CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch vs GBA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch
This app connects your smartphone to compatible Bluetooth watches, offering automatic time synchronization, world time settings, and notifications for calls and messages. It also features alarm setting, a light level indicator for the watch's power, and tools to locate your smartphone or alert you if the connection is lost.
- Automatic time synchronization
- World time settings
- Call and message notifications
- Alarm setting
- Light level indicator
- Smartphone search function
- Link loss alert
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*Important Notice Thank you for using Citizen products. As of 12/31/2027, we will no longer provide service for dedicated apps for some models and functions used in conjunction with the apps. For details, see this link. https://www.citizenwatch-global.com/support/im/smartwatch.html Overview This is the official app for linking your smartphone with CITIZEN Bluetooth watches (Bluetooth® version 4.0 or later). The app, which works with iPhone, enables you to set the time and the alarm for your watch, and to receive alerts for incoming calls, mails and texts. With CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch, you get to enjoy a handsome-looking analogue watch that tells the accurate time wherever you are plus the great convenience of a smartphone link. CITIZEN Bluetooth features CITIZEN’s proprietary light-powered technology Eco-Drive. Eco-Drive eliminates the need of periodic replacement of batteries or recharge via cable. Features 1. Time Sync Get the right time, all the time. When you connect with your smartphone, the time on your watch automatically updates to the current time (home time). 2. Local Time Get the time in any city around the world. Just touch the world map inside the app to set your watch to the time there (local time). 3. Call Notification Find out when you get a call. The watch emits a sound, vibrates or rotates the hands to let you know when you get a call. A filter function enables you to specify which callers will trigger alerts. 4. Message Notification Find out when you get a mail, text or SNS notification. The watch emits a sound, vibrates or rotates the hands to let you know when a new e-mail or SNS notification has arrived. You can select the apps for which you wish to receive alerts. 5. Alarm Set your alarm from your smartphone. Set your watch alarm using the smartphone app. The alarm can be set for different times for different days of the week. 6. Light Level Indicator See how much light—and power—your dial is getting. Find out how much power your watch is generating by tracking the light it’s exposed to on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This unique function reflects CITIZEN’s status as a pioneer of light-powered technology. 7. Smartphone Search Find your smartphone easily. Mislaid your smartphone? Not a problem. Use your watch to locate your phone by getting it to emit a sound to indicate its whereabouts. (Range limitations apply.) 8. Link Loss Alert Get alerted when you’ve forgotten your smartphone somewhere. The watch emits a sound, vibrates or rotates the hands to let you know when the link between your smartphone and your watch is broken. This app requires iOS 9.3 or later. Optimized for iPhone 5 or greater. *Even if your smatphone is under the conditions above, there is no guarantee to use the dedicated app correctly on your smartphone. About Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a CITIZEN proprietary light-powered technology which eliminates the need of periodic replacement of batteries. Eco-Drive generates power from any kind of light—from sunlight to dim light—to drive the watch, and stores the surplus on a rechargeable cell. On a single full charge it can run for up to six months in total darkness*. For more details, click here. http://www.citizenwatch-global.com/technologies/index.html#eco-drive * Some models run for less than six months.
GBA
Connect your compatible CASIO watch to your iPhone to unlock enhanced mobile link functions. This app simplifies watch operations by allowing you to control them from your phone's screen. It requires location services to be set to 'Always' for accurate time synchronization.
- Bluetooth v4.0 connectivity
- Mobile Link functions
- Simplified watch operations via phone
- Accurate time synchronization
- iPhone integration
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●Description This is the basic application for connecting and communicating with a Bluetooth(R) v4.0 enabled CASIO watch. Pairing your watch with an iPhone enables use of a variety of different Mobile Link functions that greatly enhance the iPhone experience. The GBA-400+ app also simplifies certain watch operations by letting you perform them on your phone screen. Visit the website below for details. http://world.g-shock.com/ We recommend using GBA-400+ on the following operating systems. Operation is not guaranteed for any operating system not listed below. Even if an operating system has been confirmed as compatible, software updates or display specifications may prevent proper display and/or operation. ⋅ iOS 12 or later. Applicable Watches: GBA-400 Please refer to the FAQ link below to resolve problems such as being unable to connect or operate the watch. https://support.casio.com/en/support/faqlist.php?cid=009001019 This application uses location information to obtain accurate time. For "Location Service" in iPhone privacy settings, please "Always". If it is not "Always", the application will not work properly. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GBA at 3.4 against CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch's 2.9. GBA also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 19%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
GBA holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch's written reviews are positive against 35% of GBA's.
CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch ships an update every 4 months, GBA every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch | GBA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (12 ratings) | 3.4 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | 34.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CITIZEN WATCH CO.,LTD | CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. |
Customer experience
CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch
GBA
In-app purchases
CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch
No in-app purchases
GBA
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch free?
Is GBA free?
Which has better reviews, CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch or GBA?
Do CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch or GBA have ads?
Which is updated more often, CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch or GBA?
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