Comparison

Regex Match Lab vs Hour

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

Head to head
About

Regex Match Lab

Features
Read full description

Is your regular expression matching the right text? See the result, test the exceptions and keep your work for the next change. Regex Match Lab is an offline workbench for ICU regular expressions. Check emails, logs, dates and your own text before reusing a pattern. Included features • Run match · Highlighted source · Match map • Captures · Range • Replacement preview An empty template deletes matched text. • Test cases: Should match / Should not match • Saved tests: Pattern · Options · Test cases • Back up saved tests / Restore from JSON Each test is added as a new copy. Your saved tests stay unchanged. • Copy matches / Copy replacement · Share results • Ignore case · ^ and $ match each line · . matches new lines Privacy Processing and saved tests stay on your device. No app account or server requests. Exported files and shared results go only where you choose to send them. Supported devices iPhone · iPad · Mac (Mac Catalyst) Mac: ⌘N New test · ⌘O Saved tests · ⌘S Save · ⌘R Run match Getting started 1. Load example → Pattern + Sample 2. Options → Run match 3. Test cases → Save → Copy matches / Copy replacement / Share results Notes Uses ICU/NSRegularExpression syntax, which differs from PCRE and JavaScript. Input limits and cooperative run limits apply; simplify the pattern if a limit is reached. JSON backups are manual files, not automatic sync. Support: https://paran.app/ Privacy policy: https://paran.app/privacy-policy/

About

Hour

Features
Read full description

What does a purchase cost – measured in your working time? Hour shows you prices from a new perspective. Enter your net income and working hours. The Safari extension converts recognized prices on product pages into the working time you need to spend on them. Whether it's new shoes, a subscription, or a larger purchase: Hour helps you factor the value of your time into your buying decisions. YOUR INCOME AS THE BASIS Enter your net hourly wage directly or have it calculated from your monthly net salary and working hours. Choose the time period that fits your workday. WORKING HOURS DIRECTLY WHILE SURFING The Safari extension displays the estimated working time alongside supported prices. Your income settings are automatically synchronized between the app and the extension on the same device. AS INDIVIDUAL AS YOU ARE Customize the language, currency, number format, date format, and font size. Choose a light or dark theme or let your device settings determine the display. Changes are saved instantly. YOUR DATA STAYS WITH YOU Your income settings remain on your device. Calculations are performed locally – without a user account, analytics, or advertising services. The displayed working time is an estimate based on your input and the recognized price. Price recognition depends on the specific website. Hour uses prices in your selected currency and does not perform currency conversion. Your time is valuable. Discover how much of it is invested in your purchases.

Screenshots

Regex Match Lab4 screens
Hour4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Hour at Free against Regex Match Lab's $1.99. Hour also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). Regex Match Lab's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.6). On 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

Hour is free to download; Regex Match Lab costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Regex Match Lab ships an update every 2 weeks, Hour every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Regex Match Lab versus Hour: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRegex Match LabHour
Price$1.99Free — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperParanLuca Ring

In-app purchases

None

Regex Match Lab

No in-app purchases

None

Hour

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Regex Match Lab free?
Regex Match Lab costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hour free?
Hour is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Regex Match Lab or Hour have ads?
Neither Regex Match Lab nor Hour shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Regex Match Lab or Hour?
Regex Match Lab ships an update every 2 weeks, and Hour every 4 days. Most recently, Regex Match Lab was updated on November 6, 2026 and Hour on October 31, 2026.

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