# Big Ben — user reviews > 147 indexed App Store user reviews of Big Ben by Ettore Software Ltd., rated 3.80/5 from 38 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-ben/id301046876/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-ben/id301046876.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 19 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 6 ## What do users think of Big Ben? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🎵 Authentic Big Ben chimes and sounds - 💰 Affordable price point (99p) - ⏰ Accurate time display with working clock - 🔊 High-quality audio reproduction - 📱 Works in background (when functioning) - ♿ Accessible with VoiceOver support - 🎨 Nice visual representation of Big Ben - ⭐ Reliable chiming functionality (when working) **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes on various iOS versions - 📵 Doesn't work when phone is locked/in background - 🔊 Volume control issues - too quiet or too loud - ⚙️ Minute hand doesn't move smoothly - 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions - 🎵 Chimes continue even during phone calls - 🔔 Quarter chimes cannot be disabled individually - 🎬 Limited/outdated background images - 🔋 Requires app to be in foreground to function properly **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes immediately upon opening - Not compatible with iOS 15, iOS 17, iOS 12 - Doesn't chime when phone is locked or in background - No sound output despite notifications enabled - App won't launch on iPhone 15.3.1 - Crashes on iPhone 12 mini - VoiceOver notifications interfering with chimes - Hourly chime not functioning on iOS 11.2.6 - Chimes stop working after app update - Tick-tock sounds out of sync with second hand - Paid version requires repurchase and doesn't work **Most requested features** - Night mode/silent hours scheduling (9pm-5am) - Adjustable volume control within app - Smooth minute hand animation - Hourly-only chime option (disable quarter chimes) - Background chimes while phone is locked - Chimes on half-hour intervals - Dynamic backgrounds based on time of day/weather - Updated Big Ben chimes post-renovation - Customizable lock screen display - iPad/universal app version - Weather integration - Multiple background images/locations - Chimes on watch/wearables - Alarm functionality - Tick-tock sounds in sync with second hand - Floodlit Big Ben for nighttime display - GPS-based daylight/sunset lighting - Screen saver functionality - Quieter/softer tick-tock option - Delay between quarter and hour chimes ## Newest reviews (12 of 147) ### 4/5 — Great but not perfect *2026-02-20, version 2.1.3* The quarter bells on the hour should start a little earlier, maybe at xx:xx:37, to leave a longer gap. Not so bothered about the app interface itself, but minute hand should be moving fluidly like any clock. This would more capture the essence of Big Ben, but otherwise cool to have a striking clock app. ### 4/5 — Love the bongs *2026-01-31, version 2.1.3* Is there a way to have the chimes continue to bong when the phone is locked? Also would love to have chimes on my watch! ### 4/5 — Volume Suggestion *2025-03-29, version 2.1.3* The app does what it says it would do. It would be nice, however, if the chime volume was higher. It’s still too quiet even at max volume. ### 3/5 — Suggestions *2024-10-15, version 2.1.3* Lovely other wise Please make the audio db level adjustable with a dial volume control. Let the so called tick tock sounds be in sync with the second hand and I don’t know what the other noises are that play with it. Maybe if it where in sync it would be easier to discern? Could the picture of Big Ben be made to display when the phone is locked inside of the apple defaults? Could the tick tock be made to play even when locked? Wouldn’t it be nice to see Big Ben instead of the default Lock Screen just like the photo frame settings that display pictures? But if you look at the locked phone it now looks like bigben instead. Lovely other wise ### 4/5 — Request for a new feature *2024-05-03, version 2.1.3* I like the app a lot but I think it I would prefer it to play the Westminster Chimes in the background even if the app isn’t running in the background ### 3/5 — No sound *2024-02-08, version 2.1.3* With iOS 17 it has no sound with the iPhone ### 4/5 — Very nice, but one thing could be changed *2023-01-26, version 2.1.3* I love this app, it works like the real thing, although the chimes could be changed, since the recording that’s being used are the chimes from a while back, I wish that the present day chimes, which after the revavation now have a softer sweeter sound: PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONCEDERATION ### 3/5 — Really wish they would have volume out of the app *2022-12-02, version 2.1.3* I wasted $ .99 on something that does not even chime and you have to turn off and turn on the Westminster chime to make it chime, other wise it bring London the California. ### 4/5 — great app! *2022-11-30, version 2.1.3* i love this app! i rate it 4/5,because it just needs the renovated big ben,blue clock face,quieter chimes and a 5 second delay between the quarter chimes and the hour chimes. ### 2/5 — Would be nice if it worked … *2022-07-09, version 2.1.3* I installed this app just after iOS 15 was released, which knocked out an app, similar to this one, which I was using. When I installed this app, I discovered, to my chagrin, that it only worked when the app was displaying on the screen. If I went to another app, or if my screen locked, then Big Ben stopped working. Hoping there would be an update to the app, I didn’t delete it. The update came, approximately six months ago, but the same problems persist. I have Notifications turned on—including Sound—for the app, but it isn’t working. I’m running iOS 15.5. What’s the use of having an app that helps you keep track of time if it doesn’t operate in the background? ### 4/5 — Could please make this app support *2022-03-31, version 2.1.3* Could you please make app work on iOS 12 My iPad which I have only supports iOS 12 And I have paid for this app ### 2/5 — Öffnet sich nicht unter iOS 15.2 *2021-12-20* Wird hoffentlich bald behoben, da es eigentlich eine schöne App ist. **Developer response:** In unserem Test funktioniert BigBen am 15.2 einwandfrei. Könnten Sie eine E-Mail an support@ettoresoftware.com senden, damit wir Ihr Problem diagnostizieren können. Haben Sie die Version 2.1.3 heruntergeladen, die am 17. Dezember veröffentlicht wurde? Welches iPhone-Modell? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App truffa *2025-07-07, version 2.1.3* Manco si apre. Don’t buy it ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2025-04-28, version 2.1.3* I’ve downloaded it three times and each time the app opens and then crashes. ### 1/5 — Ne fonctionne pas *2025-04-22* J’ai payé 1 euros pour une application qui ne s’ouvre même pas 😡 **Developer response:** Bonjour, merci pour votre avis. Nous sommes désolés d'apprendre que l'application ne s'ouvre pas sur votre appareil — nous aimerions comprendre ce qui se passe, car nous comptons des milliers d'utilisateurs satisfaits. Nous vous demandons courtoisement de nous contacter à support@ettoresoftware.store en joignant un éventuel rapport de plantage, afin de pouvoir vous aider à résoudre le problème directement. Nous sommes certains de trouver une solution ! ### 1/5 — Won’t even open *2024-12-17, version 2.1.3* I’ve just been charged to down load this Big Ben app as it seemed great. Now it’s downloaded, it won’t even open. Don’t bother getting in touch with their app support because it just sends you to an advert trying to to sell you an app for a Mac ### 1/5 — Not work with iOS 17 *2023-09-18, version 2.1.3* The app was not working with iOS 17 ### 1/5 — Geht nicht 👎🏼 *2023-04-07* Geht nicht **Developer response:** Hallo, vielen Dank für Ihre Bewertung. Es tut uns leid zu hören, dass die App auf Ihrem Gerät nicht öffnet — wir würden gerne verstehen, was passiert, da wir Tausende von zufriedenen Nutzern haben. Wir bitten Sie freundlich, uns unter support@ettoresoftware.store zu kontaktieren und wenn möglich einen Absturzbericht beizufügen, damit wir Ihnen helfen können, das Problem direkt zu lösen. Wir sind zuversichtlich, eine Lösung zu finden! ### 1/5 — Big Ben is a ripoff *2022-02-17, version 2.1.3* After installing on iPhone 15.3.1 it won’t launch at all. Don’t waste your time or your money ### 1/5 — Crashes *2022-02-10, version 2.1.3* App crashes immediately upon opening IPhone 12 mini ### 1/5 — doesn't work with ios 15.1 *2021-10-07, version 2.1.1* doesn't work with ios 15.1. ### 1/5 — Won’t work *2021-09-22, version 2.1.1* Have read all of the instructions several times and can’t get this to work on iOS 15 ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Runs Chimes in my Backyard *2026-05-22, version 2.1.3* I’ve had this app for a long time. I recently installed a post clock in my backyard, plugged in an old iPhone 7 to speakers, and now I have Big Ben in the neighborhood. Surprisingly, neighbors love it! ### 5/5 — Great for hands free work *2026-02-26, version 2.1.3* By some margin the best 99p I have spent in ages. ### 5/5 — Big Ben night *2025-09-12, version 2.1.3* Big Ben night ### 5/5 — Big Ben *2025-04-02, version 2.1.3* Minute hands not moving gradually, can you make it light up to reflect current daylight and sunset times depending on location gps settings.hands not moving, please make it light up according to sunset and daylight times to reflect current location to where I am in the uk etc. so when it asks for location settings for the app, I can tell it to use my location so it will do sunset and sunrise times depending on what day it is and also reflect depending on it being summer, autumn, winter, spring. ### 5/5 — Very very good *2023-01-16, version 2.1.3* It’s a very good app and it lets you see the famous big band and you can hear it stick duck sound tick-tock’s ### 5/5 — Great app *2022-11-13, version 2.1.3* This is the best Big Ben app, it's the real thing unlike other apps. I especially love it at new year because now I can hear Big Ben in realtime. Thanks for making the app accessible with VoiceOver as well. ### 5/5 — Big Ben *2022-06-16, version 2.1.3* Minute hands not moving gradually, can you make it light up to reflect current daylight and sunset times depending on location gps settings. ### 5/5 — Very nice app *2022-03-26, version 2.1.3* I honestly love the background chimes of big Ben. It keeps me on time. Would it be possible to make the ticking in the background as well? ### 5/5 — Great app *2022-01-22, version 2.1.3* Great app! Love the update fixed the previous issues. Use it very regularly and having the quarterly chimes is very cool, let’s me know the time round the office and at home! Now that the dial and surroundings has been put back to its original colour it’ll be cool to see the original colours! I can help edit the existing colours if you like? ### 5/5 — Almost Perfect! *2022-01-03, version 2.1.3* This app is almost perfect for me. I’m not allowed to wear a watch at work so I have to rely on wall clocks and my phone all the time. I hate having to keep up with clock batteries and I often keep working rather than check my phone so an audible app like this is exactly what I need. The only change I’d like to see made is the option for night mode: set the app to stop tolling at 9pm and start again at 5am (or as desired). That being said, I can adjust the notifications or turn on the Night Mode app, though that also silences incoming messages so not 100% ideal. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*