How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Seconds is the power-user pick for complex interval chains, with multi-block timers, spoken interval names and shareable timers.
- SmartWOD Timer is the best CrossFit timer, with AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata and For Time presets used by more than 4 million athletes.
- Intertakt and TruTimer suit phone workouts that must keep running with the screen off, with voice cues over music.
- Taba is a clean iPhone and Apple Watch timer for HIIT, EMOM, AMRAP and circuits, with no sign-up and no ads.
- GymBoss is the only hardware option here, a programmable clip-on timer for people who train without a phone.
Quick comparison
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The best interval timer apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Seconds, from Runloop, is widely recognised as the best interval timer for HIIT and Tabata training on mobile, recommended by celebrity trainers and personal trainers. Its strength is complexity: templates for HIIT, Tabata and circuit training, a custom template for every interval, and a compound editor that combines many timers into one sequence.
The large, colour-coded display works in sideways or upright view, and Seconds speaks interval names with prior warnings, so you can follow a workout without seeing the screen. The free version limits reuse: once an interval timer is started, it may not be used again without upgrading. For complicated sequences, Seconds is the power-user answer.
What we like- Multi-block timers with different work lengths per round
- Speaks interval names
- Shareable timers
Watch out for- Free version cannot reuse a started timer
- Learning curve for complex sequences
- IOS and Android only
Starting price$6.99 one-time
Free planNo
Seconds Pro is the paid-upfront version of Seconds, costing $6.99 on Google Play, with 60 thousand installs and a 4.6-star rating from about 3,690 ratings. It removes the free version reuse restriction and gives the full timer without a subscription.
Some sources list Seconds Pro at $7.99 on the App Store, so confirm the price on your store before buying. For trainers and athletes who build complex timers daily, a one-time payment beats a monthly subscription.
What we like- One-time payment, no subscription
- Same power features as Seconds
- 4.6 stars from thousands of ratings
Watch out for- Paid upfront
- No free plan
- Android listing price varies by source
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
SmartWOD Timer is a free timer built for functional fitness, with AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata and For Time presets, plus mixed workouts that chain several blocks into one session. More than 4 million athletes use it, and it needs no account, no signup and no internet: pick a format, set times, hit start.
Sound and voice announcements include 7 sound packs and 12 spoken-countdown voices, and the workout log saves times with round splits, notes and images, exportable as CSV. Premium starts at $2.99 a month. For CrossFit athletes, SmartWOD is the most complete timer here.
What we like- AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata and For Time presets
- Workout log with CSV export
- Apple Watch integration
- Offline-first
Watch out for- Premium costs from $2.99 a month
- CrossFit focus may suit general users less
- No web version
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Intertakt is a free interval timer for HIIT and Tabata that works with the screen off, in a pocket, with audio running in the background and a lock mode that prevents stray touches from pausing mid-set. Beeps and voice ride over music with independent volume, and every interval is set in whole seconds, from 1 second to an hour, with presets such as 20/10 one tap away.
The timer is free forever with unlimited sessions, and Premium is a one-time Google Play payment, $3.99 for the first 100 places then $6.99, for unlimited custom plans, session history and file export. For phone workouts where the screen stays off, Intertakt is the best-engineered pick.
What we like- Works with screen off and in a pocket
- Voice and beeps over music
- No account needed
- Free forever
Watch out for- Premium is a one-time payment for custom plans
- IOS version on waitlist
- Newer tool
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
TruTimer is an interval workout timer with spoken voice cues, live countdowns, halfway alerts and workout history, plus templates for Tabata, HIIT, AMRAP, EMOM, boxing, running and circuits. Users set exercise duration, rest, rounds and countdowns, or customise a ready-made template, and completed sessions log automatically.
The free plan costs $0, and Pro costs $4.99 as a one-time lifetime payment. Timers work in a browser or on iOS and Android. For hands-free workouts with spoken cues and a session log, TruTimer is a strong, affordable choice.
What we like- Spoken voice cues and halfway alerts
- Templates for Tabata, HIIT, AMRAP, EMOM and boxing
- Workout history
Watch out for- Pro is a one-time payment
- Browser and mobile only
- Newer tool with less track record
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Taba is a workout timer for iPhone and Apple Watch that tells you when to work, when to rest and how many rounds are left, with colour, sound and a voice in your ear. It covers HIIT, EMOM, AMRAP, an open clock and custom circuits, where you line up moves by reps or time and Taba calls each exercise aloud.
There is no sign-up and no ads, and saved workouts start with one tap next time. For Apple users who want a clean timer without accounts or ads, Taba is the simplest pick.
What we like- No sign-up and no ads
- HIIT, EMOM, AMRAP, circuits and open clock
- Apple Watch support
- Saved workouts
Watch out for- IPhone and Apple Watch only
- No Android version
- Newer tool
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Interval Timer is a professional HIIT and Tabata timer for iOS with workout tracking, custom routines and background operation that keeps running when the phone is locked or other apps are used. It is free to start with all core features, and an optional one-time purchase removes ads and adds the premium experience, with no subscription required.
Voice announcements, workout history and custom routines cover most interval needs. For iOS users who want a free timer without a subscription, Interval Timer is a solid alternative to Seconds.
What we like- Free with all core features
- Background operation with phone locked
- Workout history and custom routines
Watch out for- Premium is a one-time purchase to remove ads
- IOS only
- Feature set overlaps with Seconds
Starting price$19.95 one-time
Free planNot applicable
GymBoss is a programmable interval timer that clips on, with audible and vibratory alerts at the end of intervals, water and shock resistance, and intervals programmable from 2 seconds to 99 minutes. It lists at $19.95 and needs one AAA battery.
It has no workout log, no app and no spoken cues, so it suits athletes who train without a phone, such as swimmers, boxers and outdoor trainers. For a phone-free timer that simply works, GymBoss is the only hardware pick here.
What we like- No phone needed
- Audible and vibratory alerts
- Water and shock resistant
- Intervals from 2 seconds to 99 minutes
Watch out for- Hardware cost
- One AAA battery required
- No workout log or app features
How we chose
We compared timers on format coverage, voice cues, background operation, price and platform, using vendor pages and current comparisons. CrossFit formats favour SmartWOD, complex chains favour Seconds, and screen-off phone use favours Intertakt and TruTimer. Where prices varied by store, such as Seconds Pro, we noted the range. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we weighted one-time payments over subscriptions, since a timer should not need a monthly fee.
Setting up intervals that work
Match the timer to the workout, not the other way round. Tabata means 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest for 8 rounds, while EMOM means a new task at the top of every minute, with rest earned by finishing fast. AMRAP means as many rounds as possible in a fixed time, and For Time means finishing a set amount of work as fast as possible. Learn these four formats and most timers become obvious.
Test cues before a hard session: voice volume over music, vibration strength, and whether the timer keeps running with the screen locked. Save your common workouts as presets, since rebuilding a timer mid-session wastes time and breaks focus. Finally, keep rest honest: a timer only helps when work and rest intervals match the plan. For group classes, a gym TV timer such as SmartWOD Box Timer keeps everyone on the same clock, which beats eight phones beeping at different times.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best interval timer app?
Seconds is best for complex interval chains, SmartWOD Timer is best for CrossFit formats, and Intertakt is best for screen-off phone workouts. Taba suits Apple users who want simplicity, and GymBoss suits phone-free training. Pick by workout format first, then by platform.
Is Seconds free?
Yes, Seconds is free to download, but non-paying users may create as many timers as they wish while a started timer may not be reused. Seconds Pro removes that restriction for a one-time payment of about $6.99 to $7.99 depending on the store. Try the free version first to confirm the interface suits your workouts.
What is the best CrossFit timer app?
SmartWOD Timer is best, with AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata and For Time presets, a workout log with CSV export, Apple Watch integration and offline use, trusted by more than 4 million athletes. Its Premium starts at $2.99 a month, and the free tier covers the core formats well.
Do interval timers work with the screen off?
Intertakt and TruTimer are built for screen-off use, with audio running in the background and lock modes that prevent accidental pauses. Seconds and Interval Timer also run in the background, so check background behaviour on your phone before a session. On some phones, battery optimisation kills background timers, so allow the app to run unrestricted.
Should I buy a hardware timer or use an app?
Use an app when you want spoken cues, workout logs and saved presets. Use a hardware timer such as GymBoss when you train without a phone, need vibration alerts in loud gyms, or want a device that simply clips on and works. Hardware also suits pools and outdoor training where a phone is at risk.
What is Tabata timing?
Classic Tabata is 20 seconds of all-out work followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 8 rounds, totalling 4 minutes. Most timers here include Tabata as a one-tap preset, with custom work and rest times for other interval formats. Warm up before a Tabata session, since all-out efforts on cold muscles raise injury risk.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://secondsapp.com
- https://www.appbrain.com
- https://smartwod.app
- https://www.intertakt.com
- https://trutimer.app
- https://taba-timer.com
- https://www.intervaltimer.us
- https://www.gymboss.com
- https://wodrounds.iamjarl.com/best-crossfit-timer-apps.html
- https://thedolceway.com/blog/hiit-timer-apps-comparison
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Seconds Interval Timer
Seconds Pro Interval Timer
SmartWOD Timer
Intertakt
TruTimer
Taba
Interval Timer
GymBoss