Comparison

Nixie Clocks vs Household 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

Household Clock

Turn your phone into a large-font digital clock with weather and calendar integration. Get non-intrusive alerts for schedules and extreme weather. Connect Bluetooth thermometers for additional data.

Highlights
  • Extra large font for time
  • Built-in weather forecast
  • Alert notifications for schedules
  • Extreme weather warnings
  • Bluetooth thermometer data display
Features
Read full description

Transform your unused phone into a home clock! - Extra large font for easy visibility of time with just a glance - Built-in weather forecast for quick temperature checking - Non-intrusive alert notifications, displaying future schedules and extreme weather warnings - Display data from multiple connected Bluetooth thermometers* - No advertisements Supports MiJia Bluetooth thermometer LYWSD03MMC.

Screenshots

Nixie Clocks4 screens
Household Clock2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nixie Clocks at 71% against Household Clock's 0%. Nixie Clocks also leads on price (Free vs $1.99) and ratings volume (106 vs 1). Household Clock's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Nixie Clocks is free to download; Household 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

Household 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 106 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Nixie Clocks's written reviews are positive against 0% of Household Clock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nixie Clocks ships an update every 4 months, Household Clock every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Nixie Clocks versus Household Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNixie ClocksHousehold Clock
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.8 (106 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings106 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB13 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperljeznyBeijing Futao Technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

Nixie Clocks

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

Household Clock

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nixie Clocks

No in-app purchases

None

Household Clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nixie Clocks free?
Nixie Clocks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Household Clock free?
Household Clock costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nixie Clocks or Household Clock?
Household Clock is rated higher. Nixie Clocks averages 4.8 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while Household Clock averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Nixie Clocks or Household Clock have ads?
Neither Nixie Clocks nor Household Clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nixie Clocks or Household Clock?
Nixie Clocks ships an update every 4 months, and Household Clock every 3 days. Most recently, Nixie Clocks was updated on October 15, 2026 and Household Clock on October 13, 2026.

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