Best Tea Timer Apps for iPhone and Android (2026)
A straightforward comparison of the best tea timer apps in 2026: TeaCabinet, Tea Timer (formerly 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 — $0.99 one-time, iOS + Android
- Tea Timer: Matcha & Brew Guide (formerly Steep) — free, with an optional Pro subscription, iOS + Android
- Cuppa — free, iOS + Android
- MyTeaPal — free (supported by an optional tea subscription box), iOS + Android
Quick comparison
| Feature | TeaCabinet | Tea Timer (Steep) | Cuppa | MyTeaPal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 once | Free + Pro | Free | Free |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tea collection log | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inventory tracking | ✓ by weight, cups left | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ quantity tracker |
| Lock Screen Live Activity | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Gongfu / multi-steep timer | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Watch app | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No ads | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No subscription needed | ✓ | ✓ (Pro optional) | ✓ | ✓ (box optional) |
Tea Timer (formerly Steep) — best for gongfu and watch users
Steep was renamed Tea Timer: Matcha & Brew Guide and is now on Android as well as iPhone. It has brewing guides, gongfu steep profiles, caffeine estimates, and watch apps for Apple Watch and Wear OS. The core timer is free; the extras are in a Pro subscription (or a lifetime unlock).
Best for: Gongfu brewers and anyone who wants the timer on their wrist.
Limitation: The best features sit behind Pro. No inventory tracking.
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, can run two teas at once, and shows the countdown in a Live Activity on iPhone. 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 per-tea 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, and take part in a large tea community. It also has a journal and a quantity tracker for your stash. The app is supported by an optional quarterly tea box rather than ads or an upfront price.
Best for: People who enjoy the community side of tea.
Limitation: It does a lot, which makes it heavier if you just want to manage your own collection privately.
TeaCabinet — best for loose leaf collectors who want to know what’s left
TeaCabinet is built around storage by weight. Log how many grams or ounces of each tea you have, and the app subtracts a serving every time you steep — so you always know how many cups are left and get a warning badge when you’re running low. One tap restocks when a new bag arrives.
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.
No account, no subscription, no ads — your tea data stays on your phone.
Best for: People with a growing loose leaf collection who want precise brew settings per tea and to know exactly how much of each they have left, on iPhone or Android.
Limitation: Costs $0.99 (one-time). No gongfu multi-steep timer or watch app yet.
What to pick
- Just want a timer, zero setup → Cuppa (free)
- Gongfu sessions or a watch app → Tea Timer (free + Pro)
- Want a tea community → MyTeaPal (free)
- Want to track your collection and how much is left → TeaCabinet ($0.99)
TeaCabinet is available on the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android.