# Hourly — user reviews

> 123 indexed App Store user reviews of Hourly by Chris Jones, rated 4.00/5 from 127 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourly/id415727230/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourly/id415727230.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 71 · 4★ 24 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 16

## What do users think of Hourly?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- ✅ Simple, straightforward functionality that works as advertised
- ⏰ Effective hourly reminders help users stay on schedule
- 🎵 Multiple sound options including BBC Greenwich Pips
- ⚙️ Customizable time intervals and scheduling
- 🔕 Non-intrusive notifications that don't interfere with calendar
- 💰 Affordable one-time purchase price
- 📱 Works reliably on iPhone across multiple iOS versions
- 🎯 Minimal, no-frills design without annoying permission requests
- 🔧 Ability to set custom times beyond standard hour/half-hour intervals

**Cons**

- 🐛 Unreliable notifications when phone is locked
- 🐛 Notifications stop working after silencing phone
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality across iOS updates
- ⌚ Limited Apple Watch integration and functionality
- 🔊 Sounds are too quiet and difficult to hear
- 🎵 Very limited sound/chime selection
- 👤 Only male voice option for time announcements
- 🔄 Settings don't sync between iPhone and Apple Watch
- 📞 Poor developer support and broken contact links
- ⚠️ Day-of-week selection doesn't work correctly
- 🔁 Duplicate notifications firing within seconds of each other
- ⏱️ Doesn't work reliably in background or sleep mode

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Notifications don't work when phone is locked or in sleep mode
- Notifications stop working after phone is silenced
- App stops working after iOS updates
- Settings fail to sync between iPhone and multiple Apple Watches
- Duplicate notifications firing within 2-3 seconds
- Day-of-week selection not functioning correctly
- Apple Watch notifications don't display the time, only logo
- App doesn't work reliably in background
- Chimes during phone calls and are audible to other party
- 11 PM checkbox gets stuck on some devices
- Notifications appear twice on Apple Watch
- App stops notifying around midnight and restarts at 9 AM
- Text display issues on Apple Watch with large text settings

**Most requested features**

- More diverse sound options (cuckoo chime, gong, church bells, grandfather clock)
- Ability to use system sounds and custom ringtones
- Female voice option and multiple voice varieties (British, Australian accents)
- Volume control for individual notifications
- 24-hour continuous operation option
- iCloud sync with Apple Watch
- Apple Watch standalone functionality without iPhone dependency
- Ability to set different schedules for weekdays vs weekends
- Customizable notification messages beyond 'it is X o'clock'
- Quarter-hour chime intervals
- Different sounds for hour vs half-hour vs quarter-hour
- Haptic feedback option
- Ability to select which device receives notifications
- Profile/preset saving and restoration
- Spoken time on Apple Watch notifications
- Disable notifications without clearing history

## Newest reviews (17 of 123)

### 3/5 — Old Fart

*2026-01-11*

Can not figure out how to get the clock chimes work on my phone.

### 4/5 — Useful but very basic

*2025-10-17*

I really enjoy this product, as it helps me keep track of my day. It would be fantastic to have the option to change the chime to my personal sound or customize it using iOS sounds.

### 4/5 — Amazing App

*2025-08-22*

Works great, I just wish it had an iCloud sync with Apple Watches so you don’t have to change the custom times

### 4/5 — Request to add option to stop vibration during notification.

*2025-07-30*

Hi Team, This is good application and it has everything that I need. Just a request to add option to stop vibration during notifications will help me to save battery.

### 4/5 — Almost Perfect

*2025-05-17*

Works exactly what I wanted it for. Gives me hourly reminders throughout my work day. I wish the app had more ringtones. I have been looking for a cuckoo chime for every hour. If you can add a cuckoo chime I would bring this app to 5 stars.

### 4/5 — Used for many years.

*2025-04-28*

I have used it for many years and it just works as expected.
Only thing I would like is a selection to make sound,  louder as

### 4/5 — App works best on iPhone, Apple Watch is lacking

*2025-02-11*

Love the app and all of its features. Coming from a G-Shock, I love the hourly beeps but I don’t always have my iPhone on me so it would be PERFECT if we could get the sounds loaded and play directly from the Apple Watch.

**Developer response:** That would indeed be awesome, but unfortunately that’s a limitation from Apple - we’re not allowed to play custom sounds for notifications.

### 4/5 — More, please.

*2024-10-01, version 3.0.8*

Works fine but . . . Could we have 24 hours, like, in a day?
And I like the sound selection but could there be more? Maybe the existing notification tones?

### 5/5 — Easily organised.

*2024-06-05*

I tend to lose myself in a book, a newspaper or doing something in the house and, as a result, I often miss what I might need to do!
Having an hourly notification (it can be half-hourly too) keeps me on task.

### 5/5 — 4 chimes per hour

*2024-03-22*

can we have the app make a single at a quarter past, a double at half past and a triple at a quarter to the hour, please?

### 2/5 — Stops working

*2024-03-07*

It will work for a while but stops working for no reason

### 3/5 — Doesn’t chime unless phone is unlocked

*2024-02-10, version 3.0.7*

Fires half the job I expected. I expected an hourly announcement on the hour. That only happens if your phone is unlocked.

### 5/5 — OK seems pretty good

*2023-11-11, version 3.0.7*

I figured it out

### 5/5 — Hourly App

*2023-10-05*

Does Exactly What It Says👍

### 2/5 — Limited chime selection, no support.

*2023-09-01*

I saw the option ‘system default’ sound and thought with that I’d be able to choose a system sound eg ringtone, but NO, you’re stuck with the few noises the developer has provided.

I wanted to ask the developer about this apparent lack before writing a critical review, but the AppStore developer link goes to a dead end without providing a method of contact. Marvellous. 

As it is, I don’t think this was worth 99p.

### 5/5 — Good

*2023-07-02*

Good

### 5/5 — Reminds me to focus

*2023-05-30*

I like it, it gives me a gentle reminder to refocus and be more productive throughout my day.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Doesn‘t do anything

*2025-04-15*

Doesn‘t do anything

### 1/5 — B beep

*2024-12-16, version 3.0.8*

It doesn’t beep

### 1/5 — Does not work (for me)

*2023-10-25*

Does not work and only has a male voice (which you only hear when testing and setting it up) find an app that actually works, I’m still looking, don’t waste your time with this one 😕

### 1/5 — Not what it seems to be

*2023-01-10, version 3.0.7*

Not what it seems to be. It is redundant and the chime overlaps with my Apple Watch chime. Don’t ask for a refund for this app because they won’t give you your $1.07 back!!!

### 1/5 — It doesn’t work on Apple Watch Ultra watch,it won’t connect

*2022-12-02, version 3.0.7*

It won’t connect to apple watch ultra, the voice notification

### 1/5 — This app never works

*2022-06-15*

Never worked in past 12 hrs. Going to uninstall, apply for a refund.

### 1/5 — Isn't working....

*2021-02-23, version 3.0.6*

I turned on notifications for this app but it's not working- no notifications/chimes for the times I've set. I want my phone to announce the time (I don't own an apple watch). Hoping there's a work around as app is a great idea.

### 1/5 — No longer any good!

*2020-09-22*

Since the update it doesn’t work in sleep mode or when one quits the app.

### 1/5 — No chimes

*2020-09-19*

StillDoes not chime at the revenant time please fix thank you

### 1/5 — Broken

*2020-09-18, version 3.0.0*

This used to be a great app that I used on a daily basis, but now since the update it is totally useless. No hourly announcements. I always say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Perfect no-frills app to track my water intake

*2026-03-27, version 3.0.8*

Works with ios 26, wish it had an option for a soundless vibrate reminder but perfect aside from that

### 5/5 — Very Good Product

*2026-01-27, version 3.0.8*

Works Very Good Apple User

### 5/5 — A Timely Reminder

*2026-01-09*

Great App. It solves a little problem but helps stay on top each day. Love it.

### 5/5 — Great

*2024-12-26*

Does what it needs to.

### 5/5 — This app helps me keep track of time

*2024-12-05, version 3.0.8*

This app allows my iPhone to do a "wristwatch" beep on the hour. This very much helps me keep track of my day! I recommend.

### 5/5 — PERFECT❗️

*2024-09-04*

-For me personally HOURLY is absolutely S-W-E-L-L (and I thank you Chris Jones😃)! Well worth the $0.99 & a very no frills (no bull) every hour_ 24/7 notifier so very convenient for an iPhone (& iPad)-!
'Took me a bit to work out how to assure [hourly_ round the clock] but ptL☝️ [(W)e-] succeeded & man I couldn't be more pleased... 
This beats every other "Hourly Chime ( / _Bells / _Whistles / _🎶/ -Whatever) & I'll bet'cha I've TRIED 'EM ALL😳➖‼️❗️_____
(Thanks again !).

### 5/5 — Fantastic Hourly Chime!

*2024-08-11*

My iPhone 15 IOS is 17.5.1 and this Chime is still working! I’ve tried other chimes but after a couple of IOS upgrades they quit working. Thanks for this one, it’s hanging in there…

### 5/5 — Simple, free... just what I wanted

*2024-08-01, version 3.0.7*

The basic chime sounds work well for me, others are available for purchase.

### 5/5 — Namaste

*2024-07-16*

Hourly is a very good app. It’s really works very well and does it’s function properly of announcing the time as required. Thanks for the good work. Keep it up! Namaskar Biren

### 5/5 — Hourly

*2024-06-13*

Hourly time notifications keep me on schedule.
 It has simple notifications, chime or spoken, that turn on, and most importantly turn off automatically.  You do not have to stop what you are doing to turn off an alarm.  

  Perfect background time management.

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*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 2026-09-01.*