The Nintendo World Championships winner auctioning off the 3DS he used to win brought the speedrunning community back into the mainstream conversation, and the question of “what do you actually time runs with” came with it. The desktop standard is LiveSplit; on Android, the field is smaller and the picks split between dedicated speedrun timers, the web port of LiveSplit, and a couple of general-purpose stopwatches that runners have adopted for their lap precision. We tested six, focused on split accuracy, segment editing, splits.io integration, and how each one behaves when the phone falls asleep mid-run.
What to look for in a speedrun timer
A handful of features separate a real speedrun timer from a stopwatch.
Split precision. Centiseconds at minimum, milliseconds preferred. Anything coarser misses sub-second improvements.
Persistent state. The timer must survive being backgrounded, the screen going off, and notifications. A timer that pauses when the screen locks is unusable for long runs.
Segment editing. Runners change splits between attempts. The app needs an editor.
Splits.io compatibility. Importing or exporting splits files is the bridge to the desktop ecosystem and to the community leaderboards.
Display. Big, legible numbers and a colour-coded gold/PB/best-segment indicator are the difference between a useful timer and a stopwatch.
Offline. No timer needs internet to count. Apps that require sign-in or constant ads are a no.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Precision | Free plan | Splits.io | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FramePerfect Speedrun Timer | Real speedrun workflow | Centiseconds | Free | Import/export | Purpose-built for runners |
| LiveSplit One (web) | Desktop parity | Milliseconds | Free | Yes | Browser version of the desktop standard |
| Splitterino | Open-source alternative | Centiseconds | Free | Yes | Self-hosted, scriptable |
| Stopwatch & Timer+ | Quick splits | Centiseconds | Free, ads | Manual export | Multi-lap workflow |
| Speedometer Stopwatch | Backup timer | Centiseconds | Free | None | Reliable when fancier apps crash |
| Time Timer | Beginner runners | Seconds | Free, ads | None | Designed for non-runners |
#1. FramePerfect Speedrun Timer, best dedicated speedrun timer for Android
FramePerfect Speedrun Timer is the only Android app on this list that was built specifically for speedrunners. Splits with descriptions, segment groups, gold time tracking, PB indicator, custom layouts. The timer keeps running with the screen off; the persistent foreground service is opt-in. Splits import and export both use LiveSplit’s standard .lss format.
Where it falls short: The customisation pages take patience the first time. No built-in race rooms; for races you still need a desktop client.
Pricing: Free, no ads.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick FramePerfect first. It is the closest thing Android has to LiveSplit, and it actually behaves like a speedrun tool.
#2. LiveSplit One (web), best desktop parity
LiveSplit One is the cross-platform rewrite of the desktop LiveSplit, distributed as a web app that runs in any modern browser, including Chrome on Android. The interface is the same on every device, splits files are exactly compatible with the desktop client, and the auto-splitter ecosystem (where supported) follows along.
Where it falls short: It is a web app, not a native Android app. Background reliability depends on Chrome’s tab freezing. Touch tap zones are smaller than a phone-first layout would have.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Web (any browser).
Download: LiveSplit One
Bottom line: Pick LiveSplit One when desktop parity matters more than native phone behaviour.
#3. Splitterino, best open-source self-hosted alternative
Splitterino is the community-maintained alternative built around plugin support and a scripting API. The Android pick here is the mobile-friendly progressive web app build, which mirrors the desktop client. Splits files are interchangeable with LiveSplit.
Where it falls short: Not a native Android app. Plugin ecosystem skews toward desktop. Documentation can lag the build.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Splitterino site
Bottom line: Pick Splitterino if you want a scriptable, self-hosted timer and the PWA workflow is acceptable.
#4. Stopwatch & Timer+, best general-purpose timer with lap workflow
Stopwatch & Timer+ is a polished general-purpose timer that runners reach for when a dedicated app is overkill. Multi-lap workflow with centisecond precision, persistent background timer, dark mode. Splits export as a plain text list, which a runner can paste into a splits.io entry by hand.
Where it falls short: Not built for speedrunning. No PB comparison, no gold tracking, no .lss files. Banner ads on free.
Pricing: Free, ads. Pro upgrade around $1.99 USD removes ads.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Pick this for casual practice runs where you want laps and don’t need PB comparison.
#5. Speedometer Stopwatch, best backup timer
Speedometer Stopwatch is the boring, reliable pick. Centisecond precision, lap workflow, no nonsense. Runners keep it installed as a fallback when a fancier timer misbehaves during a critical run.
Where it falls short: No splits workflow. Plain stopwatch UI. Not designed for speedrunning at all.
Pricing: Free, ad-supported.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Pick this as the backup app on the home screen, behind whatever your real timer is.
#6. Time Timer, best for new runners learning the workflow
Time Timer is designed for productivity, not speedrunning, but a lot of new runners install it first because the interface is easy. The visual countdown is good for practising segments; the lap stopwatch is precise enough to use as a training tool while you learn what a real speedrun layout should include.
Where it falls short: Not a speedrun timer. No splits files, no PB indicator. Free build has ads and pushes the paid productivity tier.
Pricing: Free with ads. Pro tier subscription.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Time Timer if you are brand new to speedrunning and “splits” still sounds like jargon.
How to pick the right speedrun timer
- If you want a real Android speedrun timer: FramePerfect.
- If you live in the LiveSplit ecosystem on desktop: LiveSplit One in Chrome.
- If you want open-source with plugin support: Splitterino PWA.
- If you only need lap times for practice: Stopwatch & Timer+.
- If you want a no-nonsense backup app: Speedometer Stopwatch.
- If you are brand new and the jargon hasn’t landed yet: Time Timer.
A real speedrunner setup on Android is FramePerfect for runs and Speedometer Stopwatch as the home-screen backup, with the desktop LiveSplit for races.
FAQ
Can I race on splits.io from an Android phone?
With LiveSplit One in Chrome, yes; the race-room features work in the browser. Native Android apps don’t yet ship with multiplayer race rooms.
Is FramePerfect compatible with LiveSplit .lss files?
Yes. The app imports and exports standard LiveSplit splits files, which makes phone-to-desktop migration painless.
Why doesn’t my phone timer keep running with the screen off?
Modern Android aggressively freezes backgrounded apps. A real speedrun timer needs to start a persistent foreground service, which most general-purpose stopwatches do not. FramePerfect does.
Are there auto-splitters on Android?
Practical auto-splitters need to read game memory, which on Android is gated by sandboxing. A handful of rooted-device options exist; for the vast majority of runners, manual splits are the answer.
Will an Android speedrun timer keep accurate centisecond precision?
Yes, assuming the device clock is reliable. Modern phone clocks resolve well below one millisecond; the timer apps add a few milliseconds of UI overhead at most.
What about Switch or 3DS speedruns?
For runs done on a real handheld, the phone-as-timer setup is exactly what the world record runs use. Put the phone next to the console and split on FramePerfect. Capture cards for the recording side are covered in our best capture card streaming apps roundup.
