AutiBuddy vs Timer Pals
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AutiBuddy
This app offers interactive games designed to help children develop essential social, emotional, and communication skills. It features adaptive age modes and a sensory-friendly option for a personalized learning experience. Parents can track progress through a private dashboard.
- Interactive learning games
- Social and emotional skill development
- Adaptive age modes (4-6 and 7-12)
- Sensory-friendly quiet mode
- Parent progress dashboard
- Reward system with badges and charts
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Meet Bamboo the panda - your child's new learning buddy! AutiBuddy is a fun, safe, research-inspired app that helps children build essential life skills through interactive games and activities. Designed with neurodivergent and autistic learners in mind, but loved by every child who wants to grow social, emotional, and communication skills at their own pace. FOUR ENGAGING GAMES - Emotions - Bamboo shows feelings for kids to identify and understand - Social Skills - Navigate real-life scenarios with Bamboo - Communication - Match words and gestures to everyday situations - Sensory Studio - Pop bubbles, draw rainbows, paint with light, breathe with Bamboo TWO AGE MODES - Ages 4-6 (Toddler) - Big pictures, simple choices, gentle sounds - Ages 7-12 (Kids) - Stories, scenarios, and fun challenges Switch modes anytime as your child grows. 12 LEVELS PER GAME Progressive difficulty with star-based unlocks. Your child grows with the content - from recognizing basic feelings to handling real-life moments like online kindness, honesty after mistakes, and big overwhelming feelings. QUIET MODE A sensory-friendly toggle that turns off confetti, mutes celebration sounds, and creates a calmer experience for kids who need less stimulation. PARENT DASHBOARD Private, on-device insights for parents: - Weekly summaries of your child's progress - Strengths and growth areas - Recent activity log - Shareable reports - perfect for IEP meetings, therapy sessions, and school check-ins REWARDS & PROGRESS - Earn badges and fill your Trophy Room - Track progress with detailed charts - Build daily streaks to keep learning consistent - Earn 1, 2, or 3 stars per game SAFE & PRIVATE - Zero ads, ever - No data collection - No external links - No accounts or sign-ins required - 100% on-device storage - Full COPPA compliance PREMIUM FEATURES - Unlimited daily plays (free version offers 3 plays per day) - All 12 levels in every game unlocked - Full Sensory Studio access (8 calming activities) - Monthly: $4.99/month - Yearly: $29.99/year (save 50%) - 7-day free trial included Start your child's learning journey with Bamboo today! Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Timer Pals
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Timer Pals is a visual timing tool for parents and caregivers managing everyday routines. You choose the activity, set the duration and operate the timer. Colour, characters and journey progress provide a visible cue for the person following the routine, without needing them to operate the device. Formerly Dinner Pals. Same app, same familiar pals, and your existing unlock stays with you. EVERYDAY ROUTINES, COLOURFUL JOURNEYS • Plane Trip: choose Colour Flight or Sky Trail. Watch the plane travel as scenery and clouds pass by. • Road Trip: choose a town drive, country drive or little planet, with a visible countdown and journey progress. • Brushing teeth: set a two-minute visual cue. • Meals, bath time, tidying and homework: choose the duration that suits the routine you are managing. • Custom timers: name your own routine and choose its cast of pals. AN ADULT-OPERATED VISUAL CUE As the parent or caregiver, select an activity, duration and visual. Colour and progress communicate time passing; the countdown shows how much remains. Use the finishing cue to guide the transition to the next activity. Visual cues may help communicate waiting and transitions in routines, including those supported by caregivers of people with ADHD or autism. Individual needs vary. Timer Pals is a routine tool, not a treatment or a promise to prevent distress. FEATURES • Friendly characters and recorded voices • An optional spoken countdown • A weekly star chart and daily reminders • Custom timer durations and parent controls • A colouring book with the full unlock TRY IT, THEN UNLOCK ONCE Two timer sessions are included to try the app. All pals are available to everyone. A one-time purchase unlocks unlimited timers and the colouring book. No subscription or recurring charge. Existing purchases can be restored. No ads. No account needed to use the app. Learn more and get support: https://www.dinnerpals.com.au/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gist.github.com/benbeg-design/21faf708f4d9788c548bf9ffe7454b10
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Timer Pals at every 8 days against AutiBuddy's every 3 weeks. Timer Pals also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. AutiBuddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Timer Pals sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
AutiBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, Timer Pals every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AutiBuddy | Timer Pals |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 662 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ADRIAN VAZQUEZ | LRBD pty ltd |
In-app purchases
AutiBuddy
- AutiBuddy Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
- AutiBuddy Premium Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Timer Pals
- Dinner Pals — Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Dinner Pals — Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Questions
Is AutiBuddy free?
Is Timer Pals free?
Do AutiBuddy or Timer Pals have ads?
Which is updated more often, AutiBuddy or Timer Pals?
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