Comparison

LANChat Pro vs EarTimer

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

Head to head
About

LANChat Pro

Features
Read full description

LANChat Pro gives nearby iPhone and Mac devices a direct shared space for messages and files on the same reachable local network. FIND DEVICES AROUND YOU LANChat Pro discovers compatible devices with Bonjour. Choose a nearby Mac, scan its QR code with the camera, or select a QR image from Photos, then accept the secure connection request. CHAT AND SHARE Use one conversation for text, images, animated stickers, replies, and files. Save useful images to Photos, keep important people in Contacts, and add private remarks that stay on your device. BUILT FOR YOUR LOCAL NETWORK • Start with a device name instead of an account • Protect peer conversations with encryption in transit • Keep chat history and received files on the iPhone • Discover and connect only across a reachable local network • Personalize your device name, avatar, appearance, and themes LANChat Pro is useful at home, in studios, classrooms, labs, small teams, and temporary spaces. It does not relay conversations through a hosted chat service. Devices must share a reachable local network; guest Wi-Fi, client isolation, or firewall rules can prevent discovery and connection.

About

EarTimer

Features
Read full description

A quiet break. A focused study session. A reminder through your headphones. EarTimer helps you keep track of time in libraries, shared workspaces, and other quiet places. Set a countdown and hear the timer through connected wired headphones or Bluetooth earphones, including AirPods. MAKE TIME FOR YOUR NEXT TASK • Take a short break between study or work sessions. • Set aside time to read or focus without watching the clock. • Keep track of a quiet rest in a shared space. SET, START, AND STAY IN CONTROL • Choose hours, minutes, and seconds. • Check the current audio output before you start. • Test playback through your connected headphones. • Pause, resume, or cancel a running timer. • See and control your timer in a Live Activity on the Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island on supported iPhones. HOW HEADPHONE PLAYBACK WORKS EarTimer starts timer audio when a supported external audio output is connected. If that output disconnects, the app pauses its audio rather than intentionally routing the timer sound to the iPhone speaker. Without headphones, the system timer may still show an alert and vibrate; the selected timer sound does not start. KEEP THESE LIMITATIONS IN MIND Keep EarTimer running; do not force-quit it before your timer ends. Headphone audio is not guaranteed after force-quitting, an iPhone restart, or termination by iOS. Calls, Siri, other audio apps, Bluetooth reconnection, and system conditions can interrupt playback. Reopen EarTimer with headphones connected to prepare playback again. Check your audio output and volume before use. Do not rely on EarTimer as your only alarm for an important wake-up or deadline. FREE WITH OPTIONAL AD REMOVAL The free app can show a non-personalized banner ad on the Timer screen. A one-time Remove Ads in-app purchase removes the banner. Customers who purchased EarTimer before it became free retain their ad-free experience. Purchases can be restored in Settings. Advertising and privacy choices are explained in the app's privacy policy. Requires an iPhone with iOS 26.0 or later. Headphone audio requires a compatible connected output; Live Activity availability depends on the device and system settings.

Screenshots

LANChat Pro3 screens
EarTimer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: LANChat Pro at none against EarTimer's shown. LANChat Pro also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

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

Both are free to download. LANChat Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and EarTimer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 5 level
LANChat Pro versus EarTimer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLANChat ProEarTimer
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperéŖ‹ å¼ Tomokazu Shinozaki

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LANChat Pro

One-time1
  • LANChat Pro Lifetime$2.99
1 purchases

EarTimer

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is LANChat Pro free?
LANChat Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EarTimer free?
EarTimer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LANChat Pro or EarTimer have ads?
EarTimer shows ads; LANChat Pro does not.
Which is updated more often, LANChat Pro or EarTimer?
LANChat Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, and EarTimer every 3 weeks. Most recently, LANChat Pro was updated on November 13, 2026 and EarTimer on November 12, 2026.

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