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Ships Bell Clock & Duty Bells

Ships Bell Clock & Duty Bells

Authentic Ships Watch Bells

396 ratings
68 reviews
🔧 Utilities
🎬 Entertainment
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • September 23, 2013
  • May 8, 2026

Developer

Alchemic Apps LLC
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🧾$0.99 - $3.99
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About

Experience the traditional sound of ship's bells to mark time. This app simulates the authentic chime patterns used by sailors to signal duty watches. It can function as a decorative background clock and offers smart muting based on your location.

✓Authentic ship's bell chimes
✓Cycles in four-hour intervals
✓Display or background chiming clock
✓Location-based bell muting
✓Automatic muting for selected watches
✓Reveille, Retreat, and Taps sounds
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What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of Ships Bell Clock & Duty Bells. Based on 396 reviews and a 4.4/5 average, it highlights the 8 positives and 10 negatives reviewers mention most about this Utilities app.

Positive things

  • 🔔Authentic ship's bell sounds and recordings
  • ⏰Effective time awareness and tracking tool
  • 👨‍✈️Nostalgic appeal for former sailors and navy personnel
  • 🎯Simple and intuitive user interface
  • 📱Works on multiple Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch)
  • 💰Affordable pricing (£1-2 per month)
  • 🧠Helpful for neurodivergent users with time management
  • 🔄Regular app updates and active developer engagement

Negative things

  • 🐛Bells frequently fail to ring or stop unexpectedly
  • 🔊Audio cuts off before bell finishes sounding
  • 📵Unreliable background functionality despite settings
  • ⚠️Requires frequent 'winding' to keep app active
  • ❌Help documentation missing or non-functional
  • 🔧Settings reset or toggle automatically without user control
  • 📞No developer support or contact information
  • ⏱️Incorrect bell counts for certain watch periods
  • 🔄Inconsistent performance across iOS versions
  • 🤔Confusing 'wind the clock' mechanic
See all reviews

What's New in Ships Bell Clock & Duty Bells

12.4

May 8, 2026

Improved compatibility when running native on Mac Silicon. Improvements to mute here on activation and to use minimal location access. Fixes bells around DST changes and other time changes, such as when traveling

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Subscription plans

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Enables additional features

$2.991 Month
How to cancel Ships Bell Clock & Duty Bells subscription ⁉️

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Best bell 🔔 clock app

I wrote a review saying how much I like the app just reviewing some things I see your updating the app suggestions I have is make the bells I little louder an maybe a ships bell clock instead of the anchor ⚓️ please otherwise great app 👍👍👍👍👍
Johnny3301Johnny3301

I love it

I’ve had some form of this app for over 10 years. I think I got it before I moved to Texas and that was 10 years ago. Sometimes I don’t have it running but every time I remember, I turn it back on sometimes I think the bells get behind, but then they catch up. And the price isn’t bad either. I hope this app is available for a very long time.
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Clean of bellsClean of bells

Anchor’s Away

Great App that provides navy times awareness.
Pelicano2Pelicano2

Attention To Detail?

Since I pay for this app — even though it’s only £1-per-month — I expect the recording of the bell to NOT cut off before it’s finished sounding. Lamentable implementation. App deletion to follow.
sds101sds101

Bells don’t ring

Bells never ring. App help link doesn’t do anything. I purchased the app cause I liked the quiet times option. Now I feel like I got ripped off.
NT-74NT-74
See 63 more reviews

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User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

12 issues

Bells don't ring despite correct settings configuration

Bug

Audio recording cuts off before completion

Bug

App stops working after silencing notifications

Bug

Background app refresh fails to maintain functionality

Bug

Incompatibility with certain iOS versions (iOS 12.1.1 reported)

Bug

Last bell rings 6 times instead of 8

Bug

Bugle calls play shortened version or get cut off

Bug

Settings don't persist after app restart

Bug

App crashes or becomes unresponsive

Bug

Notifications fail to trigger at scheduled times

Bug

Daylight Saving Time not automatically adjusted

Bug

Help link non-functional or leads to empty page

Bug
✨

Requested Features

11 requests

Full bell reverb without truncation of audio

Feature

Proper bell counts for dog watches (4 bells instead of 8)

Feature

Daylight Saving Time auto-adjustment

Feature

Retreat bugle call at sundown

Feature

Volume control within app

Feature

Lower frequency bell tone option for hearing-impaired users

Feature

Ability to choose sound output (phone vs Apple Watch)

Feature

Working ship's clock display instead of anchor icon

Feature

Configurable chime intervals

Feature

Clear on/off button for easy control

Feature

Continuous background operation without manual winding

Feature

FAQ

What does the Ships Bell Clock & Duty Bells app do?

This app simulates the authentic chime patterns of ship's bells, traditionally used by sailors to mark the passage of time and the beginning/end of duty watches. It can function as a decorative clock with background chiming and offers smart features like location-based muting.

What are the key features of this app?

Key features include authentic ship's bell chimes that cycle in four-hour intervals, the ability to use it as a display or background chiming clock, location-based muting, automatic muting for selected watches, and the option to enable Reveille, Retreat, and Taps sounds at preferred times.

Is this app free to download and use?

The app is free to download and use, offering core functionality. It also includes in-app purchases, which may unlock additional features or customization options for users who wish to enhance their experience.

What devices is this app compatible with?

The app is designed for compatible iOS devices. Users can enjoy its authentic ship's bell chimes and features on their iPhones, iPads, or other Apple devices that support the application.

How can I use this app for common use cases?

This app is ideal for creating a unique ambient soundscape, serving as a decorative nautical-themed clock, or for those who appreciate maritime traditions. It can also be used to automatically silence bells when you are at a specific location or during certain times.