Comparison

Nightstand vs Dock

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

Head to head
About

Nightstand

Transform your device into a clear, dim bedside clock. It displays the time, weather, and battery level, with adjustable brightness and multiple color themes for optimal nighttime viewing.

Highlights
  • Large, readable digits in darkness
  • Real-time weather display
  • Visible battery level indicator
  • Tap-to-adjust brightness
  • Multiple color themes
  • Designed for low-light use
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into the perfect bedside clock — beautiful, dim, and always readable in the dark. No squinting. No fumbling. Just tap to wake, one glance to know. — WHAT YOU GET · A clean, large-digit clock that's easy to read in complete darkness · Real-time weather so you wake up knowing what to wear · 3-day weather forecast · Portrait mode — use Nightstand upright on your nightstand or desk · Battery level always visible — no surprises in the morning · Tap anywhere to adjust screen brightness instantly · Multiple color themes: cool blue, warm gray, night green and much more · Choose your perfect font — from classic digital to minimal thin, rounded, serif and more · A sleep reminder that nudges you to wind down at your chosen time each night — DESIGNED FOR NIGHT Most clock apps are built for daytime. Nightstand is built for the dark — low brightness by default, soothing colors, and zero distractions. Put your phone on the charger, open Nightstand, and your nightstand is transformed. — PERFECT FOR · Bedside use while charging overnight · Hotel rooms and travel (no more clock-hunting) · Desk use as an ambient time display

About

Dock

Transform your iPhone into a beautiful charging display with elegant clocks and an animated planetary system. Enjoy a distraction-free design perfect for your desk or nightstand, with automatic launch via shortcuts.

Highlights
  • Animated planetary system with real rotation
  • Six distinct clock styles
  • Live moon phase rendering
  • Automatic launch via Apple Shortcuts
  • Distraction-free, dark-first design
  • Screen saver timing options
Features
Read full description

The only StandBy-style dock with a living planetary system — watch the Moon, Mars and Saturn spin while your iPhone charges on your desk or nightstand. Dock transforms your iPhone into a beautiful display while charging. Inspired by StandBy mode, it brings elegant clocks, animated planets, and immersive visuals to your desk, nightstand, or workspace. SIX CLOCK STYLES • Minimal Analog, Analog, Digital, Compact Analog, Word clock, and Slider • Digital clock digits can float subtly, StandBy-style • Charging style: your battery level fills the screen behind a bold two-tone clock • Every clock works beautifully in landscape A LIVING SKY • Animated planetary system with the Moon, planets and real rotation • Live moon phase rendered on the Moon itself • Date, location and weather at a glance MADE FOR YOUR NIGHTSTAND • Clean, distraction-free, dark-first design • Screen saver timing options for overnight use • Launches automatically when you start charging, via Apple Shortcuts • Keep-screen-on while charging Whether your phone is on your desk during work or beside your bed at night, Dock turns it into a display you'll actually want to look at. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.alicorak.com/dock/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Nightstand4 screens
Dock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Dock at none against Nightstand's shown. Dock also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). Nightstand's advantage is ratings volume (126 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Nightstand sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nightstand has 126 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nightstand ships an update every 6 weeks, Dock weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nightstand versus Dock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNightstandDock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (126 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings126 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianluca Di MaggioAli Corak

Customer experience

Nightstand

All ratings126 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.8%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.0%

Dock

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Nightstand

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
3 purchases

Dock

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Annual$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is Nightstand free?
Nightstand is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dock free?
Dock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nightstand or Dock?
Dock is rated higher. Nightstand averages 4.5 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while Dock averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Nightstand or Dock have ads?
Nightstand shows ads; Dock does not.
Which is updated more often, Nightstand or Dock?
Nightstand ships an update every 6 weeks, and Dock weekly. Most recently, Nightstand was updated on October 20, 2026 and Dock on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons