# Zen Flip Clock vs AJournal

The clearest difference is ads: Zen Flip Clock at none against AJournal's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Zen Flip Clock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and AJournal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Zen Flip Clock against 4.7 for AJournal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.2K and 5.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Zen Flip Clock's written reviews are positive against 77% of AJournal's.

Zen Flip Clock ships an update every 2 weeks, AJournal every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zen Flip Clock | AJournal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (6.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-flip-clock-minimal-timer/id1265404088/reviews) | **[4.7 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ajournal-planner-and-journal/id1594064594/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.2K** | 5.3K |
| Positive reviews | 71.5% of reviews | **76.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Chaoyang Minimal Software Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1065436362) | [WonderApps AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/519561369) |

## What reviewers say

### Zen Flip Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-flip-clock-minimal-timer/id1265404088)

This app offers a minimalist clock experience with multiple themes and powerful focus tools. It functions as a fullscreen desk clock and includes a Pomodoro timer, stopwatch, and hourly chime to help manage time and improve productivity.

**Highlights:** Multiple clock themes (flip, digital, minimalist), Fullscreen desk clock functionality, Pomodoro timer for focused work sessions, Stopwatch for timing tasks, Hourly chime for routine building, Time usage statistics, Home and lock screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing app
- 👍 Aesthetic and minimalistic
- 👍 Useful for studying and productivity
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Great for a desk clock

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Time display issues
- 🐛 Widget not working as expected
- 🐛 Pomodoro timer resets when switching apps
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Paid features required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Time display inaccuracies
- Widget freezing and displaying incorrect time
- Pomodoro timer not working as expected
- Compatibility issues with latest iOS updates
- App crashing or becoming unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Add alarm functionality
- Implement live activities support
- Allow custom pomodoro timer durations
- Provide more theme/color options
- Add world clock/timezone support


### AJournal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ajournal-planner-and-journal/id1594064594)

This app combines digital planning with the tactile feel of handwriting. Organize your days, weeks, and months, set goals, and track habits using Apple Pencil or your finger. Choose from numerous templates or create your own custom layouts.

**Highlights:** Handwriting and text input, Digital calendar integration, Over 100 customizable templates, Sticker library and custom stickers, Reminders integration, PDF export and iCloud sync

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $26.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great integration with calendar and reminders
- 👍 Highly customizable templates
- ✨ Ability to create own templates
- 💡 Combination of digital and handwritten planning
- 🎨 Variety of stickers and colors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues between devices
- 🔒 Requires subscription for full functionality
- 📱 No iPhone app, only iPad
- 🖋️ Limited handwriting tools compared to other apps
- 🔍 Difficult to find some features or settings

**Reported bugs**

- Text boxes sometimes lose formatting or disappear
- Occasional crashes when switching between views
- Syncing issues causing data loss

**Requested features**

- Add PDF support
- Improve handwriting recognition and tools
- Implement iCloud sync
- Develop iPhone app version
- Add more customization options for templates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zen Flip Clock free?

Zen Flip Clock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is AJournal free?

AJournal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Zen Flip Clock or AJournal?

AJournal is rated higher. Zen Flip Clock averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.2K ratings, while AJournal averages 4.7 from 5.3K ratings.

### Do Zen Flip Clock or AJournal have ads?

AJournal shows ads; Zen Flip Clock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Zen Flip Clock or AJournal?

Zen Flip Clock ships an update every 2 weeks, and AJournal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zen Flip Clock was updated on November 6, 2026 and AJournal on November 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*