My Experience with Twisty Timer
I used to rely on my phone’s basic clock app, but setting a timer for something like 7 minutes was a pain, tapping that tiny plus button over and over. My friend Sam kept raving about this timer app he used for his coffee roasts, so I finally gave Twisty Timer a shot on my iPhone 14. I’ve had it for over a year now, and it’s one of those apps that just works without any fuss. Last Thursday, I was meal prepping—chicken in the oven, quinoa on the stove, and veggies roasting. I had all three timers going on one screen, clearly labeled. I didn’t have to guess which beep was for what, and my kitchen didn’t descend into chaos. That’s when I knew this app had permanently replaced my old method.
Features Worth Noting
The main thing is the twist dial. You just swipe your finger around the circle to set the time. It feels intuitive and is seriously quick for oddball times. I love the haptic feedback; it gives a satisfying little tap with each minute change. Being able to save presets is a huge time-saver. I’ve got one for my laundry (58 minutes), my morning tea (4 minutes), and my afternoon focus blocks (25 minutes). The app lets you run multiple timers at once, which, as I found out during my meal prep disaster-aversion session, is its killer feature. You can name each one, so “Chicken” and “Quinoa” are right there on the screen. The customization is nice too—I picked a dark blue theme that’s easy to read.
What Needs Work
It’s not perfect. My biggest gripe is the lack of a home screen widget. I’d love to just tap a widget on my home screen and start a timer without opening the app. It’s a small thing, but when my hands are covered in flour, every tap counts. I also wish my saved presets synced across devices. I set up all my perfect timers on my iPhone, but if I ever switch to an Android phone, I’d have to start from scratch. The twist animation itself is smooth on my iPhone 14, but I let my nephew try it on his older phone and he said it felt a bit janky.
Pricing
This is where Twisty Timer really wins for someone like me. The app is completely free. No ads popping up, no “pro version” nag screens, no subscriptions lurking after a trial. Everything it does, it does for zero dollars. I checked every menu looking for a catch. The developer, Ari Neto, has a “Support Development” link tucked away in the settings if you want to donate. After using it almost daily for a year without spending a cent, I actually felt a little guilty and sent a couple bucks his way. That’s how you do a free app right.
Developer Notes
I haven’t had any problems that required me to contact support, but I always check the App Store reviews before I trust an app. The reviews for Twisty Timer are consistently positive, with people mentioning that the developer is responsive to feedback. Looking at the update history, Ari Neto pushes out small updates every few months to fix bugs or add little improvements. It shows the app isn’t just abandoned after launch. That kind of ongoing care from a solo developer makes me trust the app more.
Security & Privacy
I’m always skeptical about what free apps are doing in the background. I went through the App Store privacy details for Twisty Timer, and it was a relief. The app doesn’t collect any user data. It doesn’t track you, it doesn’t link data to your identity, and it doesn’t share anything with third parties. It’s a simple timer that asks for notification permissions (so it can alert you) and that’s it. No shady business. It feels clean and private, which is exactly what I want from a utility app.
How does the twist dial work for setting timers?
Instead of tapping tiny plus buttons, you just swipe your finger around a circular dial to set the time. The app provides haptic feedback with each minute change, making it quick and intuitive, especially for oddball times like 7 minutes.
Can I run multiple timers at the same time and label them?
Yes, you can run several timers simultaneously on one screen and give each a custom name, like 'Chicken' or 'Quinoa.' This helps you keep track of different tasks during cooking or other activities without confusion.
Why doesn't Twisty Timer have a home screen widget, and is there a workaround?
The lack of a home screen widget is a common complaint, as it would let you start a timer without opening the app. For now, you can use the app's preset feature to save time, but you still need to launch the app to begin a timer.
My saved presets aren't syncing across devices—what can I do?
Twisty Timer currently doesn't support cloud syncing, so presets you create on your iPhone won't transfer to an Android or another iOS device. You'll need to manually recreate them if you switch phones, which is a bit of a hassle.
How does Twisty Timer compare to the default iPhone Clock app for timers?
The default Clock app requires tapping a tiny plus button repeatedly to set minutes, which is tedious for odd times. Twisty Timer's twist dial is much faster and more satisfying, plus it lets you run multiple named timers at once—a feature the stock app lacks entirely.
