Comparison

GymNext Flex Timer vs Zen Planner Staff App

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

Head to head
About

GymNext Flex Timer

This app offers advanced interval training timing with customizable modes and the ability to control an external LED display. It integrates with wearables and heart rate monitors for a comprehensive workout experience.

Highlights
  • Control external LED displays
  • Multiple customizable timer modes (Tabata, EMOM, etc.)
  • Save and recall favorite workouts
  • Apple Watch control
  • Audio sync with music
  • Heart rate monitor integration
  • Control multiple LED displays
Features
Read full description

Meet the future of interval training. GymNext Flex Timer is the only timer app that combines powerful workout programming with control of large, wall-mounted LED displays—giving you the best of both worlds. Traditional gym timers rely on clunky remotes and are difficult to use. Mobile apps are flexible, but hard to see across the room. Flex Timer solves both. Build and control your workouts from your phone while displaying them on bright, easy-to-read LED screens anywhere in your gym. Perfect for HIIT, CrossFit, circuits, bootcamps, boxing, MMA, strength training, and more. Features: • Use the app on its own or connect to GymNext LED displays for maximum visibility • Core timer modes include Count Up/Down, Round, Tabata, EMOM, Mixed Intervals, and Sets with Rest • Plan your personal workouts or full classes in advance—everything ready in one tap • Share timers with athletes and trainers instantly using simple links • Save workouts to your library for quick access • Control your timer from Apple Watch—completely hands-free • Smart audio sync keeps your music and timer cues perfectly aligned • Connect multiple Bluetooth heart rate monitors and track performance in real time • Set custom heart rate zones for better training feedback • Control multiple timers across your gym at the same time • Run different workouts simultaneously for group training • Reliable Bluetooth control with no line-of-sight limitations “This will eventually become the standard for all gyms” – Garage Gym Reviews “All our coaches love the clock” – CrossFit Barrie “We love it to death” – Wolverine Strength & Conditioning Download Flex Timer and upgrade the way you train. We’re always improving. Have feedback? Reach us at support@gymnext.com

About

Zen Planner Staff App

Manage your fitness business operations remotely. This app allows staff to view schedules, check-in clients, manage appointments, process payments, and update customer information. It's designed for businesses already using the Zen Planner platform.

Highlights
  • View full business schedule
  • Check class capacity
  • Check clients into sessions
  • Schedule and edit appointments
  • Sell drop-ins
  • Process payments
  • Manage customer profiles
Features
Read full description

Now Available on Tablet! With Zen Planner's Staff App, stay connected with your fitness business from anywhere! Use the Zen Planner Staff App to: - Check the full schedule for your business - current, past and future - Preview class capacity info and plan your day around expected attendance - Check customers into classes, appointments, and events - Schedule appointments from your mobile device - Edit class/appointment sessions - Sell drop-ins - Create profiles for new people - Add credit cards and make payments - View your customer's membership information - View class alerts and resolve alerts for customers - Let customers sign documents like waivers and contracts - Update customer profile information and photos - Coaching at multiple businesses? Log in to all of your Zen Planner accounts, in one place Note: your business must use Zen Planner, and you must login with your valid staff credentials. Need help with our app? Contact support@zenplanner.com

Screenshots

GymNext Flex Timer4 screens
Zen Planner Staff App3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GymNext Flex Timer at 72% against Zen Planner Staff App's 16%. GymNext Flex Timer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.7) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Zen Planner Staff App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. GymNext Flex Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Zen Planner Staff App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GymNext Flex Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GymNext Flex Timer has 2.1K ratings behind it against 91, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of GymNext Flex Timer's written reviews are positive against 16% of Zen Planner Staff App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GymNext Flex Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Zen Planner Staff App every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
GymNext Flex Timer versus Zen Planner Staff App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGymNext Flex TimerZen Planner Staff App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.1K ratings) — better1.7 (91 ratings)
Positive reviews72.4% of reviews — better15.6% of reviews
Number of ratings2.1K — better91
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size185 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHomick EnterprisesDaxko LLC

Customer experience

GymNext Flex Timer

All ratings2,119 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.1%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews170 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative21.8%

Zen Planner Staff App

All ratings91 ratings
Positive12.1%
Neutral5.5%
Negative82.4%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive15.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative75.3%

Bugs and requests

GymNext Flex Timer

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Saved timers not consistently loading
  • Segmented timers not saving properly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Watch app integration for remote control
  • Background audio playback when app is closed
  • Customizable voice options
  • Lap timer functionality

Zen Planner Staff App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

GymNext Flex Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Flex Timer Pro Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Flex Timer Pro Yearly1 Month trial$79.991 Year
None

Zen Planner Staff App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GymNext Flex Timer free?
GymNext Flex Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zen Planner Staff App free?
Zen Planner Staff App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GymNext Flex Timer or Zen Planner Staff App?
GymNext Flex Timer is rated higher. GymNext Flex Timer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Zen Planner Staff App averages 1.7 from 91 ratings.
Do GymNext Flex Timer or Zen Planner Staff App have ads?
Neither GymNext Flex Timer nor Zen Planner Staff App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GymNext Flex Timer or Zen Planner Staff App?
GymNext Flex Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Zen Planner Staff App every 3 months. Most recently, GymNext Flex Timer was updated on September 25, 2026 and Zen Planner Staff App on August 12, 2026.

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