# Simple Espresso Timer vs Act Four

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Espresso Timer at none against Act Four's 3. Act Four's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (17 vs 4). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Act Four sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Simple Espresso Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Simple Espresso Timer against 5.0 for Act Four. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 17 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Simple Espresso Timer ships an update every 6 months, Act Four every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Espresso Timer | Act Four |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-espresso-timer/id889735610/reviews) | [5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-four/id6473959855/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **17** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Bodskov](https://appshunter.io/developer/889735613) | [AIV, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1693494613) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Espresso Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-espresso-timer/id889735610)

This app automatically starts a timer when it detects the sound of your espresso machine brewing. Simply press stop when your shot is complete. It's designed to be placed near your machine for easy use.

**Highlights:** Automatic timer start via sound detection, Manual stop function, Simple, minimalist interface, Designed for proximity to espresso machine

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Act Four

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-four/id6473959855)

Learn to brew perfect espresso with video guidance and taste analysis. The app tracks your brew automatically, helping you adjust your machine and recipe for your ideal cup. Designed for both beginners and experienced baristas.

**Highlights:** Video-guided brewing workflow, Speed and taste analysis, Machine and grinder adjustment guidance, Automatic recipe tracking, Hands-free operation, Brew Weight and Timing adjustments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| SwitchBot Integration | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Espresso Timer free?

Simple Espresso Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Act Four free?

Act Four is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simple Espresso Timer or Act Four?

Simple Espresso Timer and Act Four are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 17 ratings respectively.

### Do Simple Espresso Timer or Act Four have ads?

Neither Simple Espresso Timer nor Act Four shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Espresso Timer or Act Four?

Simple Espresso Timer ships an update every 6 months, and Act Four every 8 days. Most recently, Simple Espresso Timer was updated on September 27, 2026 and Act Four on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*