Comparison

Routine Interval Timer vs Pulse

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

Head to head
About

Routine Interval Timer

Features
Read full description

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. ■ Made for people who want to · Repeat workouts in timed sets · Train with planks, wall sits, dead hangs, and other holds · Keep count during stretching and repeated movements · Alternate between focus and rest · Continue without constantly checking the screen · Review daily activity and streaks · Record workout heart rate with a compatible watch ■ Main features · Custom labels Save routines with names such as “Plank,” “Stretching,” or “Focus.” · Time-based intervals Set work time, rest time, and the number of sets. · Start countdown Choose your preparation time before a routine begins. · Sound and haptic cues Receive brief cues for starts, transitions, final sets, and completion. · Remaining-time cues Choose when to be notified before a work or rest phase ends. · Repetition counter Set a target count and tempo (BPM) for repeated movements. · Recommended templates Quickly start routines such as planks, wall sits, and dead hangs. · Tags Organize routines by workout, study, stretching, or your own categories. · Statistics and calendar Review active time, completed sets, active days, and streaks. · Backup and restore Export your data and restore routines and records on another device. ■ Use DDANG with your watch Install DDANG on a compatible watch to sync timers created on your phone and start workouts from your wrist. · Sync timers created on your phone · Start workout timers from your watch · Configure haptics, sounds, and in-app touch lock · Record heart rate during phone-started workouts · Sync watch-completed workouts back to your phone · Review average, minimum, and maximum heart rate · 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. ■ Keep moving without watching the screen · Start countdown: a light tick and haptic each second · Work → rest: a short transition sound and haptic · Remaining time: cues before a phase ends · Repetition counter: rhythmic cues at your selected BPM · Final set: a distinct final-set signal · 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. ■ 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. ■ Pricing · Basic use: Free · 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

Pulse

This customizable interval timer offers a vibrant and personalized experience for various timed activities. With extensive color options and quick setup templates, it's designed to be glanceable and non-intrusive. Enjoy features like Live Activity and an Apple Watch app for seamless tracking.

Highlights
  • Full color customization with 136 palettes
  • Quick start templates (Tabata, Pomodoro, Boxing)
  • Live Activity and Dynamic Island support
  • Apple Watch app for wrist-based control
  • Beeps and haptics for interval cues
  • Save and name custom timer sequences
Features
Read full description

A fast, colorful timer for the things you do in chunks — and the things you do until you're done. Intervals, Pomodoro, and open-ended flow sessions. 168 palettes. WHY PULSE Every interval timer looks the same — red background, green active state, none of it yours. And they all only count down, so when the work doesn't fit a fixed box you fight the timer. Pulse counts both directions, brightly, and gets out of your way. Big numbers. Live Activity. Apple Watch. $3.99 once unlocks it all. FLOW MODE (NEW) A flow session counts UP. Focus until you decide to stop; the break you earn is proportional to the focus you put in. • Tap START and go — no countdown, no cap • Tap BREAK for focus ÷ 5 (or ÷ 4, or ÷ 3). 50 minutes of focus earns a 10-minute break • Optional target: a chime when you reach it, then it keeps counting — it never stops you • Optional reminders every 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes: a soft tick and a haptic • Works locked: the count-up rides your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, cues still fire 168 PALETTES, SEARCHABLE • Coral — bright red + lime + black (the classic) …and 167 more. Search by color ("orange"), vibe ("neon", "calm"), or era ("70s"). Eight ship free; the one-time unlock opens all 168 and repaints the whole app instantly. TWO TAPS TO START Pick Interval or Flow, set three simple controls, tap Start. Or open the Library for a template: • Flow Session, Flowmodoro 25, Deep Work 90 — the new flow templates • Tabata — 8 × 20s work / 10s rest • Pomodoro — 25/5 focus cycle • Boxing Rounds — 3 min / 1 min corner Save any setup as a named timer — one tap next time. WHAT'S INSIDE • Big-number timer inside one countdown ring — glanceable across the room, color-coded: focus, work, rest, done • Liquid Glass — rebuilt for iOS 26 • Live Activity — Lock Screen + Dynamic Island keep ticking in other apps: down in intervals, up in flow • Beeps + haptics — 3-2-1 countdown and interval cues that fire with the screen locked • Your timers — save, name, edit, reuse (three free; Pro unlimited) HISTORY & LABELS • Label a timer Work, Study, Gym, Boxing — or anything you type • Every session logged: timer, label, duration, rounds, outcome, grouped by day. Tap any row • Streak — days in a row with a finished session. No shame, no confetti • This week's focus time, six stat cards, an activity grid, time by label • Export CSV (Pro) — your whole history in one file Free keeps the last 7 days. Pro keeps everything. SHORTCUTS & CONTROL CENTER • Ask Siri: "Start a flow in Pulse" — or "Start my Boxing Rounds in Pulse" • Add "Start Flow" to Control Center or your Lock Screen • Both actions work in the Shortcuts app for your automations ON YOUR WRIST • Apple Watch app — start any saved interval timer, or Quick Start, from the watch • Palette-matched work/rest states, haptic taps at every transition • The watch runs its own timer — it can't drift or freeze • Flow sessions are iPhone-only for now WHO IT'S FOR • Writing, coding and studying — flow sessions, deep work • HIIT and Tabata circuits, boxing rounds, EMOM • Pomodoro sprints and focus blocks • Meditation, breathwork, yoga, cooking, music practice WHO IT'S NOT FOR • People who want a workout video library (this is a timer, not a fitness app) • People who want an app that blocks other apps — Pulse gets out of the way instead • Anyone looking for a subscription — Pulse is one payment, forever PRICING • Pulse Pro — $3.99 one-time: all 168 palettes, unlimited timers, unlimited history + CSV export • Supporter unlock — $9.99 one-time: same features, bigger thank-you Flow, labels, reminders, Shortcuts and Control Center are free. No subscription. No auto-renew. No ads. Ever. PRIVACY Your timers and history stay on your phone. No account, no tracking, no ad SDKs. Pulse sends anonymous usage counts to our own server, never your timer names or labels. Privacy Policy: https://trypulsetimer.com/privacy. SUPPORT support@trypulsetimer.com · https://trypulsetimer.com/support

Screenshots

Routine Interval Timer4 screens
Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Pulse at none against Routine Interval Timer's shown. Routine Interval Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, 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. Routine Interval Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Pulse sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Routine Interval Timer ships an update every 11 days, Pulse every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Routine Interval Timer versus Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoutine Interval TimerPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.1 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMohoo StudioLance Merrill

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Routine Interval Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Remove Ads – Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time2
  • Lifetime Ad Removal$10.49
  • Lifetime Ad Removal$14.99
2 purchases

Pulse

One-time2
  • Pulse — Standard$3.99
  • Pulse — Supporter$9.99

Questions

Is Routine Interval Timer free?
Routine Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Routine Interval Timer or Pulse have ads?
Routine Interval Timer shows ads; Pulse does not.
Which is updated more often, Routine Interval Timer or Pulse?
Routine Interval Timer ships an update every 11 days, and Pulse every 6 days. Most recently, Routine Interval Timer was updated on October 25, 2026 and Pulse on October 24, 2026.

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