Tide vs Time Timer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Tide grades higher than Time Timer: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Tide grades higher on features and ease of use. Time Timer grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Tide
Nature soundscapes with a focus timer, sleep and meditation
Free plan · from $11.99/mo
Time Timer
Visual countdown timer app built around a disappearing disk
Free plan
Which one is for you
Pick Tide if
- Fits if you work or study to rain, ocean and other nature sounds
- Works for people who want a focus timer, sleep sounds and meditation in one app
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $11.99 against $59.99 for the whole year
- Not for you if you want to know what's free before you download, since nobody itemizes it
- Too light for you if the problem is the apps you keep opening, because Tide blocks nothing
- Skip it if you work on Windows, as no Windows or web version is listed, and the Chrome extension's store page is gone
- Watch out: the App Store lists Membership items at $1.99 to $15.99 and a $9.99 Plus item, none explained, and no trial length
Pick Time Timer if
- Fits if you want to see time run out on a disk, for kids, meetings or focus blocks
- Works for people on iPhone, Android or Mac who run a few timers at once
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you need more than 3 timers on the free app
- Skip it if you want Pomodoro cycles or a task list, as it is a plain countdown
- Watch out: sequencing, groups and cross-device sync are Premium, and the Premium price is not shown
- Watch out: no Windows or Linux app is listed
How we grade them
| 2.8GPATideGood | 2.6GPATime TimerGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$11.99 a month puts it in the dearest quarter of focus apps, where the middle is $3.99. The year at $59.99 works out at $5 a month, which is ordinary. What stops it going higher is that nobody says what Plus unlocks. | CThe free app costs nothing, but the Premium price is not shown on the vendor pages or in the store text we read, so there is nothing to grade the paid side against. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree to download, but you only get part of the sound library, and nothing itemises which sounds and features need Plus. The store terms mention a trial without saying how long it runs. | BThe free app gives up to 3 timers, several running at once, any duration and limited sound, vibration and colour options. A person can live on that. |
| Features | BIt covers the whole calm-and-concentrate job: a timer that plays nature scenes, sounds you can mix with your own music, sleep and nap modes with light alarms, guided meditation, paced breathing and a session diary. It blocks nothing, mind. | CA general countdown timer with routine sequencing, device sync and alerts. It has no break cycle or task list of its own, which a Pomodoro-style focus tool has. |
| Ease of use | A4.8 from about 8,300 App Store ratings. Pick a sound, start the timer, that's it; the listing shows nothing to set up first. | B4.6 from about 15,000 App Store ratings. Set a time and the disk runs. |
| Platforms and integrations | BBoth phones plus a Mac app, with Apple Health sync and Siri Shortcuts on iOS. No Windows or web version, and the Chrome extension the site links to no longer has a store page. | BiOS, Android and Mac, with Apple Watch support. No Windows or Linux app. |
| Best for | a focus timer, sleep sounds and meditation in one | a visual countdown disk for focus and routines |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Tide and Time Timer. How we grade
Where they differ
- Tide also covers focus music.
- Time Timer also covers time blocking.
In commonFree planiOSAndroidmacOSPomodoro timer
At a glance
| Tide | Time Timer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $11.99 / month, or $59.99 / year (US App Store) | Not published |
| Free plan | Free to download with in-app purchases. The site's sound catalog has a Free filter, but the store listing does not spell out which features need Tide Plus. | Free app: up to 3 timers, several running at once, the original 60-minute red disk or any duration, and limited sound, vibration and color options. |
| Free trial | The App Store subscription terms mention a free trial; its length is not stated | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Guangzhou Moreless Network Technology Co., Ltd. | Time Timer LLC |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Tide
- Tide publishes no prices on its website; the figures here come from its US App Store listing.
- The App Store also lists Tide Membership purchases at $1.99, $4.99 and $15.99 and a $9.99 monthly Plus item without explaining them.
- Neither the site nor the store listing itemizes which sounds and features are free and which need Tide Plus.
- No Windows or web version is listed, and the Chrome extension the site links to no longer has a Chrome Web Store page.
Time Timer
- Free app is capped at 3 timers and limited customization; sequencing, groups and cross-device sync are Premium features.
- The Premium subscription price is not shown on the vendor pages or in the store text we read, so it is not listed here.
- No Windows or Linux app is listed; the vendor lists iOS, Android and Mac apps.
- It is a general countdown timer, with no break cycle or task list of its own.
Key features
Tide
- Focus timer
- A Pomodoro-style timer that plays nature sounds while it runs. Timer lengths can be customized, and an immersive mode is meant to keep you off your phone.
- Nature soundscapes
- A library of recorded scenes such as rain, ocean and thunder, filed under Nature, Urban, Melody and other categories. A music fusion mode mixes your own music with the sounds.
- Sleep and nap modes
- Sleep sounds for the night and a nap mode for daytime, with light wake-up alarms and a sleep analysis report.
- Guided meditation
- Mindfulness courses such as Breathing and Body Scan, plus single sessions on topics like falling asleep and study pressure.
- Breathing guide
- Paced breathing exercises, including balanced breathing and the 4-7-8 pattern.
- Tide Diary and Apple Health sync
- A report of your sessions with shareable cards. The iOS app syncs data to Apple Health through HealthKit and supports Siri Shortcuts.
Time Timer
- Disappearing-disk timer
- The remaining time is shown as a colored disk that shrinks. The disk can be set to anything from 1 second to 99:59:59, or left at the classic 60-minute red disk.
- Several timers at once
- Run more than one timer together, save timers for reuse, and set repeating timers of up to 99 in one run.
- Routine sequencing
- Premium chains timers into sequences such as a morning checklist or a set of work sprints, and groups saved timers.
- Apple Watch and device sync
- The vendor says the Apple Watch and iPhone sync. Premium adds syncing across mobile and desktop devices.
- Alerts and display options
- Choose vibration, sound or both at the end of a timer, change colors and sounds, switch light or dark mode, and keep the screen awake while the app is open.
- Companion hardware
- The same company sells physical timers, watches and dry-erase boards, and an Enterprise Edition of the app aimed at teams and schools.
Plans
Tide
Free$0
Free download with part of the sound library. The listing does not say exactly where the free version stops.
Tide Plus (Monthly)$11.99
per month, US App Store in-app purchase
Auto-renewing subscription, one of two options named in the listing. The listing does not itemize what Plus unlocks.
Tide Plus (Annual)$59.99
per year, US App Store in-app purchase
The same subscription billed yearly. The in-app purchase list also shows an annual Tide Plus item at $54.99.
Time Timer
Free$0
Up to 3 timers, multiple timers at once, any duration, limited sound, vibration and color choices.
Ways to pay less
Tide
- Annual discount
Annual Tide Plus costs about 58% less than monthly
The US App Store listing gives Tide Plus as $11.99 per month or $59.99 per year, so a year paid annually costs about 58% less than twelve monthly payments.
Time Timer
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Tide or Time Timer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Tide starts at $11.99 / month, or $59.99 / year (US App Store), and Time Timer publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, Tide or Time Timer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Tide and Time Timer have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.