Comparison

Tabata Timer vs HIIT Interval Timer | Cero

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

Head to head
About

Tabata Timer

This app helps you track high-intensity interval training sessions, including Tabata, HIIT, and circuit training. It provides visual and audible cues for workout and rest periods, allowing for customized routines and background music playback.

Highlights
  • Workout/rest tracking
  • Visual progress rings
  • Audible interval cues
  • Customizable workout settings
  • Save custom routines
  • Background music support
Features
Read full description

Get fit with Tabata Timer - HIIT, the perfect app for Tabata, HIIT, Circuit Training, or CrossFit. Easily keep track of your workouts, how long to workout/rest, which interval you’re on, with this simple and easy to use app. Features: • You can listen to your music in the background from iTunes or another app • The outer ring displays your workout/rest progression • The inner ring is broken up into sections, which show which cycle you’re on • Beeps provide audible cues when to start working out and when to stop • Customize workout time, rest time, and number of intervals • Create and save workout routines/timer settings

About

HIIT Interval Timer | Cero

This interval timer app enhances various workouts like HIIT, Tabata, and yoga with intuitive design and customizable timer modes. Create and save custom intervals, track calorie expenditure, and sync settings across devices, including Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • Customizable interval timers
  • Simple and advanced timer modes
  • Create and save multiple workout settings
  • Apple Watch compatibility with heart monitor
  • Automatic calorie tracking to Apple Health
  • Cross-device sync
Features
Read full description

Build an interval workout around the way you train. Cero is a flexible interval timer for HIIT, Tabata, circuit training, WODs and HYROX preparation. Set up a quick work/rest timer or program each interval in detail. Distinct colors, large controls and reliable cues keep you focused on the session instead of the clock. BUILD YOUR SESSION • Set work, recovery, sets, warm-up and cool-down. • Create advanced workouts with custom intervals, colors, icons and intensity levels. • Save, duplicate and reorder timers. • Share timers by file or QR code. • Review completed sessions in workout history. STAY IN THE WORKOUT • Follow compatible sessions with Live Activities and Dynamic Island. • Start saved or recent timers from Home Screen widgets. • Use Siri and Shortcuts to start, pause, resume and stop a timer. • Put Gym Display on a larger screen or mirrored TV. • Choose a default song or assign music to individual intervals. • Customize sounds, voice cues, vibrations and background alerts. TRAIN BY HEART RATE Adaptive HR can extend recovery until you reach your target heart rate, then guide hard efforts with low and high alerts. Pair a Bluetooth heart-rate monitor with iPhone or train with heart-rate data from Apple Watch. COUNTDOWN AND STOPWATCH The built-in countdown and lap stopwatch cover warm-ups, station changes, rest periods and race-day practice. Stopwatch sessions continue after you close and reopen the app. ON APPLE WATCH Run saved workouts from your wrist, follow heart rate and use the standalone countdown and stopwatch. Cero can save completed workouts and estimated calories to Apple Health. Automatic iCloud backups help protect saved timers and custom intervals. Useful for HIIT, Tabata, circuits, EMOM-style workouts, boxing rounds, strength and conditioning, indoor cycling, running intervals and hybrid race preparation. Feedback and suggestions: hi@flawless.studio Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tabata Timer4 screens
HIIT Interval Timer | Cero4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HIIT Interval Timer | Cero at 75% against Tabata Timer's 38%. HIIT Interval Timer | Cero also leads on ratings volume (435 vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). Tabata Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, 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. Tabata Timer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and HIIT Interval Timer | Cero sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tabata Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HIIT Interval Timer | Cero has 435 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Tabata Timer's written reviews are positive against 75% of HIIT Interval Timer | Cero's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tabata Timer ships an update every 10 days, HIIT Interval Timer | Cero every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on August 15, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Tabata Timer versus HIIT Interval Timer | Cero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTabata TimerHIIT Interval Timer | Cero
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.7 (435 ratings)
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews74.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6435 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS11.4 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMain Street Code LLCFlawless Studio LLC

Customer experience

Tabata Timer

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative62.5%

HIIT Interval Timer | Cero

All ratings435 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.9%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive74.6%
Neutral10.2%
Negative15.3%

Bugs and requests

Tabata Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

HIIT Interval Timer | Cero

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App runs in background draining battery
  • Rotation broke after update
  • Apple workout app overrides Cero app on Apple Watch
  • Interval signals too weak or not working

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to group timers
  • Option to add warm-up and cool-down features
  • Ability to type numbers for time adjustment
  • Timer sounds through headphones or interrupting music
  • Ability to change exercise names

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Tabata Timer

One-time2
  • Unlimited Workout Routines$0.99
  • Remove Ads$1.99
1 purchases

HIIT Interval Timer | Cero

One-time1
  • Cero Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Tabata Timer free?
Tabata Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HIIT Interval Timer | Cero free?
HIIT Interval Timer | Cero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tabata Timer or HIIT Interval Timer | Cero?
Tabata Timer is rated higher. Tabata Timer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while HIIT Interval Timer | Cero averages 4.7 from 435 ratings.
Do Tabata Timer or HIIT Interval Timer | Cero have ads?
HIIT Interval Timer | Cero shows ads; Tabata Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Tabata Timer or HIIT Interval Timer | Cero?
Tabata Timer ships an update every 10 days, and HIIT Interval Timer | Cero every 3 days. Most recently, Tabata Timer was updated on August 15, 2026 and HIIT Interval Timer | Cero on September 29, 2026.

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