# Disco Timer vs Hourglass

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) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Disco Timer against 4.6 for Hourglass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 97 and 216 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Disco Timer's written reviews are positive against 30% of Hourglass's.

Disco Timer ships an update every 5 months, Hourglass weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Disco Timer | Hourglass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disco-timer-visual-countdown/id986510052/reviews)** | [4.6 (216 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourglass-simple-timer/id6449443481/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 97 | **216** |
| Positive reviews | **89.5% of reviews** | 30.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Codulis](https://appshunter.io/developer/335542761) | [Focaccia, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689143851) |

## What reviewers say

### Disco Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disco-timer-visual-countdown/id986510052)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disco Timer Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


### Hourglass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourglass-simple-timer/id6449443481)

This app offers a simple and user-friendly hourglass experience. Set your desired time, pause it as needed, and enjoy the soothing visual of falling sand. It's designed for moments of calm and focused time management.

**Highlights:** User-friendly hourglass interface, Set custom timer durations, Pause and resume timer, Soothing falling sand animation, Comforting visual experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro - Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Hourglass Timer Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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 97 ratings, while Hourglass averages 4.6 from 216 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 September 25, 2026 and Hourglass on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*