Periodic Timer vs Just Timers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Periodic Timer
This app provides a simple, repeating interval timer that can run in the background without distracting you. It offers customizable alerts, quick start options, and prevents your screen from locking while active. Ideal for various activities like fitness, cooking, and learning.
- Repeating interval timer
- Background operation
- Customizable alerts (vibration/sound)
- Prevent lockscreen
- Shake to start
- Multiple timer output modes
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Keep track of time without being distracted by the device! Simple and easy timer that repeats at your chosen interval. FEATURES - Vibration, if sound is off. - Works in the background. - 3 timer output modes: intervals, total time, countdown. - You can cancel or pause the timer with help of a notification. - Quick Start from icon. - Shake To Start - can be enabled in settings. - Prevent Lockscreen - another useful setting, the screen will not lock, while the timer is running. USE CASES Here is a list of known use cases based on the real feedback: Fitness and health: - Stretching - Stationary bicycle (interval training) - On a treadmill - For HIIT - Jogging - Timed medication - Boxing Cooking - While frying potatoes - Roasting steaks - Checking an over or a grill to prevent burning Learning & science - Foreign language learning - As a lab timer - Periodic data collection - Speech training - Presentation timing Other - Mindfulness - Communication - To have a sense of time flying away :) HELP Q: Why the timer doesn't work in the background? A: You should allow notifications. Q: How to turn off the sound and turn on the vibration? A: On the device, turn the Silent Mode on. (Side Switch) Q: Alert is limited for 5 seconds! A: Go to Settings app, then Periodic Timer > Notifications > Banner Style > Persistent. Q: How to switch the Timer Output Mode? A: To switch the Output Mode touch the timer display at the top of the screen. Q: What is Shake To Start for? A: Shake To Start setting allows to start/cancel the timer by shaking the device. Thus, you don't touch the screen, what can be useful while cooking, for example. In order for this mode to work, the app should be open. If you still have questions or suggestions, you can visit the support page (https://goo.gl/forms/pggVBcaBxdW85EGE3), the Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/PeriodicTimer/) or you can email me (periodictimer.sup@gmail.com). If you like the app - please, rate it!
Just Timers
Create and manage multiple named timers, including counters, stopwatches, and interval timers. Customize alerts with sounds and haptics, and integrate with Shortcuts for advanced automation. Sync across devices and utilize widgets for convenient control.
- Multiple named timers (counter, stopwatch, interval)
- Customizable alerts (sound, haptics, critical alerts)
- Shortcuts and URL integration
- Interval templates for complex routines
- Widgets and Live Activities support
- iCloud sync across devices
- Light and Dark themes
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Just Timers: The missing timers app Quickly and easily create multiple named counter, stopwatch and interval timers, sync across devices and even use Tags to group timers together Assign alert sounds, haptics and even critical alerts to notify you when a timer expires Assign Shortcuts and URLs to run when timers stop* (more actions coming soon!) Use intervals to create complex workout routines, or go a step deeper with interval templates and Shortcuts integration Use Shortcuts to create complex interval sets and control timers with your voice Use Widgets to keep track of and control your timers, as well as quickly create single-use "self-destruct" timers Sync timers with iCloud across your other devices Supports Live Activities, Widgets and the Dynamic Island Light and Dark Themes * Shortcuts and URLs can only run when the app is open or notification is tapped Need help? Contact support@justtimers.app or find us on Twitter @JustTimers
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Periodic Timer at none against Just Timers's 8. Periodic Timer also leads on ratings volume (167 vs 30). Just Timers's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment 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
Both are free to download. Just Timers sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Periodic Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Periodic Timer against 4.1 for Just Timers. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Periodic Timer has 167 ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of Periodic Timer's written reviews are positive against 58% of Just Timers's.
Periodic Timer ships an update every 2 months, Just Timers every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Periodic Timer | Just Timers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (167 ratings) | 4.1 (30 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.1% of reviews | 57.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 167 — better | 30 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vladimir Kelin | Aaron Dippner |
Customer experience
Periodic Timer
Just Timers
User reviews
Periodic Timer
From 167 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- ⏱️ Effective repeating/interval timer functionality
- 🎯 Does exactly what it's designed to do
- 🔇 Vibration-only option available
- 📱 Works in background with screen off
Room to improve
- 🔊 Sound/notification issues (unreliable or missing)
- 💰 Aggressive premium upselling in free version
- 🐛 Timer cancels when phone is shaken
- 🔋 Activates heart rate sensor, drains battery
- 📵 Doesn't work reliably with screen locked
Just Timers
From 30 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent Shortcuts integration
- 💰 Affordable one-time purchase
- 🚫 No data collection
- ✨ Clean and intuitive UI
- 🚀 Fast and performant (v3)
Room to improve
- 🐛 Numerous bugs and glitches
- 🔇 No sound/alarms
- ⚠️ Notifications not stopping
- ⏳ Slow loading times
- ⌚ Watch app issues
Bugs and requests
Periodic Timer
Reported bugs
12 issues- Sound/notifications fail to trigger despite settings enabled
- Timer cancels when phone is shaken or moved
- Vibration doesn't work when screen is locked or off
- App crashes on launch (especially after updates)
- Watch app crashes or doesn't function
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- Notifications inconsistent on Apple Watch
- Timer speed inaccurate (runs too fast)
- App won't open after deletion and reinstall
- Upgrade popup spams every second, making app unusable
- Heart rate monitor stays active, draining battery
- Vibration doesn't work on silent mode
- Watch green light stays on continuously
Requested features
15 requests- Adjustable sound volume and custom alert sounds
- Customizable vibration patterns
- Settings menu for user preferences
- Ability to add notes/labels to timers
- Seconds-only timer option
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- Simple countdown timer (non-repeating)
- Separate exercise and rest period intervals
- Start timer at specific time of day
- Disable sound option for silent vibration-only mode
- Prevent screen lock while timer is running
- Apple Watch vibration support
- Seconds increment option (not just minutes)
- Better Apple Watch complications and integration
- Free trial period before purchase requirement
- Disable shake-to-cancel functionality
Just Timers
Reported bugs
32 issues- Repeat function causing repeated shortcut execution
- No sound even with critical alerts on
- Notifications won't stop after timer completion
- Interval timer progress lost
- Stock timers restoring after deletion
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- Watch app unusable, complications incorrect
- Timers activating and changing duration after update
- Timers going off after being stopped
- Negative timers displayed
- Alerts not going off
- Timers with intervals spontaneously resetting
- Watch notifications inconsistent
- Timer display stuck
- Widget display stuck
- Intervals stuck, skipping inconsistent
- Choosing sound causes it to play indefinitely
- Timer resets when modifying sound
- No default timer settings
- Manual sync required for phone/watch timers
- Buttons do nothing or wrong action
- Siri not working with new version
- Shortcut action to create timer throws error
- Can't change timer volume (too loud with headphones)
- Sound continues to ring after stop/dismiss
- Contact button in settings not working
- Can't scroll down to add new custom timer on Watch
- Watch face off means no alert
- Alert only happens when app is open on Watch
- Weak buzz with no customization on Watch
- App crashes before timer expires
- App sluggish and buggy
- Purchasing tiers not clearly disclosed upfront
Requested features
19 requests- Menu bar timer on Mac
- Widgets for home screen
- Custom sounds for timers
- Delayed timer start (date/time)
- Group timers and trigger individual timers
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- Enter date and time for timers
- Option to quickly create one-off timers
- Prevent app launch when tapping Live Activity
- Templates for timer types
- Clear explanations for settings
- Siri integration improvements
- Ability to set different sounds for each timer
- More alarming sound options
- Vibrating function on Watch
- Improved x-callback integration
- Rest API improvements
- Ability to group timers
- Reset individual timers on Watch easily
- More alert tones
In-app purchases
Periodic Timer
No in-app purchases
Just Timers
- Small Toy$0.99
- v1 Unlimited Timers (Legacy)$1.99
- Tier 1$1.99
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- Medium Toy$2.99
- v1 Upgrade$2.99
- Large Toy$4.99
- Tier 2$4.99
- Huge Toy$9.99









