Comparison

Mariabs · Interval Timer vs GRIT

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

Head to head
About

Mariabs · Interval Timer

Features
Read full description

Mari is a sharp, minimal interval timer for anyone who trains in rounds — tabata, HIIT, EMOM, circuits, or your own custom intervals. Set your prepare, work, rest, cycles, blocks, and block-rest durations in seconds. Press the white play button. Mari counts you in, calls out each phase, and chimes the final 3-2-1 of every interval so you can keep your eyes on what you're doing instead of on the screen. WHAT YOU GET • Six adjustable parameters: prepare, work, rest, cycles per block, number of blocks, and rest between blocks • Voice cues for every transition: "Prepare", "Work", "Rest", and "Block complete — get ready for the next" • Distinct musical chimes per phase, generated on-device, synced with light haptics • 3-2-1 countdown ticks before each phase change • Big, monochrome timer dial with a subtle progress ring tinted to the current phase • Cycle and block progress shown at all times so you always know where you are • Plays over your music — Spotify, Apple Music, podcasts — and ducks them only when Mari speaks • Stays awake automatically while a workout is running • Settings remembered between launches DESIGNED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY The screen is dark, glanceable from across a gym, and built around one button. There are no menus, no levels, no streaks, no badges, no analytics. You configure once, then press play. PRIVACY Mari collects nothing. No account. No email. No analytics. No tracking. Your settings stay on your device. The privacy policy is one page; you can read it before you tap install. NO ADS Mari has no ads, no in-app purchases, and no premium tier. No account required.

About

GRIT

Features
Read full description

GRIT is a fast, focused WOD timer for functional fitness, garage gyms, coaches and athletes. Choose the format, set your workout and start. GRIT includes: • For Time • AMRAP • EMOM • Tabata • Custom work/rest intervals • Time-of-day clock BUILD COMPLETE WORKOUTS Combine For Time, AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata, Intervals and Rest blocks into one session. Reorder blocks, set each phase and run the complete workout without rebuilding the clock between sections. BUILT FOR THE GYM FLOOR Use GRIT on iPhone or iPad, or turn your device sideways for a large, high-contrast workout clock. Clear work, rest and countdown colors help you understand the phase while you are moving, and distinct audio cues keep the session on track. A connected AirPlay display can show a synchronized, read-only timer. FAST, FLEXIBLE SETUP Set the time cap, duration, rounds, work, rest and count-in for the workout in front of you. Fully custom sub-minute timers are supported, and the core timer modes are available without a subscription. GRIT WORKOUT LIBRARIES AND HISTORY Search GRIT Benchmarks and GRIT Tribute Workouts by workout or movement. Save your result, mark RX or scaled, add notes and keep your recent sessions on your phone. OPTIONAL APPLE HEALTH MATCHING If you choose to grant access, GRIT can match a saved result with a nearby Apple Health workout from your Apple Watch. Health access is optional. FREE AND PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No subscription. No advertising. Your saved results stay on your device. If you choose Send to a mate, the workout definition is uploaded to create a shareable link. Your personal result and session notes are not shared. Download GRIT, choose a mode and start the clock.

Screenshots

Mariabs · Interval Timer4 screens
GRIT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GRIT at every 3 days against Mariabs · Interval Timer's every 6 days. Mariabs · Interval Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (16.2 vs 18.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mariabs · Interval Timer ships an update every 6 days, GRIT every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Mariabs · Interval Timer versus GRIT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMariabs · Interval TimerGRIT
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.2 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPER MAGNE HELSETHAndrew Dunn

In-app purchases

None

Mariabs · Interval Timer

No in-app purchases

None

GRIT

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mariabs · Interval Timer free?
Mariabs · Interval Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GRIT free?
GRIT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mariabs · Interval Timer or GRIT have ads?
Neither Mariabs · Interval Timer nor GRIT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mariabs · Interval Timer or GRIT?
Mariabs · Interval Timer ships an update every 6 days, and GRIT every 3 days. Most recently, Mariabs · Interval Timer was updated on September 21, 2026 and GRIT on September 28, 2026.

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