Comparison

Periodic Timer vs Hourly Beep

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Repeating interval timer
  • Background operation
  • Customizable alerts (vibration/sound)
  • Prevent lockscreen
  • Shake to start
  • Multiple timer output modes
Features
Read full description

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!

About

Hourly Beep

This app provides hourly chimes and custom sound alerts to help you stay focused, mindful, or simply aware of the time. It offers a variety of sounds, customizable schedules, and a retro watch face, all without ads or subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Hourly chimes and alerts
  • Customizable sound library (30+ chimes)
  • Flexible scheduling options
  • Reliable iOS notifications
  • Retro LCD watch face
  • No ads or subscriptions
Read full description

Mark every hour with a chime — just like a classic Casio watch. Hourly Beep rings on the hour, every hour, and stays out of your way. Pick a sound, pick a schedule, and let time pass with a gentle marker — for focus, mindfulness, or just because. WHAT YOU GET • Any interval — from every minute to every few hours • 36 chimes across six categories • Reliable: beeps play through iOS notifications, so they ring even when the app is closed or your phone is locked • Quiet beeps mode — silence the banner, keep the sound • Multiple schedules — Focus every 30 min on weekdays, ambient hourly all day, your call • A retro LCD watch face, because hourly chimes deserve good vibes THE SOUND LIBRARY • Beeps — Classic, Double Tap, Sharp Tick, plus the iconic Casio F-91W chirp • Bells — Cathedral, brass, hand bell, tubular, crystal, and a Striking Bell that counts the hours, 1 to 12, like a real clock tower • Clocks — Westminster, grandfather clock, cuckoo, pocket watch, clock tower • Alarms — Submarine sonar, pager, spaceship • Ambient — Tibetan singing bowl, dream chimes, soft chime • Nature — Robin, blackbird, nightingale, tawny owl Real recordings + crafted synthesis. Preview any sound before you commit. WHO IT'S FOR • Focus and Pomodoro people who want a calm marker every 25–60 minutes • ADHD and WFH folks fighting time blindness • Mindfulness practitioners who want a bell on the hour without an app trying to sell them a meditation course • Casio F-91W lovers who miss the chirp • Anyone who grew up with a grandfather clock or church bell nearby PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Unlock every chime in the library • Set any interval, from 1 minute to 4 hours • Build unlimited schedules • Pay once, keep it forever — no subscription, no ads, no upsells PRIVACY Nothing leaves your device. No tracking, no analytics, no servers, no account. The app asks only for the notification permission it needs to ring on time. LANGUAGES English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese. Made with care by an indie developer. If something doesn't work, write — I'll fix it.

Screenshots

Periodic Timer4 screens
Hourly Beep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Periodic Timer at none against Hourly Beep's 1. Periodic Timer also leads on ratings volume (167 vs 11) and device support (3 vs 1). Hourly Beep's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price 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. Hourly Beep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Periodic Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hourly Beep holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Periodic Timer has 167 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Periodic Timer ships an update every 2 months, Hourly Beep every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Periodic Timer versus Hourly Beep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPeriodic TimerHourly Beep
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (167 ratings)4.5 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings167 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVladimir KelinAdam Rozynski

Customer experience

Periodic Timer

All ratings167 ratings
Positive75.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative18.6%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive52.1%
Neutral10.7%
Negative37.1%

Hourly Beep

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

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
Show 7 more
  • 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
Show 10 more
  • 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

Hourly Beep

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Periodic Timer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Hourly Beep

One-time1
  • Hourly Beep Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Periodic Timer free?
Periodic Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hourly Beep free?
Hourly Beep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Periodic Timer or Hourly Beep?
Hourly Beep is rated higher. Periodic Timer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 167 ratings, while Hourly Beep averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do Periodic Timer or Hourly Beep have ads?
Neither Periodic Timer nor Hourly Beep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Periodic Timer or Hourly Beep?
Periodic Timer ships an update every 2 months, and Hourly Beep every 3 weeks. Most recently, Periodic Timer was updated on October 16, 2026 and Hourly Beep on October 4, 2026.

Other comparisons