Comparison

Nixie Clocks vs Pixel Clock

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

Head to head
About

Nixie Clocks

This device displays time using vintage-style Nixie tubes, offering automatic internet time synchronization and online settings management. It features silent operation, extended tube life through direct drive, and cathode poisoning prevention. Users can also enjoy customizable RGB underlighting and remote firmware updates.

Highlights
  • Internet time synchronization
  • Online settings management
  • Silent operation
  • Direct driven Nixie tubes
  • Cathode poisoning prevention
  • RGB underlighting
  • Online firmware updates
Features
Read full description

Zen Nixie Clock is our first 6-tube clock designed using R|Z568M nixie tubes from our production. The case is designed in a minimalistic way, combining simple aluminum stand and a glass cover – just like a museum vitrine. Thanks to its simple shapes, the clock suits every interior – especially offices, living rooms... Zen Nixie Clock features Internet connection – the clock contains a wifi module and is designed to operate online. The time is automatically synchronized from network, so you don’t have to do it manually and there are no other devices necessary (no GPS modules, radio modules etc..). In case of power loss, the clock remembers all the settings and time will be synchronized automatically from internet. Easy online settings – all settings of the Zen Nixie Clock can be controlled online from your user account on our website. No need to search for user guide anytime you want to make changes in settings! Silent circuitry – the clock is absolutely silent, there is no audible noise produced by its electronic parts. Direct driven design – nixie tubes are driven directly, this prolongs their lifetime. Common practice is to use multiplexed driving circuit (which is easier to manufacture and cheaper), but such a driving circuit shorten nixie tube lifetime. Cathode poisoning prevention – the clock can periodically run a cathode poisoning prevention routine. This helps to keep all digits of all tubes in good condition. Rotary knob – for offline users, there is a rotary knob on the back of the board. Using this knob, user can enter into settings menu and do the settings manually. This feature is still in development. Online firmware update – the integrated wifi module makes online firmware updates possible. Whenever there is a new firmware update (new features, bug fixes), your clock can be updated remotely. No blue spot – there are no blue spots in the tubes known from some other clocks (especially clocks built with IN-18 nixie tubes). Colon tubes – the clock support our colon tubes (in development), they will match design of the nixie tubes (by base and internal structure). RGB underlight – there are 8 RGB leds (WS2812B – “neopixels”) on the bottom of the board which make some cool effects possible. Purist customers who prefers nixie tube glow only can set the underlight off. This feature is in development!

About

Pixel Clock

A simple, letter-based clock application with a retro pixel art style. It offers extensive customization options for fonts, colors, and orientations, and synchronizes across Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Retro pixel art design
  • Customizable font colors and types
  • Portrait and landscape orientations
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Apple TV support
  • Touch feedback
Features
Read full description

# Awards Sspai - Recommendation # Introduction Simple letter based clock application with retro pixel style :) # Features - Apple TV and Apple TV 4K supported; - 6 font color supported; - 7 font types supported; - 6 screen color supported; - Portrait and landscape orientations supported; - Minutes and seconds dots supported; - Touch feedback supported for iPhone devices; - Customized screen synchronized with all iOS and tvOS devices with same Apple ID. # Feedback If you like this application please kindly give 5 stars. Any feedback and recommendation please click Email icon in about page.

Screenshots

Nixie Clocks4 screens
Pixel Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Nixie Clocks at Free against Pixel Clock's $1.99. Nixie Clocks also leads on ratings volume (107 vs 8). Pixel Clock's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and device support (6 vs 4). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Nixie Clocks is free to download; Pixel Clock costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pixel Clock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nixie Clocks has 107 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Nixie Clocks's written reviews are positive against 78% of Pixel Clock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nixie Clocks ships an update every 4 months, Pixel Clock every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Nixie Clocks versus Pixel Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNixie ClocksPixel Clock
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.8 (107 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews78.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings107 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB27 MB
Age rating9+4+
Developerljezny涛 吴

Customer experience

Nixie Clocks

All ratings106 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative21.4%

Pixel Clock

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral8.7%
Negative13.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nixie Clocks

No in-app purchases

None

Pixel Clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nixie Clocks free?
Nixie Clocks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pixel Clock free?
Pixel Clock costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nixie Clocks or Pixel Clock?
Pixel Clock is rated higher. Nixie Clocks averages 4.8 out of 5 from 107 ratings, while Pixel Clock averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do Nixie Clocks or Pixel Clock have ads?
Neither Nixie Clocks nor Pixel Clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nixie Clocks or Pixel Clock?
Nixie Clocks ships an update every 4 months, and Pixel Clock every 3 months. Most recently, Nixie Clocks was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pixel Clock on October 29, 2026.

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