Comparison

HearTime vs Tabata Timer

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

Head to head
About

HearTime

Features
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HearTime is a spoken timer for workouts and everyday routines. Keep your pace without watching the screen during training, stretching, recovery exercises, cooking, or focused tasks. Key features: - Free stopwatch and countdown timers - Reusable timer presets - Multi-step routines with configurable group rests - Nine pre-generated synthetic voices that play offline after installation - Adjustable announcement intervals, beats, speech rate, and enhanced volume - Quick control with Siri and App Shortcuts - Timer status on the Lock Screen with Live Activities - Background audio, portrait and landscape layouts, Dynamic Type, and VoiceOver support Version 1.1 adds spoken number meditation. Follow a breathing rhythm by ear, or drop a meditation step into a routine you already use. HearTime remains a spoken timer, not a meditation course. HearTime requires no account and contains no ads. Optional anonymous usage analytics can be turned off in Settings. Your presets, routines, timer history, and settings stay on your device by default. The free version includes the core timer experience. A one-time HearTime Pro purchase permanently unlocks additional presets, routines, and advanced features. It is not a subscription. Share presets, Routines, and meditations as text. Import from the clipboard with a quick preview, or describe a workout to an external AI, bring the result back, and save after you confirm.

About

Tabata Timer

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Tabata Timer is a focused interval timer for Tabata, HIIT, core work, sprints, and custom circuits. Set up a routine once, press start, and let the timer guide the session. START TRAINING FAST β€’ Choose built-in routines, including Classic Tabata β€’ Set prepare, work, rest, and set-break times β€’ Choose rounds per set and total sets β€’ Create, edit, reorder, or delete routines β€’ Add an exercise name to any workout segment STAY IN THE WORKOUT β€’ Hear the current phase or exercise name β€’ Hear the next exercise announced during rest β€’ Get countdown beeps for the final 3 seconds β€’ Use vibration and keep the screen awake while training β€’ Choose to auto-pause when you leave the app SEE YOUR PROGRESS β€’ Keep workout history on your device β€’ Review weekly training volume and personal records β€’ Track achievements and total training days β€’ Set a weekly goal and daily reminders β€’ Choose a light, dark, or system theme PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account is needed to train. Your routines, workout history, achievements, and settings stay on your device and are not synced to our servers. All workouts, routines, history, and stats are available without a purchase. Monthly and yearly subscriptions renew automatically until canceled in App Store settings; the lifetime option is a one-time purchase. Every paid option removes ads only. The App Store handles payment and subscription management. Privacy Policy: https://privacy.tabatatimer.lifeeapp.com/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HearTime4 screens
Tabata Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: HearTime at none against Tabata Timer's shown. Tabata Timer's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. HearTime sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Tabata Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HearTime ships an update every 4 days, Tabata Timer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
HearTime versus Tabata Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHearTimeTabata Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days β€” betterEvery 5 days
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS17.015.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size37 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer平 丁Hsiao hung su

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HearTime

One-time1
  • HearTime Pro Lifetime$9.99
3 purchases

Tabata Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Remove Ads Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Remove Ads Yearly$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads Lifetime$11.99

Questions

Is HearTime free?
HearTime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tabata Timer free?
Tabata Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HearTime or Tabata Timer have ads?
Tabata Timer shows ads; HearTime does not.
Which is updated more often, HearTime or Tabata Timer?
HearTime ships an update every 4 days, and Tabata Timer every 5 days. Most recently, HearTime was updated on September 10, 2026 and Tabata Timer on September 13, 2026.

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