Periodic Timer vs Random Timer Generator
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!
Random Timer Generator
This app generates random countdown timers within a specified time range. It's versatile for games, meditation, exercise, studying, and more. Customize sounds, vibrations, and looping modes for a personalized experience.
- Configurable random countdowns
- Adjustable time ranges (0 seconds to 24 hours)
- Background operation support
- Customizable sound and vibration alerts
- Upload custom alarm sounds
- Looping mode with break periods
- Progress tracking for loops
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Random Timer Generator is a random countdown timer that allows you to input a Minimum and Maximum time, and then it will start a random timer somewhere within that range. Random Timer Generator allows you to create random timer countdowns, which makes it great as an exercise timer, a meditation timer, a random timer for studying, a Musical Chairs timer, or as a timer for Hot Potato style games like Catch Phrase, The Last Word, Pass The Bomb... or Hot Potato. ************************************ FEATURES * Fully configurable random countdowns with adjustable seconds, minutes, and hours * Supports timer durations from 0 seconds to 24 hours * The timer and alarm will still run properly even if your screen is locked or you have another app open * Enable or disable countdown noise options * Enable or disable vibrations when the timer ends * Enable or disable showing how much time is left while the random timer is going * Sounds an alarm when the timer hits 0. Choose from different alarm noise options, or go silent with vibrate-only option * Upload your own sound or song as the countdown sound, the sound when timer ends, or the sound when break period ends * Animates and vibrates when going off, so you'll notice the timer expiring in a noisy situation * Looping mode - set a random timer to go off repeatedly, so the next random timer starts again after one ends. You can even add a "break period between random timers", where you can set how many seconds you'd like as a break between random timers when Loop mode is on. * If Looping mode is on, it will tell you how many loops you have completed ************************************ Random Timer Generator is great for: * Games There are many Hot Potato style games where you don't want to be the person holding the ball (or potato) when the random timer goes off. Random Timer Generator works great for these Hot Potato style games, such as Catch Phrase, The Last Word, Pass The Bomb... or Hot Potato. Also great for board games where you need a random timer * Meditation When meditating, you may want to set a timer... but not know exactly when that timer will end (for example, a random timer that will go off somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes). Random Timer Generator works great for that. * Exercise While exercising, you may want to have a random timer for doing certain exercises, but not know exactly how long you will need to do it for. For example, you could set a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds while holding a forearm plank. * Musical Chairs With Random Timer Generator, you can set a random timer (for example between 5 seconds and 30 seconds) to go off for playing Musical Chairs. You can even have it playing songs while the timer is counting down. * Studying Andrew Huberman has popularized the Gap Effect or Spacing Effect method of studying, where you have a random timer go off every now and then while studying, to give yourself a short break. During that break, your brain replays what you were just learning at hyper speed.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Periodic Timer at none against Random Timer Generator's 1. Periodic Timer also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.8). Random Timer Generator's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Random Timer Generator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Periodic Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Periodic Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 167 and 56 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Periodic Timer's written reviews are positive against 83% of Random Timer Generator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Periodic Timer | Random Timer Generator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (167 ratings) — better | 3.8 (56 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.1% of reviews | 82.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 167 — better | 56 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vladimir Kelin | OneUp App LLC |
Customer experience
Periodic Timer
Random Timer Generator
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
Random Timer Generator
From 56 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and streamlined interface
- 👍 Works as intended for various purposes
- 👍 Customizable features
- 👍 Useful for board games and practice sessions
- 👍 Great for musicians and dog training
Room to improve
- 🐛 Strange battery usage reported
- 🐛 Font for counts/reps is too small
- 🐛 Can't use without paying for longer timers
- 🐛 Counter freezes at random times
- 🐛 Notifications (sound/iWatch) stop working
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
Random Timer Generator
Reported bugs
8 issues- App consumed most battery without usage
- Counter freezes at random times
- Notifications (sound/iWatch) stop working after a short period
- Custom sounds are cut off when looping and using breaks
- Alarm always includes vibrate, no sound alone option
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- App forces portrait mode, removing split view support
- Volume changes on its own
- Alarm sound plays something different than selected
Requested features
10 requests- Make counts/reps font bigger
- Allow setting 'active hours' for timer
- Option for 'weekdays only' timer scheduling
- Save and name various timers and settings
- Upload, delete, and select among multiple sounds
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Display completed time until next timer starts
- Apple Watch companion app
- Dark mode option
- Improve sound cutting off with custom sounds and looping
- Option for sound alone alarm without vibrate
In-app purchases
Periodic Timer
No in-app purchases
Random Timer Generator
- Lifetime access$7.99
Questions
Is Periodic Timer free?
Is Random Timer Generator free?
Which has better reviews, Periodic Timer or Random Timer Generator?
Do Periodic Timer or Random Timer Generator have ads?
Which is updated more often, Periodic Timer or Random Timer Generator?
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