# Mind Timer vs Bowl Timer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bowl Timer at 100% against Mind Timer's 36%. Bowl Timer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Mind Timer's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mind Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bowl Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bowl Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Mind Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bowl Timer's.

Mind Timer ships an update monthly, Bowl Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mind Timer | Bowl Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mind-timer-a-simple-timer-for-insight-meditation/id901569488/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bowl-timer/id6740139131/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 35.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 13 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AppSimple LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/672076841) | [Johannes Roth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788486127) |

## What reviewers say

### Mind Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mind-timer-a-simple-timer-for-insight-meditation/id901569488)

This app provides a straightforward timer for meditation sessions. It offers customizable intervals, various chime sounds, and background options to enhance your practice. It also includes instructions and a link to guided meditations.

**Highlights:** Meditation intervals, 5 chime sounds, 5 timer backgrounds, Easy-to-use interface, Meditation instructions, Link to guided meditations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $1.99 | one-time |


### Bowl Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bowl-timer/id6740139131)

This app helps you meditate without distractions using calming bowl gongs. You can customize session lengths and intervals, with all settings saved locally. It's completely free, offline, and ad-free.

**Highlights:** Guided meditation with bowl gongs, Customizable session lengths up to 60 minutes, Split sessions into 1-5 intervals, Local settings saving, Total meditation time tracking, 100% free and offline

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mind Timer free?

Mind Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bowl Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mind Timer or Bowl Timer?

Bowl Timer is rated higher. Mind Timer averages 3.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Bowl Timer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Mind Timer or Bowl Timer have ads?

Neither Mind Timer nor Bowl Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mind Timer or Bowl Timer?

Mind Timer ships an update monthly, and Bowl Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Mind Timer was updated on September 10, 2026 and Bowl Timer on July 6, 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.*