Comparison

Bookends vs Interval Timer for Tasks

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

Head to head
About

Bookends

Manage your research references and PDFs on your mobile device. Search online databases, import metadata, annotate PDFs, and organize your library. Offers basic functionality for free with optional one-time purchase and yearly subscription for advanced features like cloud sync and unlimited imports.

Highlights
  • Search online reference databases
  • Import metadata and PDFs
  • PDF annotation and markup
  • Barcode scanning for references
  • Cloud sync across devices
  • Share online libraries
  • Create multiple libraries
Features
Read full description

Bookends is the reference management app you've been looking for. The basic version offers: • Search online sites directly (arXiv, Google Books, Google Scholar, JSTOR, the Library of Congress, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Semantic Scholar) or use the built-in browser (EZProxy-compliant) to download reference metadata and PDFs (access privileges required). Searches can return a maximum of 20 references, and only 50 references can be stored in your personal database. • Use unique identifiers such as DOI, PMID, ISBN, or arXiv id to autofill references. • View the text of PDF annotations in a note stream, and create your own with our powerful PDF markup engine. • Barcode scanning, one per day. • And many more features designed to help you discover, organize, and use reference information. Standard, one-time purchase ($14.99): • No limit on searches or importing. Premium, yearly subscription ($14.99). Requires a Standard purchase. • Cloud sync with all your iOS devices and Bookends for Mac (separate purchase). • Share online libraries with colleagues. • Scan documents with Mellel Mobile*. • Create multiple libraries. • Unlimited barcode scanning. • Extract PDF annotations with deep links to annotations and text. • Convenient UI to add PDF notes to the library. • Automate your actions with Shortcuts. * iPad-only. Requires a Mellel Mobile Premium subscription. Subscription is for one year and has an auto-renew option. The subscription can be managed in iOS -> Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. A subscription will renew if it isn't canceled at least 24 hours before the renewal date. If the subscription is not renewed, Premium will be disabled but Standard will continue to work. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Interval Timer for Tasks

Configure custom interval timers for focused work, study, or routines. Set multiple intervals with unique sounds and durations. Receive notifications even when the app is closed.

Highlights
  • Configure multiple intervals per timer
  • Save and run multiple timers simultaneously
  • Customizable interval names, sounds, and colors
  • Start and finish delays
  • Background notifications
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
  • Standalone Apple Watch app
Features
Read full description

Configure interval timers to keep you on task! Interval Timer for Tasks lets you configure a timer that repeats with one or more intervals. You can add intervals to your timer and configure their name, sound, color and of course duration. When your interval ends, that sound will play. Keep the app open to see the timer progress circle wind down, or close the app and a notification will tell you when the current interval has ended. You can configure and save multiple timers, and more than one timer can run at the same time. Timers can be configured with a start delay so you can get ready, and a finish delay so you can wrap up the task. Great for: - studying or focused work - pomodoro technique - stretching - ADHD focus - taking breaks during the day - complex routines that have multi step timed processes - cooking recpies - mobility routines Features: - create and save multiple timers that can run at the same time - support for Siri and the Shortcuts app - standalone Apple Watch app - uses local notifications to alert you when the app is running in the background - configure the timer precisely for your routine - change the name of your timer - lots of different alert sounds to choose from - support for multiple intervals on a single timer - start delay to get ready - finish delay to wrap up the task Interval Timer Premium Subscription Upgrade to access all features Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bookends4 screens
Interval Timer for Tasks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bookends at 4.7 against Interval Timer for Tasks's 4.2. Bookends also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (76% vs 43%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Bookends sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and Interval Timer for Tasks sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bookends holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 394 and 95 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Bookends's written reviews are positive against 43% of Interval Timer for Tasks's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bookends ships an update every 2 months, Interval Timer for Tasks monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Bookends versus Interval Timer for Tasks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookendsInterval Timer for Tasks
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (394 ratings) — better4.2 (95 ratings)
Positive reviews76.4% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings394 — better95
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size111 MB88 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSonny Software, LLCFoobar Creative

Customer experience

Bookends

All ratings394 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.3%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews127 reviews
Positive76.4%
Neutral8.7%
Negative15.0%

Interval Timer for Tasks

All ratings95 ratings
Positive76.8%
Neutral9.5%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral38.1%
Negative19.0%

Bugs and requests

Bookends

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatibility with iCloud Optimized Storage
  • Unreliable sync between desktop and mobile versions
  • Occasional data loss or corruption

Requested features

4 requests
  • Nested folders and tags for better organization
  • Automatic PDF metadata extraction
  • Improved search and filtering capabilities
  • Seamless integration with third-party services

Interval Timer for Tasks

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bookends

Subscriptions1
  • Premium3 Months trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Standard$14.99
3 purchases

Interval Timer for Tasks

Subscriptions2
  • Interval Timer Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Interval Timer Premium Yearly7 Days trial$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Upgrade$19.99

Questions

Is Bookends free?
Bookends is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Interval Timer for Tasks free?
Interval Timer for Tasks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bookends or Interval Timer for Tasks?
Bookends is rated higher. Bookends averages 4.7 out of 5 from 394 ratings, while Interval Timer for Tasks averages 4.2 from 95 ratings.
Do Bookends or Interval Timer for Tasks have ads?
Interval Timer for Tasks shows ads; Bookends does not.
Which is updated more often, Bookends or Interval Timer for Tasks?
Bookends ships an update every 2 months, and Interval Timer for Tasks monthly. Most recently, Bookends was updated on August 28, 2026 and Interval Timer for Tasks on September 21, 2026.

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