Comparison

Interval Timer vs Interval Running

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

Head to head
About

Interval Timer

Organize your running and high-intensity interval training sessions with ease. Quickly set up custom time intervals for running, walking, warm-ups, and cool-downs. Receive voice and vibration notifications for interval changes, and enjoy background music playback.

Highlights
  • Intuitive design
  • Customizable time intervals
  • Warm-up and cool-down timers
  • Voice and vibration notifications
  • Background music support
  • Foreground/background operation
Features
Read full description

Interval Run is a running interval timer for iPhone and Apple Watch. Create run/walk intervals, sprint sessions, and HIIT workouts in seconds. Train with voice announcements and haptic cues, control workouts from Apple Watch, save sessions to Apple Health, and track your workout history. Choose from 25+ ready-made running workouts or build your own. Follow intervals from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, and focus on your run. 25+ READY-MADE RUNNING WORKOUTS • Explore run/walk workouts, running intervals, sprints, hill repeats, tempo runs, fartlek sessions, ladders, pyramids, and more • Find workouts for speed, endurance, recovery, and different training goals • Start any workout immediately or customize it to match your training • Save your favorites to My Workouts for quick access BUILD YOUR OWN INTERVAL WORKOUT • Create simple run/walk intervals or advanced multi-step workouts • Add warm-up, running, walking, recovery, rest, and cool-down sections • Set a custom duration for every step • Repeat intervals and complete workout blocks • Add custom cues to guide you through each workout step • Build sprint, HIIT, cardio, and structured running sessions • Save multiple workouts and reuse them anytime • Preview the complete workout before you start VOICE & HAPTIC INTERVAL CUES • Hear clear voice announcements at every interval transition • Feel haptic cues when it’s time to run, walk, recover, or rest • Keep your workout active while your iPhone is locked or the app is in the background • Follow your current interval from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with Live Activities • Listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks while you train RUN WITH APPLE WATCH • Sync workouts to Apple Watch • Start, pause, and control workouts directly from your wrist • Run phone-free with your workouts ready on Apple Watch • Follow interval progress without repeatedly checking your phone • Track heart rate, distance, and active energy during your workout • Get haptic interval cues directly on your Watch • Save completed workouts to Apple Health TRACK YOUR TRAINING • Browse completed workouts in calendar and history views • Review workout duration, intervals, distance, and active energy • Look back at your running and interval training over time • Share your workout results • Export and restore backups of your workout data MADE FOR RUNNERS WHO TRAIN WITH INTERVALS Whether you’re starting with beginner run/walk intervals, adding speed work to your weekly training, preparing for a 5K or another race, or creating a challenging HIIT session, Interval Run keeps every interval clear from start to finish. Use it as a simple run/walk timer, a running interval timer for speed training, an Apple Watch interval timer for phone-free workouts, or a flexible workout builder for more advanced structured sessions. From beginner run/walk workouts to sprints, tempo runs, hill repeats, fartlek training, and custom multi-step sessions, Interval Run adapts to the way you train. Start with one of 25+ ready-made workouts or create your own. Interval Run handles the timing so you can focus on your training. Some features shown, including the full workout library, advanced workout creation, multiple saved workouts, and full workout history, require Interval Run Pro. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Interval Running

Create personalized running routines that adapt to your daily energy levels. Mix walking, jogging, running, and sprinting with custom intervals and voice coaching. Track progress and set goals without comparison.

Highlights
  • Customizable interval plans
  • Voice coaching for hands-free use
  • Goal-based running themes
  • Detailed phase analysis
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly reporting
  • Shareable run cards
Features
Read full description

Some days you want to run fast. Other days, a light walk feels just right. Instead of comparing yourself with others, combine walking, jogging, running, and sprint intervals around today's goal and how you feel. Interval Running helps everyone create and continue a running flow that works for them, from first-time runners to experienced runners looking for a stronger workout. On a beginner day, running for one minute and walking for three is more than enough. Choose a gentle recovery plan when you want to take it easy, or alternate sprints and recovery phases when you are ready for a challenge. Once you start, the voice coach announces the next phase and countdown. Keep your phone in your pocket and focus on your breathing and movement instead of the screen. If you are new to running, build a habit by comfortably alternating walking and running. If your goal is weight management, choose a sustainable routine instead of pushing too hard. If you run for fitness, train regularly at an intensity that suits how you feel that day. If you already enjoy running, combine walks, jogs, runs, and sprints to create the workout you want. KEY FEATURES ■ Recommended plans for your goal Choose from six themes designed for different goals: Beginner, Fat Burn, Balanced, Performance, Endurance, and Recovery. ■ Custom intervals, built your way Arrange warm-up, walking, jogging, running, sprinting, and cool-down phases in any order and duration. Adjust repetitions and intensity to suit you. ■ Voice coaching without watching the screen Hear the next phase, time remaining, and countdown. Keep moving without repeatedly checking your phone. ■ Time, distance, pace, and estimated calories Review your workout time, distance, average pace, and estimated calories. Your record is not a score against others; it is proof that you kept moving. ■ Analysis for every running phase Compare time, distance, and speed across walking, jogging, running, and sprint phases. See how the flow you designed played out in your workout. ■ Daily, weekly, and monthly goals and reports Set a daily time, distance, or calorie goal and weekly or monthly workout-day goals. Review the progress and changes you build over time. ■ Share your run card and plan Turn today's run into a shareable card. Friends can scan its QR code to save the interval plan you created. Running does not have to mean going faster, longer, or farther. It is okay to start gently, walk along the way, or challenge yourself when you feel ready. Take care of yourself, listen to your body's rhythm, and gradually create a flow that is your own. Start a run made for who you are today with Interval Running.

Screenshots

Interval Timer4 screens
Interval Running4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Interval Running at 100% against Interval Timer's 21%. Interval Running also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Interval Timer's advantage is ratings volume (536 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). 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. Interval Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Interval Running asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Interval Running holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Interval Timer has 536 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Interval Running's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Interval Timer ships an update monthly, Interval Running every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Interval Timer versus Interval Running: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInterval TimerInterval Running
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (536 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings536 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoma SosnovskyRYNYUL

Customer experience

Interval Timer

All ratings536 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive21.1%
Neutral8.4%
Negative70.5%

Interval Running

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Interval Timer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Timer resets or freezes during workout
  • Prompts not working when phone is locked or in pocket
  • Unexpected interval changes or duration changes
  • Compatibility issues with music playback

Requested features

6 requests
  • Option to pause/resume timer
  • Larger time remaining display
  • Apple Watch app
  • Ability to play audio prompts even with screen off
  • More interval options (run/walk/jog)
Show 1 more
  • Congratulatory audio cue at the end

Interval Running

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Interval Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Interval Run Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Interval Run Pro Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Version$2.99
None

Interval Running

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Interval Timer free?
Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Interval Running free?
Interval Running is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or Interval Running?
Interval Running is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 536 ratings, while Interval Running averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Interval Timer or Interval Running have ads?
Neither Interval Timer nor Interval Running shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or Interval Running?
Interval Timer ships an update monthly, and Interval Running every 9 days. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on October 22, 2026 and Interval Running on October 12, 2026.

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