Comparison

Onyx Timer vs Exercise Timer

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

Head to head
About

Onyx Timer

This app allows users to create and manage custom workouts combining time-based and rep-based exercises. Control your workout hands-free with voice commands and receive audio cues for each exercise. Workouts can be saved and shared, with options for visual and auditory customization.

Highlights
  • Voice-controlled timer
  • Mix time and rep-based exercises
  • Audio exercise announcements
  • Background operation
  • Workout saving and sharing
  • Customizable commands
Features
Read full description

Onyx is a talking timer app that lets you mix time-based and rep-based exercises in the same workout. Turn on listening mode to control the timer with your voice - after you're done with those pushups, simply say "next!" to go to the next exercise. Features: • Announces exercises in Siri's voice. • Customizable voice control commands for hands-free operation. • Runs in background, or with screen locked. • Listen to music while using the timer. • Optional beep and vibrate between exercises. • Workouts are saved to iCloud, or locally if iCloud is disabled. • Swipe screen to go forward or back. • Displays exercises as a running marquee. • Highly customizable. • Mix time-based and rep-based exercises in the same workout. • Add images and notes to exercises and color-code them. • In-depth help / operating manual. • Import and export workouts via email. • Dark and light skin.

About

Exercise Timer

Create and guide custom interval training routines with this app. It supports timed and rep-based exercises, offers voice coaching, and logs your workout history with detailed analytics. Track progress over time and organize routines into training plans.

Highlights
  • Custom workout routines
  • Voice coach for next exercise
  • Timed and rep-based exercises
  • Workout logging and analytics
  • Training plans
  • Background operation
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Create custom workout routines & let Exercise Timer guide you through your interval training. Exercise Timer supports both timed exercises and even reps-based exercises (press 'done' when exercise complete). Use Exercise Timer with your screen on or even in the background with your screen locked. Keep your phone in your pocket & Exercise Timer will still let you know which exercise is coming up by voice, vibration & bell. Keep a log of every workout along with an exercise breakdown & take notes. Know how much time you spend exercising with weekly, monthly & yearly charts. In addition to this, Exercise Timer generates reports of individual exercises with overall totals & Exercise Progression charts FEATURES • Create your custom workout routines • Voice Coach announces the next exercise • Optional Metronome to improve cadence • Multiple Bell Sounds • Group Exercises. E.g.: for Warm-Up/Cool-Down • Timed Exercises & Reps exercises supported • Color code your Exercises • Explain your exercises better with our library of exercise GIFs • Log & keep track of your workouts • Workout Analytics • Organize your workouts in Training Plans • Training plans designed by our fitness experts • Works in Background with device locked and screen off • Use Exercise Timer on your Apple Watch IDEAL FOR: • Interval Training, Tabata & Circuit Training • Yoga • Boxing • Keeping all your Workout Routines & Plans in one place • Gym Timer ARE YOU A FITNESS TRAINER? Create your Training Plans and workout routines in Exercise Timer and easily share them with your clients. APPLE WATCH Yes, Exercise Timer works on your Apple Watch! All your workouts are automatically synced on your Apple watch. Workouts performed on your apple watch are also logged on your phone. Download Exercise Timer Now and get moving! UNLOCK PREMIUM FEATURES Exercise Timer Premium is available with a monthly or annual subscription. If you choose to purchase Exercise Timer Premium, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and your account will be charged for renewal 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24hrs before the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to the ‘Manage Subscription’ page after purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of service: https://exercisetimer.net/terms Privacy policy: https://exercisetimer.net/privacypolicy

Screenshots

Onyx Timer4 screens
Exercise Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Exercise Timer at 4.8 against Onyx Timer's 4.1. Exercise Timer also leads on ratings volume (1K vs 16). Onyx Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 17). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Onyx Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Exercise Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Exercise Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Exercise Timer has 1K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Onyx Timer's written reviews are positive against 73% of Exercise Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onyx Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Exercise Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Onyx Timer versus Exercise Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnyx TimerExercise Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (16 ratings)4.8 (1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.2% of reviews73.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings161K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKirill EdelmanNeurondigital Ltd

Customer experience

Onyx Timer

All ratings16 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive65.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative34.8%

Exercise Timer

All ratings1,000 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative19.6%

Bugs and requests

Onyx Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Exercise Timer

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Syncing issues with Apple Watch
  • Randomly locking users out and requiring upgrade
  • Deleting all routines after uninstalling
  • Exercises not updating properly on Apple Watch
  • Apple Watch app causing native exercise app to crash
Show 1 more
  • Phone locked, no chime when locked

Requested features

5 requests
  • Sync workouts across devices without logging out/in
  • Ability to duplicate workouts on iPhone
  • Search, sort, or reorder routines
  • Connect with Apple Health app
  • Shortcut/automation support

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Onyx Timer

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
3 purchases

Exercise Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Exercise Timer Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Exercise Timer Premium Yearly3 Days trial$30.991 Year
One-time1
  • Exercise Timer Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is Onyx Timer free?
Onyx Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Exercise Timer free?
Exercise Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Onyx Timer or Exercise Timer?
Exercise Timer is rated higher. Onyx Timer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Exercise Timer averages 4.8 from 1K ratings.
Do Onyx Timer or Exercise Timer have ads?
Neither Onyx Timer nor Exercise Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onyx Timer or Exercise Timer?
Onyx Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Exercise Timer monthly. Most recently, Onyx Timer was updated on September 30, 2026 and Exercise Timer on October 16, 2026.

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