Last updated: February 2026
Both Box Timer and Tabata Stopwatch Pro are workout timer apps focused on interval training. Here is an honest comparison to help you choose the right one.
Box Timer is completely free with no ads and no limitations. It focuses on simplicity with a gym-style digital display.
Tabata Stopwatch Pro offers a color-coded display showing energy levels and voice announcements. The free version is limited to one workout every 7 days and contains ads. The pro upgrade costs $19.99.
| Box Timer | Tabata Stopwatch Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Workouts AMRAP EMOM Tabata For Time Custom Intervals | Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes | No No Yes No Yes |
| Price | Free | Free & Paid $19.99 for pro |
| Usage limits (free) | Unlimited | 1 workout per 7 days |
| Ad free | Yes | Paid only |
| In-app purchases | None | Yes |
| Sound effects | Yes | Yes |
| Voice announcements | No | Yes |
| Works with music | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Health | No | Yes |
| Workout history | Yes | Yes |
| Landscape mode | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch | No | No |
| Languages | 6 | 1 |
| App Store rating | 4.9 stars | 4.8 stars |
Box Timer is the better choice for almost any athlete who trains regularly. The most obvious reason: Tabata Stopwatch Pro's free tier allows only one workout every seven days. That is not a countdown timer for most people — it is a demo. If you train four or five times a week and do not want to pay $19.99 for the pro unlock, Box Timer is the practical choice.
Box Timer also supports the full range of CrossFit WOD formats. Tabata Stopwatch Pro focuses on Tabata and custom intervals — AMRAP, EMOM, and For Time are not available. Athletes who program a mix of WOD types will need Box Timer or a different app to fill those gaps.
The gym-style digital display and loud round-transition beeps make Box Timer a natural fit for garage gym athletes who need a clock they can read from a distance while moving a barbell.
Tabata Stopwatch Pro has a distinctive visual approach: the display uses color to represent energy levels during intervals, shifting from green to red as each work period progresses. Combined with voice announcements, it creates a sensory experience designed to keep athletes at maximum effort during high-intensity Tabata work.
Apple Health integration is a genuine advantage if you track your workouts in the Health app alongside other fitness data. For athletes building a long-term training log across different apps, having interval sessions automatically logged in Health adds value.
At $19.99 for the pro version, Tabata Stopwatch Pro is a meaningful investment compared to Box Timer's free pricing. It makes sense for a dedicated Tabata practitioner who values the voice guidance and energy visualization and trains specifically within that protocol.
For a standard Tabata (8 rounds of 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest):
Box Timer
Tabata Stopwatch Pro
Both apps get you into a Tabata quickly. Tabata Stopwatch Pro's color-shifting display and voice announcements provide a richer in-workout experience once running. Box Timer's setup is straightforward and the beeps are sufficient for most athletes without the visual color feedback.
Box Timer is free — no ads, no usage limits, no in-app purchases.
Tabata Stopwatch Pro offers a free tier that is severely restricted: one workout every seven days with ads. The pro unlock is a one-time purchase of $19.99 that removes limits and adds voice announcements and additional features. Verify current pricing in the App Store.
For most athletes, the choice is straightforward: Box Timer is free, unlimited, and covers more WOD formats. Tabata Stopwatch Pro's free tier is too restricted to be useful for regular training without upgrading.
If you are a serious Tabata practitioner who trains with that specific protocol regularly and wants voice coaching with Apple Health logging, Tabata Stopwatch Pro's $19.99 pro unlock is worth evaluating. For everyone else, Box Timer is the practical, cost-free choice.
Related: Best Workout Timer Apps for iPhone in 2026 · Box Timer vs SmartWOD · Box Timer vs Interval Timer · Box Timer vs Seconds Pro · Box Timer vs Tabata Timer
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