# Chime vs On the hour

The clearest difference is update cadence: On the hour at weekly against Chime's every 5 months. Chime's advantage is ratings volume (820 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Chime holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chime has 820 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Chime ships an update every 5 months, On the hour weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chime | On the hour |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (820 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-speaking-clock/id1369098015/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-hour/id6753136689/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **820** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 45.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Reeba Sebastian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281813035) | [田丰 何](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674464316) |

## What reviewers say

### Chime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-speaking-clock/id1369098015)

Set personalized alerts and time announcements with customizable sounds and repeat intervals. Features include night mode and automatic weekend disabling for uninterrupted rest.

**Highlights:** Personalized alerts, Flexible chime intervals, Preference saving, Night mode, Customizable time ranges, Do Not Disturb on weekends

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective
- 🚀 Helpful for productivity
- 🔒 Accessible for blind users
- 💡 Useful for time awareness

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work with latest iOS updates
- 🔊 Loud volume issues
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🔧 Difficult setup process

**Reported bugs**

- Chime not working after iOS updates
- Can't change Do Not Disturb settings
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Setup process gets stuck

**Requested features**

- Add custom sound options
- Allow adjusting chime volume
- Provide option to disable ads
- Expand chime interval options
- Add Apple Watch support


### On the hour

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-hour/id6753136689)

This utility app provides a single, focused function: a chime that sounds precisely on the hour. It's designed for users who need a simple, reliable auditory reminder of passing time.

**Highlights:** Hourly chime notification, Simple, single-function design, Reliable timekeeping alert

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chime free?

Chime is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is On the hour free?

On the hour is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chime or On the hour?

Chime is rated higher. Chime averages 4.2 out of 5 from 820 ratings, while On the hour averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Chime or On the hour have ads?

Neither Chime nor On the hour shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chime or On the hour?

Chime ships an update every 5 months, and On the hour weekly. Most recently, Chime was updated on October 29, 2026 and On the hour on October 24, 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.*