R vs Gym Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
R
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R-Timer is a timer that plays the sound of a gong - designed for sports matches such as boxing. The sound of a gong is played at the beginning and end of a round. You can also make some wooden clappers make a sound just before the end of a round. New functionality has been added for providing notifications while the app or OS is in suspend mode. Enable the notification functionality to receive notifications through messages and gong sounds. The notification functionality settings can be found under the settings screen. Notification Functionality in Suspend Mode - The volume of the notifications is determined by the OS settings. - Putting the app in suspend mode and active mode repeatedly will make the end time slip. - Notification sounds may not be played successfully on low specification devices. - The number of configurable notifications is determined by the OS. Setting too many notifications will cause the notification functionality to stop working. - The app may behave differently between running in normal mode and in notification mode. - To stop notifications, please stop the app or open the app's settings screen. Functionality - Notifies you of the beginning and end of a round by playing the sound of a gong. - Find out the end time by looking at the settings screen - Added at the start of the round the voice, such as "Round One" (up to 1-30 round) - Add a voice such as "box" or "Fight" at the start of the round - Can give a signal just before the end of a round by playing some wooden clappers. - Can configure a different sound for the end of the last round. - As you might not be able to tap on the screen, you can start, pause, and restart the app by shaking the device. - Pause and restart the timer while it is running. - Configure it only once and next time you will be able to use it straight away. - Configurable volume Note: the volume in the app is determined by the volume set on your device, so if the volume is too low, please increase the volume on your device. Specifications Setting the Number of Rounds : 1 - 200 Time per round : 0[sec] - 100[min]59[sec] Preparation time : 0[sec] - 1000[sec] Signal before end of round : None - Time per round Resting time : 0[sec] - 1000[sec] Time display : 24[hour] or AM/PM Signal Start of round : Gong, Chinese gong, Bell End of round : Gong, Chinese gong, Bell End of last round : Gong, Chinese gong, Bell Signal before end of round : Wooden clappers, Chinese gong, Bell Note: the volume in the app is determined by the volume set on your device, so if the volume is too low, please increase the volume on your device.
Gym Timer
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Gym Timer is a free interval timer app designed for weight training, HIIT, Tabata, and boxing workouts. It helps you manage rest periods between sets with precision so you can stay focused and get the most out of every session. Whether you train at the gym or at home, Gym Timer gives you accurate, customizable timers that are free to use, with optional Premium plans for an ad-free experience. KEY FEATURES ● 9 Built-in Workout Presets Start training immediately with ready-made presets: 1/2/3/5-minute rest timers, Tabata (20s work / 10s rest), HIIT 30/30, Boxing rounds (3min / 1min rest), and more. No setup required. ● Fully Customizable Timers Create your own timer menus with unlimited steps. Set custom durations, names, and colors for each step. Perfect for building routines that match your exact training style. ● Lock Screen & Dynamic Island See your remaining time on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island without unlocking your phone. Never miss a timer while resting between sets. ● Background Timer with Notifications The timer keeps running in the background. Get notified with sound alerts and vibrations when each step completes — even when your phone is locked. ● Color-Coded Steps Distinguish training from rest periods at a glance. Choose from 9 colors to visually organize your workout steps. ● Stopwatch with Live Activity & Voice Announcements Track your workout times with a stopwatch that supports lap recording with centisecond precision. The stopwatch now appears on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, and announces elapsed time aloud — focus on your workout without checking the screen. ● Haptic Feedback & Sound Effects Get clear physical and audio cues when steps start, pause, or complete. WHY CHOOSE GYM TIMER - Free to download, with optional Premium plans - Your timer data stays on your device - Lightweight and fast — no bloat, no account required - Supports Dynamic Island and Live Activities on iPhone 14 Pro and later - Designed specifically for weight training rest periods PERFECT FOR - Managing rest periods between sets at the gym - HIIT and Tabata interval training at home - Boxing round timers - CrossFit and circuit training - Anyone looking for a simple, reliable workout timer Download Gym Timer today and take control of your rest periods. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Gym Timer at Free against R's $0.99. Gym Timer also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). R's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.2). On in-app purchases and device support 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
Gym Timer is free to download; R costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
R ships an update every 3 months, Gym Timer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | R | Gym Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yoshiaki Onishi | takeru urushihara |
In-app purchases
R
No in-app purchases
Gym Timer
No in-app purchases









