Comparison

Disco Timer vs Hourglass

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

Head to head
About

Disco Timer

This app provides a visually intuitive countdown timer for various tasks, from cooking to presentations. Its unique rotary gesture for setting time and large display make it easy to use and read from a distance. Customize alerts and colors for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Rotary gesture time setting
  • Large, high-contrast display
  • Glanceable from a distance
  • Disable auto-lock option
  • Customizable color combinations (Premium)
  • Variety of exclusive alert tones
Features
Read full description

Boiling an egg, timing a presentation, or starting your next Pomodoro – Disco Timer is a universal countdown clock for all sorts of tasks. Setting the timer duration is based on 60-minute circle of traditional analog watches – you just wind it up with a single rotary gesture. Then tap the display to run, pause, or reset the timer. Large, high-contrast representation of the remaining time makes it glanceable from quite a distance. And an option to disable the Auto-Lock can keep the device awake while the timer is running. This comes in very handy when keeping an eye on the progress is as important as the finishing time itself. The face of the timer can be customized by choosing from a variety of color combinations (Premium feature). And for the completion alert – you can select from a dozen great-sounding tones, all of which are crafted exclusively for Codulis apps. Give Disco Timer a try, and let us know what you think!

About

Hourglass

A visual timer app that uses falling sand to help you track time peacefully. Ideal for focus sessions, meditation, or any activity where a calm sense of time passing is desired. Offers customizable colors and time visibility with a Pro upgrade.

Highlights
  • Visual falling sand timer
  • Customizable timer durations
  • Relaxing sand animation
  • Timer completion notifications
  • Restart recent timers
  • Customizable colors (Pro)
  • Toggle time visibility (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Watch the sand fall and enjoy a calmer way to keep track of time. Hourglass is a simple visual timer that lets you enjoy the gentle motion of falling sand while counting down your time. Use it for studying, focused work, reading, breaks, meditation, or any moment when you want time to feel a little more peaceful. Unlike an ordinary digital timer, Hourglass gives you a visual sense of time passing as the sand slowly falls. Perfect for: • Studying and focus sessions • Work and productivity • Reading and hobbies • Pomodoro sessions • Meditation and quiet time • Relaxing breaks Features: • Set any timer duration you like • Relaxing falling-sand animation • Quickly restart recently used timer durations • Notifications when the timer finishes • Customize sand and background colors with Pro • Show or hide the remaining time with Pro Whether you're studying, working, meditating, or taking a break, Hourglass gives you a simple and calming way to experience time. standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Disco Timer4 screens
Hourglass3 screens

Verdict

The call

Disco Timer and Hourglass both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 89% of Disco Timer's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hourglass's. Disco Timer also leads on ads (none vs shown). Hourglass's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Disco Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hourglass sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Disco Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 98 and 255 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Disco Timer's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hourglass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Disco Timer ships an update every 5 months, Hourglass weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Disco Timer versus Hourglass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDisco TimerHourglass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (98 ratings) — better4.5 (255 ratings)
Positive reviews89.5% of reviews — better30.0% of reviews
Number of ratings98255 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCodulisFocaccia, Inc.

Customer experience

Disco Timer

All ratings97 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive89.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.3%

Hourglass

All ratings254 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Disco Timer

One-time1
  • Disco Timer Premium$0.99
2 purchases

Hourglass

Subscriptions1
  • Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Hourglass Timer Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Disco Timer free?
Disco Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hourglass free?
Hourglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Disco Timer or Hourglass?
Disco Timer is rated higher. Disco Timer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 98 ratings, while Hourglass averages 4.5 from 255 ratings.
Do Disco Timer or Hourglass have ads?
Hourglass shows ads; Disco Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Disco Timer or Hourglass?
Disco Timer ships an update every 5 months, and Hourglass weekly. Most recently, Disco Timer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hourglass on November 3, 2026.

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