CueTimer provides a simple countdown tool. Timers Studio is a full production platform with API automation, hardware integration, moderator console, and audience engagement.
CueTimer covers basic countdown needs. Timers Studio provides a complete broadcast control room: multiple timer formats, linked cues, moderator console, audience gateway, show clock, and 20+ designer themes.
CueTimer has no API. Timers Studio exposes everything through a documented REST API with real-time SSE streaming for production automation.
CueTimer has no hardware integration. Timers Studio connects to Elgato Stream Deck natively via WebHID and provides a full Bitfocus Companion module.
CueTimer is display-only. Timers Studio Gateway provides live polls, spatial Q&A radar, and raffle wheels integrated into your production flow.
| Feature | CueTimer | Timers Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Basic countdown | Yes | Yes + 5 more formats |
| REST API | No | 53 endpoints |
| Stream Deck / Companion | No | Native + Module |
| Moderator console | No | Full console + intercom |
| Audience engagement | No | Polls, Q&A, raffle |
| Show clock | Basic | Server-side Wharton clock |
| Multi-collaborator | No | Real-time co-editing |
| Designer themes | Basic | 20+ themes + full custom |
| Activity logs | No | Complete audit trail |
| Multi-language | Limited | 6 languages + RTL |
| Agenda modes | No | 3 modes: List, Focus, C+Next |
| Stage Architect (AVIXA) | No | 2.5D readability simulator |
| Tombola / Raffle | No | Animated wheel + Excel import |
| Live Polls | No | QR voting + real-time results |
| Private encrypted intercom | No | E2E encrypted channel |
| Time Warp | No | -30 to +30 min live offset |
| Blackout modes | No | 4 modes: Black, Clock, Color, Image |
| Timer display types | 1 | 6 types + 6 digit styles |
| Branding (logo overlay) | No | Custom logo, 5 positions |
| Smart Templates | No | 6 categories (Video, Broadcast, Education...) |
| Venue / Stage layout | No | Interactive seat map + zones |
CueTimer is a straightforward countdown timer tool that covers the basics: set a duration, start the countdown, and display it on a screen. For the simplest possible timing need -- a single countdown for a single event -- it works.
But professional productions demand more than a simple countdown. The moment you need multiple timers, API automation, hardware control, audience interaction, or team collaboration, you need a platform, not a tool. Timers Studio is that platform.
From countdown to control room. CueTimer gives you a timer. Timers Studio gives you a complete broadcast control room: multiple timer formats (duration, finish time, time of day, count up), linked cues with auto-start for seamless show flow, overtime management with configurable behavior (continue, stop, flash, reset), and a Wharton-style show clock with server-side computation for zero-drift synchronization across all devices.
API automation. CueTimer has no programmable interface. Timers Studio exposes a 53-endpoint REST API with OpenAPI 3.1 spec, Bearer authentication, and real-time SSE streaming. Production teams use it to build n8n automations, vMix triggers, OBS integrations, and custom dashboards. If you can make an HTTP request, you can control Timers Studio.
Hardware integration. CueTimer relies entirely on browser interaction. Timers Studio supports Elgato Stream Deck natively via WebHID (zero install, 17 actions, sub-frame latency) and provides an official Bitfocus Companion module (30+ actions, 15 feedbacks, 25 variables). Physical buttons give your crew faster, more reliable control than clicking in a browser.
Moderator console. CueTimer has no concept of a moderator. Timers Studio provides a dedicated moderator surface with encrypted private intercom, real-time agenda tracking, visual pager, drag-and-drop widget layout, and Q&A push to the speaker screen. For any event with an on-stage host, this is essential.
Audience engagement. CueTimer is a one-way display. Timers Studio Gateway opens two-way communication with your audience: live polls with real-time results, spatial Q&A radar that maps questions to seat positions, and casino-style raffle wheels. All integrated into the production flow through the moderator console.
Designer themes. CueTimer offers basic visual customization. Timers Studio ships with 20+ curated designer themes and full customization: custom fonts, background images with blur and opacity, six digit styles, logo overlays, and tally light integration. The output is broadcast-ready for any venue.
Multi-collaborator editing. CueTimer is single-user. Timers Studio allows multiple team members to edit the same studio simultaneously with presence indicators and conflict-free sync. Your entire crew works in the same space.
The upgrade path. CueTimer is where many teams start. Timers Studio is where they end up when their productions demand more. The free tier lets you experience the full platform without commitment, and the transition from a simple countdown tool to a complete production platform is seamless.
Create a free account, import your first rundown in minutes, and connect Stream Deck or Bitfocus Companion. No credit card required.