've fasted, and when your eating window opens — so you can stop watching the clock and just live. Life isn't rigid, and neither is xHours. Ate early? Pushed your fast longer? Switch phase with a tap. Need a day off? Pause without breaking your stats. Set your schedule once and the app carries it, day after day. And it's yours. No account. No ads. No subscription. Nothing leaves your phone. Even Apple Watch is included — free. TRY EVERY PREMIUM FEATURE FREE FOR 7 DAYS Statistics, Live Activity, custom alarms, the fasting guide, weekly programs, metabolic phases and full personalization — all unlocked from day one. No card required. When the trial ends, the core app stays free, forever. WHY YOU'LL LIKE IT - Set it and forget the timer — pick a schedule and start time, xHours handles the phases automatically - Your whole day at a glance — a visual 24-hour ring with clear fasting and eating colors - Fasting that bends to your life — 12:12, 14:10, 16:8, 18:6, 20:4, OMAD or any custom plan - Change your mind anytime — switch phase with a tap, or pause on non-fasting days without disrupting your stats - On your wrist, free — full Apple Watch sync at no extra cost - Always in view — Home Screen widget keeps your timer one look away - Truly private — no account, no ads, nothing collected; everything stays on your device - Speaks your language — 22 languages PREMIUM Unlock with the 7-day trial or a one-time purchase: - Weekly programs — a different plan for each day, with its own schedule and rest days - Metabolic phases — follow your fasting phases on the ring (fed state, ketosis, autophagy). General estimates, not medical advice - Lock Screen widgets — your fast in view the moment you pick up your phone - Live Activity — your timer in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen, no need to open the app - Statistics & history — streaks, averages and charts to watch your progress grow - Custom alarms — your own sounds for the end of a fast and the start of a new cycle - Fasting guide — the pros and cons of each schedule (16:8, 18:6, OMAD…) - Full personalization — recolor the ring, rename phases, save your presets PRICING - One-time purchase: unlock Premium forever - No subscription, no renewals - 7-day free trial included IMPORTANT xHours is a support tool and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to a healthcare professional before starting any fasting routine — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition or a history of eating disorders. Terms of Service: https://smallappstudio.com/xHours/terms.html Privacy: https://smallappstudio.com/xHours/privacy.html Contact: support@smallappstudio.com

About

Hold Fast

This app provides a clean and reliable timer for intermittent fasting. It offers customizable plans, progress tracking, and live activity updates without ads or clutter. Focus on your fasting goals with an intuitive interface.

Highlights
  • One-tap fasting start
  • Live Activity and Dynamic Island timer
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Popular fasting plans included
  • Sun Up to Sun Down plan
  • Fasting history and trend charts
  • Start and goal reminders
Features
Read full description

Fasting works. Remembering when you started, when to stop, and whether you're on track? That's the hard part. Hold Fast makes it effortless. Whatever your reason for fasting, Hold Fast keeps up. Some people fast to manage their weight. Others do it for metabolic health, steady energy, sharper focus, longevity, spiritual practice, or simply the discipline of it. Hold Fast doesn't push one goal on you. It just tracks your fast, cleanly and reliably, so you can focus on why you started. Tap once to start your fast. Watch the timer count up on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Dynamic Island, without even opening the app. Hit your goal, log the win, and build a streak you can actually see. That's the whole idea: a fasting app that gets out of your way. No noise, no clutter, no ads. Just a clean timer and the data that keeps you consistent. WHY YOU'LL STICK WITH IT • One tap to start, so your fast is always a glance away • Popular plans built in: 14:10, 16:8, 18:6, 20:4, and OMAD • A unique Sun Up to Sun Down plan that tracks your fast to local sunrise and sunset • Streaks and history that make progress feel real and keep you coming back FEATURES • Live Activity and Dynamic Island for real-time progress • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets in every size • Full fasting history with a month calendar and weekly trend charts • Start and goal reminders so you never miss your window • Private by design. Your data syncs across your devices through your own iCloud, never our servers • Export your complete history to CSV anytime • Sign in with Apple, or just start as a guest • Beautiful in dark mode, with full Dynamic Type support HOLD FAST PRO Go further with a Pro subscription: • Monthly: $2.99 per month • Yearly: $19.99 per year (best value) • Start free with a 7-day trial Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple Account settings. Start your first fast today, and finally hold fast. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://holdfasthq.app/privacy Questions or feedback? Email support@holdfasthq.app. We read every message.

Screenshots

xHours4 screens
Hold Fast4 screens

Verdict

The call

xHours and Hold Fast are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. xHours sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Hold Fast sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

xHours ships an update every 9 days, Hold Fast every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
xHours versus Hold Fast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterxHoursHold Fast
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB10 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperNicola RadaelliByron Soto

In-app purchases

2 purchases

xHours

Subscriptions2
  • xHours Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • xHours Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
2 purchases

Hold Fast

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is xHours free?
xHours is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hold Fast free?
Hold Fast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do xHours or Hold Fast have ads?
Neither xHours nor Hold Fast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, xHours or Hold Fast?
xHours ships an update every 9 days, and Hold Fast every 5 days. Most recently, xHours was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hold Fast on October 17, 2026.

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