Comparison

Clock Wave vs AtomicClock

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Clock Wave

Calibrate your radio-controlled watch or clock using your iPhone or iPad. Simply tap 'Transmit' and place your device near your watch to automatically sync the accurate time.

Highlights
  • Calibrate radio-controlled watches/clocks
  • Transmit accurate time automatically
  • Supports 5 major global time signal stations
  • Manual station selection for compatibility
  • Automatic time signal transmission
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Clock Wave allows you calibrate radio controlled watch or clock anytime and anywhere. Just click "Transmit" button, set your watch or clock to manual receive time signal, and place it nearby your iPhone/iPad's speaker, it will be calibrated in a few minutes. Clock Wave features: - Covers 5 major longwave time signal stations all over the world. * USA: WWVB * Japan: JJY * China: BPC * UK: MSF * DE: DCF77 - Automatically transmit the accurate time. * If your radio controlled watch/clock doesn't support station BPC, select station JJY manually to use in China. * If your radio controlled watch/clock doesn't support station MSF, select station DCF77 manually to use in UK. * If your radio controlled watch/clock support only a specified timezone or station, (e.g. Using a radio controlled clock support only JJY station in Australia.), select the watch/clock timezone manually in app settings.

About

AtomicClock

This app displays the exact current time synchronized with NTP servers, offering a customizable clock view for precise time checks. It's ideal for setting watches, verifying timestamps, or comparing local and network time.

Highlights
  • Precise time from NTP servers
  • Customizable clock faces
  • Select or add time servers
  • Local and UTC views
  • 12/24 hour modes
  • Customizable time format
  • Acoustic ticking
Features
Read full description

Check precise NTP reference time at a glance. AtomicClock helps you set watches, wall clocks, cameras, and other devices, compare local time with UTC, and follow moments when every second matters. Clear analog and digital time AtomicClock displays current time from NTP servers that reference atomic clocks. Choose a predefined server or add your own, then view local or UTC time in a clean analog or digital clock. Customize your reference clock • Switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time • Customize the time format • Choose from multiple clock faces and hands • Use a smooth, fluid second hand • Add acoustic ticking or the Greenwich Time Signal • Tap the screen to hide information and controls, freeze the display, or mute ticking Details for precise time checks View technical NTP information, including round-trip time and server stratum. Whether you are checking a timestamp, preparing a camera, aligning a wall clock, or setting a watch by hand, the seconds remain clear and easy to follow. AtomicClock is free to use. AtomicClock Pro is available as a one-time purchase with no subscription. It unlocks your preferred clock face, hands, and font, removes ads, and includes upcoming Pro features. AtomicClock displays NTP reference time for comparison and does not change your device’s system time. Results can vary with the selected server, network conditions, and device behavior.

Screenshots

Clock Wave3 screens
AtomicClock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AtomicClock at Free against Clock Wave's $1.99. AtomicClock also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (5.5K vs 248). Clock Wave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

AtomicClock is free to download; Clock Wave costs $1.99 up front. AtomicClock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Clock Wave asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Clock Wave against 4.8 for AtomicClock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AtomicClock has 5.5K ratings behind it against 248, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Clock Wave's written reviews are positive against 85% of AtomicClock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Clock Wave ships an update every 2 months, AtomicClock every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Clock Wave versus AtomicClock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClock WaveAtomicClock
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (248 ratings)4.8 (5.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.6% of reviews — better84.5% of reviews
Number of ratings2485.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#56 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer震 任Timo Partl

Customer experience

Clock Wave

All ratings248 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral0.4%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews285 reviews
Positive91.6%
Neutral1.1%
Negative7.4%

AtomicClock

All ratings5,539 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews239 reviews
Positive84.5%
Neutral3.3%
Negative12.1%

User reviews

Clock Wave

From 248 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works as advertised
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Syncs watches quickly
  • 💡 Clever solution for remote areas
  • 👍 Reliable and consistent

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work for some watches
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or failures

AtomicClock

From 5.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate time
  • 👍 Highly customizable
  • 🚀 Precise to the second
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Helpful for setting watches

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Server connection issues
  • 🔍 Limited time zone options
  • 💰 Ads diminish clock view
  • 🔍 Lacks some advanced features
  • 🔍 Redundant for some users

Bugs and requests

Clock Wave

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incompatibility with certain iOS versions
  • Incorrect time zone adjustments

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to transmit signal automatically
  • Support for more watch brands/models
  • Improved volume/signal strength control

AtomicClock

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on certain iOS versions
  • Occasional freezing of hands
  • Countdown timer sound not working

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add GMT/dual time display
  • Implement widget support
  • Add different second hand sounds
  • Allow setting background color to match watch
  • Include alarm/timer functionality

In-app purchases

None

Clock Wave

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

AtomicClock

One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro Version$6.99

Questions

Is Clock Wave free?
Clock Wave costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AtomicClock free?
AtomicClock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Clock Wave or AtomicClock?
AtomicClock is rated higher. Clock Wave averages 4.7 out of 5 from 248 ratings, while AtomicClock averages 4.8 from 5.5K ratings.
Do Clock Wave or AtomicClock have ads?
AtomicClock shows ads; Clock Wave does not.
Which is updated more often, Clock Wave or AtomicClock?
Clock Wave ships an update every 2 months, and AtomicClock every 3 weeks. Most recently, Clock Wave was updated on September 29, 2026 and AtomicClock on September 29, 2026.

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