Best Tea Timer Apps for iPhone and Android (2026)
A straightforward comparison of the best tea timer apps in 2026: TeaCabinet, Steep, Cuppa, and MyTeaPal.
If you drink loose leaf tea, you already know the problem: it’s easy to forget your tea is steeping, and oversteeping a delicate green or white tea ruins it. A dedicated tea timer app solves this — but there are a few worth considering, each with a different focus.
Here’s a straightforward comparison of what’s available in 2026.
The contenders
- TeaCabinet — $2.99 one-time, iOS + Android
- Steep — free (with paid features), iOS only
- Cuppa — free (donation-supported), iOS + Android
- MyTeaPal — free (subscription box model), iOS + Android
Quick comparison
| Feature | TeaCabinet | Steep | Cuppa | MyTeaPal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 once | Free | Free | Free |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tea collection log | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Storage tracking by weight | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Lock Screen Live Activity | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No ads | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No subscription | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Steep — best for iPhone with Apple Watch
Steep is a well-regarded iOS-only timer with a built-in tea database, brewing guides, and Apple Watch support. If you’re an iPhone-only household and want pre-loaded tea data, it’s an excellent free option.
Best for: iPhone users who want Apple Watch integration and a tea database with no setup.
Limitation: iOS only — no Android.
Cuppa — best free, no-frills timer
Cuppa is the simplest of the bunch. It’s a pure steep timer with minimal UI, works on both platforms, and got a lot of attention after a popular tech review highlighted how focused it is. There’s no collection tracking or storage — just a timer.
Best for: People who want one thing: a timer. No fuss.
Limitation: No tea collection, no storage tracking, no brew parameters.
MyTeaPal — best for the tea community
MyTeaPal is free and has a social dimension — you can follow other tea drinkers, log your sessions publicly, and participate in a tea community. The app is monetized through a subscription tea box rather than ads or an upfront price.
Best for: People who enjoy the community side of tea and are open to a subscription box.
Limitation: Subscription model; less useful if you just want to manage your own existing collection privately.
TeaCabinet — best for serious loose leaf collectors
TeaCabinet is the only app here that tracks storage by weight. If you buy loose leaf tea by the ounce or gram, you can log how much you have and the app auto-subtracts each time you steep — so you always know how many cups are left and get a warning badge when you’re running low.
It supports all 8 major tea types (Black, Green, White, Oolong, Herbal, Mate, Rooibos, Chai) with smart brewing defaults for each. You can log ideal temperature, steep time, and leaf amount per tea, and Quick Brew presets let you start a timer in one tap from your cabinet list.
On iPhone, a Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island keeps your countdown visible without opening the app. The Android version runs as a foreground service so the timer continues reliably in the background.
It’s also the only paid-once option that works on both platforms. No subscription, no ads, no tracking.
Best for: People with a growing loose leaf collection who want precise tracking, storage management, and a timer that works reliably on both iPhone and Android.
Limitation: Costs $2.99 (one-time). No Apple Watch support yet.
What to pick
- Just want a timer, zero setup → Cuppa (free)
- iPhone only + Apple Watch → Steep (free)
- Want a tea community + subscription box → MyTeaPal (free)
- Want to track your full collection and storage → TeaCabinet ($2.99)
TeaCabinet is available on the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android.