Comparison

Routine Interval Timer vs TickStep

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

Head to head
About

Routine Interval Timer

Features
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Repeat your workouts and focus sessions in timed sets. DDANG is a routine interval timer that keeps workouts, stretching, and focus sessions moving with short sounds and haptic cues. Set your work time, rest time, and number of sets for routines such as planks, wall sits, dead hangs, stretching, or alternating periods of focus and rest. For repeated movements, set a target count and tempo (BPM). DDANG plays cues at consistent intervals to help you keep your rhythm without losing count. You do not need to keep looking at the screen. Short sounds and haptics tell you when to start, switch phases, prepare for the end, begin the final set, and complete the routine. β–  Made for people who want to Β· Repeat workouts in timed sets Β· Train with planks, wall sits, dead hangs, and other holds Β· Keep count during stretching and repeated movements Β· Alternate between focus and rest Β· Continue without constantly checking the screen Β· Review daily activity and streaks Β· Record workout heart rate with a compatible watch β–  Main features Β· Custom labels Save routines with names such as β€œPlank,” β€œStretching,” or β€œFocus.” Β· Time-based intervals Set work time, rest time, and the number of sets. Β· Start countdown Choose your preparation time before a routine begins. Β· Sound and haptic cues Receive brief cues for starts, transitions, final sets, and completion. Β· Remaining-time cues Choose when to be notified before a work or rest phase ends. Β· Repetition counter Set a target count and tempo (BPM) for repeated movements. Β· Recommended templates Quickly start routines such as planks, wall sits, and dead hangs. Β· Tags Organize routines by workout, study, stretching, or your own categories. Β· Statistics and calendar Review active time, completed sets, active days, and streaks. Β· Backup and restore Export your data and restore routines and records on another device. β–  Use DDANG with your watch Install DDANG on a compatible watch to sync timers created on your phone and start workouts from your wrist. Β· Sync timers created on your phone Β· Start workout timers from your watch Β· Configure haptics, sounds, and in-app touch lock Β· Record heart rate during phone-started workouts Β· Sync watch-completed workouts back to your phone Β· Review average, minimum, and maximum heart rate Β· See heart rate trends for each workout set Heart rate recording requires a supported watch and the appropriate permissions. Available features may vary by platform and watch model. Heart rate information provided by DDANG is intended only as a workout reference. It is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment. β–  Keep moving without watching the screen Β· Start countdown: a light tick and haptic each second Β· Work β†’ rest: a short transition sound and haptic Β· Remaining time: cues before a phase ends Β· Repetition counter: rhythmic cues at your selected BPM Β· Final set: a distinct final-set signal Β· Completion: a short melody and haptic Every cue is brief. DDANG uses short effects instead of spoken instructions, so it works comfortably with music without interrupting your workout or focus. β–  Records and privacy Completed routines are saved to your statistics and calendar. Review active time, completed sets, active days, and streaks, or use tags to organize your history. Routines, calendar entries, favorites, and heart rate records are stored on your devices. Heart rate recorded by your watch is transferred directly to the connected phone and is not sent to DDANG servers. Exported backup files may include workout and heart rate records. No user account or sign-in is required. Advertising and purchase SDKs operate separately under their respective policies. β–  Pricing Β· Basic use: Free Β· Ad removal: Monthly subscription or lifetime purchase For workouts and focus. Repeat and record your time in sets and beats. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

TickStep

Features
Read full description

Train to the beat. TickStep turns your workout into a metronome-driven flow that advances step by step β€” like a playlist for your training. Build a "flow" from steps, each with its own duration, tempo (BPM), and time signature. Press play and TickStep keeps the beat while automatically moving you through every step β€” no more juggling a separate timer and metronome. FEATURES β€’ Metronome-driven auto-advance β€” set a BPM per step and move in rhythm β€’ Playlist-style flows β€” build, reorder, and reuse your routines β€’ 2–9 beat time signatures + silent timer β€” accent the downbeat, or run with no sound at all β€’ Apple Watch + heart rate β€” haptics on your wrist and live heart rate during workouts β€’ Spoken step names β€” hear what's next without looking at the screen β€’ Share via QR code β€” send a flow to a friend with a single scan β€’ Reminders β€” schedule daily or weekday notifications to build the habit β€’ Built for everyone β€” full VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and haptic feedback Perfect for home HIIT, stretching, strength circuits, mobility work, and any routine that benefits from rhythm and timing. FREE & PREMIUM TickStep is free to use with up to three flows, including ready-made presets. Unlock Premium once to create unlimited flows β€” a single purchase, no subscription. Everything else is identical in free and Premium. Your data stays on your device. TickStep has no ads, no tracking, and no account.

Screenshots

Routine Interval Timer4 screens
TickStep3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: TickStep at none against Routine Interval Timer's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

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

Both are free to download. Routine Interval Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and TickStep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Routine Interval Timer versus TickStep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoutine Interval TimerTickStep
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysβ€”
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch β€” betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.1 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size73 MB171 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developersang woon kimWataru Noguchi

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Routine Interval Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Remove Ads – Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time2
  • Lifetime Ad Removal 30% Off$10.49
  • Lifetime Ad Removal$14.99
1 purchases

TickStep

One-time1
  • TickStep Premium$1.99

Questions

Is Routine Interval Timer free?
Routine Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TickStep free?
TickStep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Routine Interval Timer or TickStep have ads?
Routine Interval Timer shows ads; TickStep does not.

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