Comparison
GRIT vs popular interval timer apps
The short version: Seconds, Interval Timer and Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer are well-established interval timers, each free to start with paid upgrades. GRIT is free with nothing to buy, and adds For Time, AMRAP and EMOM alongside custom intervals and Tabata. If you want an Apple Watch app or spoken interval names, Seconds is strong. If you train WODs as well as intervals, GRIT covers both.
Which apps we compared
We picked three of the most widely used general interval timers on the UK App Store today: Seconds Interval Timer by Runloop, Interval Timer – HIIT Timer by Float Tech, and Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer (Tabata Stopwatch Pro) by Anuj Seth. All three are free to download and actively listed. We have not tested them hands-on; details come from their App Store listings.
Side by side
| GRIT | Seconds | Interval Timer (Float Tech) | Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free to try | Free download | Free download |
| Paid options | None | One-off unlock £7.99, or Seconds Pro £7.99 up front | Optional Premium Pass subscription with a free trial; lifetime pass | Pro Features (£19.99 on the UK listing) |
| Free version limits | None | Each timer locks after its first run until unlocked | Listing doesn't say which features are Premium | Limited number of workouts every 7 days; ads removed with Pro |
| Custom work/rest intervals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| For Time, AMRAP, EMOM | Yes, all three | EMOM listed; For Time and AMRAP not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Multi-part workouts | Build a WOD: timer and rest blocks in one session | Compound timers | Not listed | Warm-up, exercise, rest, recovery and cool-down intervals |
| Audio cues | Beep on each switch; mixes with your music | Voice calls out each interval | Voice or beep | Voice assist and beeps |
| History | On-device logbook with RX/scaled and notes | Saves to Apple Health | History and statistics | Saves to Apple Health |
| Big screen | Landscape on iPhone and iPad, AirPlay display | Full-screen, portrait or landscape | iPhone and iPad | Colour-coded display, iPhone and iPad |
| Apple Watch | No | Yes, runs on its own | No | No |
Checked 13 October 2026 against each app's UK App Store listing. Prices can change; check the listing before you buy.
What each one does well
GRIT WOD Timer
Custom Intervals and Tabata, plus For Time, AMRAP, EMOM and a time-of-day Clock, all free. Build a WOD combines blocks and rest into one session. Work and rest are colour-coded with a beep on each switch, and results are saved to an on-device logbook, with optional Apple Health matching. No Apple Watch app.
Seconds Interval Timer
Templates for HIIT, Tabata and circuits, intervals named and spoken aloud, music per timer or interval, compound timers and a standalone Apple Watch app. Everything is available from first launch, but each timer locks after one run until you buy the single unlock.
Interval Timer – HIIT Timer (Float Tech)
A simple drag-to-set interval timer with voice or beep guides that keep working when you leave the app, plus history, statistics and repeating a past workout from your history. Premium Pass is an optional subscription that starts with a free trial.
Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer
A Tabata timer that has been around for over a decade, with classic Tabata ready to go, customisable warm-up, exercise, rest, recovery and cool-down intervals, and plenty of beep options. The free version limits workouts each week; Pro adds unlimited workouts, presets and heart-rate monitor support and removes ads.
Who should choose which
Choose GRIT if…
You do CrossFit-style training as well as intervals, want For Time, AMRAP and EMOM in the same app, and would rather not pay or sign up for anything.
Another app might suit if…
You want spoken interval names and a standalone Apple Watch app (Seconds), a simple timer with stats (Interval Timer), or a dedicated Tabata app with lots of beep settings (Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer).
FAQ
What is the difference between an interval timer and a WOD timer?
An interval timer repeats work and rest periods. A WOD timer adds the CrossFit-style formats too: For Time with a cap, AMRAP and EMOM. GRIT does both, including custom work/rest Intervals and Tabata.
Is GRIT’s interval timer free?
Yes. GRIT is free with no account, subscription or in-app purchases. You can set any work, rest and rounds, save workouts and keep a local history without paying.
Which interval timer has an Apple Watch app?
Of the apps compared here, Seconds Interval Timer runs on Apple Watch on its own. GRIT, Interval Timer by Float Tech and Tabata Timer and HIIT Timer do not list Apple Watch support.
Do these apps work with my music?
All four play cues alongside music. GRIT’s audio cues mix with external music instead of stopping it; Seconds ducks your music for cues; Interval Timer works with your music apps; Tabata Timer can play tracks or pause music for cues.
Intervals and every WOD format, free.
No account, no subscription, no in-app purchases. Download GRIT and set your first interval.
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