What TimeSince Pro actually adds
The free tier is not a trial. Here is the line between it and Pro, what each side actually includes, and the cases where paying changes nothing for you.
By Mar San Agustin
The short answer
Free gives you three active counters with logging, reminders, categories, the home screen widget and private iCloud sync, with no time limit and no account. Pro removes the three-counter cap and adds hidden counters behind Face ID, custom logging fields, NFC tap-to-log, Siri Shortcuts, archiving and JSON export. It is $1.99 a month, $14.99 a year, or $39.99 once for lifetime. If you track three things and log them by opening the app, Pro changes nothing for you.
The free tier here is not a trial with a countdown. Three counters, kept indefinitely, with logging, reminders, categories, the home screen widget and private iCloud sync. If three things are what you need to track, you are done, and nothing will start nagging you.
That makes the upgrade question narrower than usual: what specifically do you hit?
Most people hit the number
Three is enough for a focused set and not enough for a household. The moment you want the water filter, the car, the cat's flea treatment and calling your parents, you are at four, and the cap is the thing in your way.
That is the straightforward case, and unlimited counters is the main thing Pro sells.
Some people hit the friction instead
The other reason to upgrade has nothing to do with the number. NFC tap-to-log and Siri Shortcuts are both Pro, and they are the difference between a log you make and one you meant to make. If your three counters are physical things in fixed places — a pillbox, a filter, a litter tray — then a tag on the object may matter more to you than a fourth counter ever would.
Worth separating those two reasons before you decide, because only one of them is solved by the cap going away.
On the lifetime option
$39.99 once against $14.99 a year means lifetime is cheaper from year three. One App Store reviewer called the lifetime purchase a no-brainer, which is a reasonable read if you already know the app has stuck.
If you do not know that yet, a month at $1.99 is a cheaper way to find out than committing either way.
When Pro is not worth it
If you track three things, log them by opening the app, and do not need anything hidden, Pro changes nothing about your day. The honest answer is to keep the free tier, and the free tier will keep working.
Step by step
- 1
Use the free tier properly first
Three counters with sync and a widget is a real product, not a trial. If three is genuinely enough, stop here; nothing expires.
- 2
Notice which limit you actually hit
Most people meet the counter cap. Some meet the logging friction instead and want NFC or Siri. Those are different reasons to upgrade and only one of them is about the number three.
- 3
Pick the term that matches how long you will use it
At $14.99 a year against $39.99 once, lifetime pays for itself inside three years. Monthly is for finding out, not for staying.
- 4
Check what happens if you stop
A lapsed subscription does not delete anything. You choose three counters to keep active and the rest are archived, with their history intact, until you return.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Active counters | 3 | Unlimited |
| Logging, reminders, categories | Yes | Yes |
| Home screen widget | Yes | Yes |
| Private iCloud sync | Yes | Yes |
| Hidden counters behind Face ID | No | Yes |
| Custom fields: numbers, text, photos | No | Yes |
| NFC tap-to-log and Siri Shortcuts | No | Yes |
| Archiving and JSON export | No | Yes |
What TimeSince helps with
- Removes the three-counter cap entirely
- Adds the hands-free logging routes: NFC tags and Siri
- Adds hidden counters, custom fields and file export
- Offers a one-time purchase, so you need not rent it
What TimeSince will not fix
- It does not unlock iCloud sync, which is free for everyone
- It does not add an Android or web version
- It will not make a fourth counter worth tracking
Frequently asked questions
Is the free tier time-limited?+
No. Three active counters, with logging, reminders, categories, the widget and iCloud sync, with no trial clock and no account. One App Store reviewer described it as a very generous free tier, which is a fair summary.
What happens to my counters if a subscription lapses?+
Nothing is deleted. You are asked to choose up to three counters to keep active and the rest are archived along with their history. Restoring or resubscribing brings them straight back.
Is iCloud sync part of Pro?+
No, and this is worth being clear about because it is a common assumption. Sync is free for everyone, and it is off until you turn it on. It goes to your own private iCloud rather than to any server the developer runs.
Subscription or lifetime?+
Lifetime is $39.99 and the yearly subscription is $14.99, so lifetime is cheaper from the third year. If you are unsure whether the app will stick, a month at $1.99 answers that more cheaply than either.
Track it without the guilt trip
TimeSince counts the time since you last did something. No streaks to break.
