INTERVAL / PRACTICAL GUIDES

Interval vs Loon: meeting countdowns for Mac, subscription vs pay once

By Cory Parry, maker of Interval · Updated 17 October 2026

Written by Interval’s maker.

Short answer

Loon is a Mac menu-bar meeting countdown costing $4.99 a month, or $3.99 a month billed annually, and doesn’t join Microsoft Teams links in one click. Interval is a one-time £15.99 (US$19.99) Mac meeting timer that joins Zoom, Meet, Teams, Webex and FaceTime calls and counts down to each meeting’s end.

Loon’s prices were checked 17 October 2026 on its pricing page; its own countdown page says Microsoft Teams links are shown but not joined in one click. That distinction matters: Loon does show the links. It is not a claim that Teams events are invisible.

Choose Interval if a one-time website purchase, supported Teams joins and a personal end countdown suit your day. Stay with Loon if you value escalating alerts, starred meetings, focus blocks sized to gaps or its menu-bar visual timer. Loon also supports older Macs: macOS 13 or later, compared with Interval’s macOS 26 minimum.

Price over a year and over three years: checked 17 October 2026

The following is simple arithmetic from the Loon rates checked 17 October 2026. It assumes those rates stay unchanged, with no discounts or price changes. Annual billing is quoted as a monthly equivalent; it is not the same payment schedule as buying a month at a time. These figures do not estimate future prices.

Loon offers a seven-day free trial and no free tier. Interval’s website route is pay before download, with no website trial. A refund is available on request within 14 days of an Interval website purchase, including after download or activation; see the refund terms. The different ways of trying and paying are worth considering alongside the features.

Feature table

Where Loon is better

Loon’s own comparison describes escalating alerts, starred meetings and focus blocks. Those may be the features that make it useful for your day. Focus blocks sized to gaps are a different tool from Interval’s meeting countdown: they address the space between meetings as well as the meetings themselves.

If you prefer a menu-bar visual timer, Loon puts its countdown in that familiar Mac location. If you want an alert to build in urgency before a meeting, its escalating alerts may suit you better than Interval’s calm screen-edge approach. This guide does not treat a subscription as a fault; the right choice depends on whether those features are useful to you.

Loon’s macOS 13 minimum, checked 17 October 2026, is also a practical advantage if your Mac cannot run macOS 26. Both products discussed here are for Mac: Loon’s page says it has no Windows or iPhone version, and Interval is Mac only.

Where Interval is better

Pay once for two Macs

Interval website lifetime access is a single £15.99 / US$19.99 / €19.99 / A$29.99 purchase for two Macs. If avoiding recurring billing is your main requirement, that is a clear difference from the Loon pricing above. Compare the other pay-once meeting apps too; Interval is not the only one-time option.

Open supported Teams links

Interval opens supported Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex and FaceTime links from Apple Calendar events. A supported link must be present in the event. The relevant service handles the call after the link opens; Interval is not the video-call service itself. Read the calendar joining guide for the workflow.

Keep the scheduled finish in view

At the screen edge, Interval counts down to both the start and the end of a calendar meeting. During the call, the remaining-time view stays beside your work. Manual notes are available alongside it, and selected calendar clashes show an orange “Overlaps with…” warning beside the meeting.

The +5 min control extends only your personal timer. It does not edit the calendar invitation or tell the group that the finish has moved. At the end, the wrap-up prompt offers notes, five more minutes or marking the meeting done. Agree any extension separately, then use a clear wrap-up habit to close the discussion.

Interval reads Apple Calendar without changing events, runs on-device and requires no Interval account. It does not schedule or reschedule meetings, track time, provide a shared team or room timer, or run on Windows. It has no direct Google or Outlook sign-in: those calendars must be available through Apple Calendar. See the Apple Calendar setup guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Loon alternative without a subscription?

Interval website lifetime access is £15.99 / US$19.99 once for two Macs, with €19.99 and A$29.99 options. Loon’s $4.99/month or $3.99/month billed annually, checked 17 October 2026, is a different payment model with a different feature set.

Does Interval join Microsoft Teams meetings?

Yes, it opens supported Teams links from Apple Calendar events, as well as supported Zoom, Google Meet, Webex and FaceTime links. Loon’s own page says it displays Teams links without joining them in one click.

Does Interval have focus timers like Loon?

No. Choose Loon if its focus blocks are essential. Interval’s personal countdown is tied to your calendar meeting; it is not a focus-block planner or time-tracking tool.

Which macOS versions does each support?

Loon requires macOS 13 or later, according to its countdown page checked 17 October 2026. Interval requires macOS 26 or later.

Can I try Interval before buying?

There is no website trial; you pay before downloading. Website purchases can be refunded on request within 14 days, including after download or activation. You can also try the interactive example or watch the 30-second demo to see the workflow.

Explore the meeting app comparison hub for other choices.

Loon’s countdown page and download instructions give conflicting trial-card information, checked 17 October 2026. Confirm the requirements at its checkout; this comparison does not promise a card-free trial.