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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

SmartWOD Timer

75
Value score / 100 Worth paying? Depends It depends

SmartWOD Timer is a highly-rated, user-friendly workout timer app that offers significant value in its free version, but recent intrusive ads and high subscription costs for ad removal have led to user frustration.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $89.99 4.9★ lifetime (54,038) since 2017

SmartWOD Timer is widely praised for its simplicity, customization, and effectiveness for various timed workouts like EMOMs and Tabatas R6R19R37. While the free version is highly functional, recent updates have introduced intrusive full-screen ads, pushing users towards a $12 yearly or $40 lifetime subscription to remove them R5R8. The app's core features are robust, but the new pricing for ad removal is a point of contention for long-time users.

Free vs paid

The free version of SmartWOD Timer provides a wide range of timer functionalities, including AMRAP, EMOM, and Tabata, with options to combine workouts and record logs with notes R10R21R32R40. It allows users to set timers, listen to music with alerts coming through, and offers vocal waypoints R2R34R43. However, the free version now includes intrusive full-screen ads R5R8. The paid version, which costs $12 yearly or $40 for a lifetime subscription, removes these ads and offers premium features like customizing interval workouts R3R5R8. The free version also does not save presets, though users find it easy enough to re-enter settings R40.

Value complaints

  • The app now has full-screen ads, and the only way to remove them is a $12 yearly or $40 lifetime subscription.R5R8
  • Users who previously paid to remove ads at a lower price point ($5) are frustrated by the new, higher subscription costs.R5
  • The $40 lifetime subscription is considered too expensive just to get rid of ads.R8

Where it delivers

  • The app is simple, easy to use, and effective for various workouts, including CrossFit, EMOMs, Tabatas, and general interval training.R2R6R19R37
  • It offers great customization options, especially for interval workouts, with features like combining AMRAP workouts and building in rest times.R3R10R28R32
  • Users appreciate the ability to record workouts in a log with notes, which helps track progress.R10R14R17R44
  • The app's sounds and alerts work well, even over music, and users can customize vocal waypoints.R2R34R43
  • Many users consider it the best workout timer available, even comparing it favorably to paid alternatives.R7R14R15R24
Worth paying if

It is worth paying if you frequently use the app for customized interval workouts and find the intrusive full-screen ads disruptive to your training, especially if you were a prior paid user at a lower price point R3R5R8.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip paying if you are content with the basic timer functions and can tolerate the ads, or if you find the $12 yearly or $40 lifetime subscription too expensive just for ad removal R5R8. Users who only need simple, one-off timers might also find the free version sufficient R40.

Evidence note: The evidence is robust for the app's functionality and user satisfaction with its core features. However, recent negative reviews R1R5R8R23 highlight issues with intrusive ads, bugs, and sound settings, which contrast with the overwhelmingly positive lifetime rating. The pricing complaints are recent and specific.

Frequently asked

What features does the free version of SmartWOD Timer offer?
The free version of SmartWOD Timer offers a variety of timer types like AMRAP, EMOM, and Tabata, allows users to combine workouts, record logs with notes, and provides audio alerts that play over music R10R21R32R40.
How much does SmartWOD Timer cost to remove ads?
To remove ads in SmartWOD Timer, users must pay for a subscription, which costs $12 yearly or $40 for a lifetime subscription R5R8.
Are there any known issues with the app?
Yes, recent reviews indicate issues such as intrusive full-screen ads, problems with mid-timer beeps and voice settings, a non-functional space bar in the workout description, and workouts restarting if the app goes idle R1R5R23R29.
Can SmartWOD Timer be used with other apps or devices?
The app's sounds play over music from other apps like Spotify R2R34R43, but some users wish it worked on smartwatches or could display timers on a smart TV R9R28.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] 3/5 · US Ads are too intrusive: The app now has full screen ads, and the only way to get rid of them is a $12 yearly subscription or $40 lifetime subscription. I’ve used this for a long time, and have paid to remove the ads previously when it was $5, but I’m going to try other apps
  2. [R8] 3/5 · US Great timer but…: The advertisement additions that have happened over the past few months have become very intrusive. $40 is way too expensive to get rid of them.
  3. [R2] 5/5 · US Easy Useful and Effective: I use the most basic features for stretches and exercises and I love it. I pop in my headphones set the timers listen to music and the alerts still come thru don’t interrupt music and I flow thru it all.
  4. [R6] 5/5 · US Simple and Easy: Been using this app for days when I miss CrossFit classes and it has been great. Simple to use and no unnecessary bells and whistles - just works as expected.
  5. [R19] 5/5 · US Best gym timer: I use this timer for all my workouts. Easy to use and has every timer needed for any workout.
  6. [R37] 5/5 · US Love this app!: This app is awesome for programming EMOM workouts. I don’t really use the other features but I’m sure they’re great too. Just input the total minutes you’re going to work, and the timer give you halfway and ten seconds warnings, and beeps at 3-2-1 seconds, with a loud beep to start your next minute. So easy to use.
  7. [R3] 5/5 · US Great customization: The premium is worth it to be able to customize interval workouts.
  8. [R10] 5/5 · US Awesome WOD Timer!: Such a great app! It allows you to record your workouts in a log with notes and name them too. The timer is awesome. You can combine AMRAP workouts so you don’t have to reset the time. 🙌
  9. [R28] 5/5 · US Amazing!!!: This is by far the best timer ever. It has so much flexibility in creating different workouts with rest periods and multiple sections. And countdowns and keeping track of rounds. I wish I could have a clock that does the same thing. Or is there a way to display my timers from my phone screen to a smart TV?I just want to see it bigger because it is so awesome
  10. [R32] 5/5 · US The best for Street Parking wods: This is the best timer available for CrossFit and Street Parking workouts due to the ability to build in rest times on for time workouts, (sets of for time w prescribed rest) and death by counter and AMRAP sets. Versatile.
  11. [R14] 5/5 · US I’d Pay For This: This app has come such a long way that if this was the first gen. I’d pay for this to have access to all its amazing stuff! This app beats ALL other apps especially the ones you pay for. The latest update of adding notes to the timer is a game changer! It’s like a mini white board that I can carry in my pocket while still seeing the timer!
  12. [R17] 4/5 · US Good app to workouts: I use the app daily to keep track of all my workouts. The workout log also helps me determine if I’m getting faster/more efficient over time. It would be pretty cool if there was a share option that way we can display it on a tv screen to make it bigger. Overall I am pretty satisfied with the app.
  13. [R44] 5/5 · US Download now: This app is great for workouts and tracking them.
  14. [R34] 5/5 · US I like the options: I appreciate that the sounds play over the music playing on the same device. I like the options to add/delete vocal waypoints.
  15. [R43] 5/5 · US Must have: Exactly what I needed to keep track of my timed workouts. Plays over my Spotify so I don't have to worry if I'm missing anything
  16. [R7] 5/5 · US Great ap: This is probably the best app that I have ever used… I use it for every workout that I’m doing on my own. If I miss a work out and it’s a room fit or if the time didn’t I bring this up and I use it. Best app, I’m sure there’s other ones out there that are great but I’m so used to this one
  17. [R15] 5/5 · US An app that should charge 10x more: If you do any timed fitness then this app will be your best friend. Amazing app, super easy to use and a great gym partner.
  18. [R24] 5/5 · US Amazing: Best Wod timer ever!!!! 💯
  19. [R21] 5/5 · US Good find: Simple to use and with the new mixed timer option you can really get through all of your programming
  20. [R40] 5/5 · US Awesome timer app: Love this timer - I’ve tried lots of different apps but this one has lots of flexibility for programming EMOMs and TABATAs and is very easy to use. The free version doesn’t save presets but it’s so easy to use that it’s not a huge drawback. Best timer I’ve tried so far.
  21. [R1] 2/5 · US Sounds wonky: This app is great, but the mid-timer beeps are gone. The entire sound settings are always wrong. I can turn off the voice in the settings, but I’ll still have this annoying voice telling me, “Let’s go.” Um, I just want the start, middle and end. And the only way to contact the app is via email. I’m not giving them my email!
  22. [R23] 1/5 · US New update problem: I’ve loved the app, and likely still will once this gets fixed - the space bar in the workout description section doesn’t work. Can’t take notes or put descriptions in.
  23. [R29] 3/5 · US Love it and really wish I could leave 5 stars: Everything is great. Love thé features. However, nothing upsets me more than when I need to pause a workout either to answer a call and EVERY time I pause it and leave for more than a minute, if the app closes out or goes idle, it restarts my workout. It's incredibly frustrating. This has happened multiple times and it ruins the whole workout.
  24. [R9] 5/5 · US The best: This is my favorite WOD app, I just wish it worked on my watch

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store