# Combat Clock 1a vs Essential Sci

The clearest difference is price: Essential Sci at Free against Combat Clock 1a's $0.99. Essential Sci also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.9). Combat Clock 1a's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Essential Sci is free to download; Combat Clock 1a costs $0.99 up front. Essential Sci sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Combat Clock 1a asks for nothing beyond the download.

Essential Sci holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 33 respectively.

Combat Clock 1a ships an update every 2 months, Essential Sci every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Combat Clock 1a | Essential Sci |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.9 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/combat-clock-1a/id1464746159/reviews) | **[4.5 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-sci-fi-channel/id1635437392/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **64** | 33 |
| Positive reviews | 56.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 10 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [JOHN W GRANHOLM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464746158) | [MacMillan Interactive Communications, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/820481297) |

## What reviewers say

### Combat Clock 1a

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/combat-clock-1a/id1464746159)

This app replicates a 12-hour analog ship's clock, displaying GPS coordinates, heading, and compass bearing. It features an alarm that rings every half hour based on traditional deck watch shifts. The application is active only in the foreground and does not save or transmit any user data.

**Highlights:** 12-hour analog clock with sweeping second hand, Displays GPS coordinates, Shows device heading and compass bearing, Half-hourly alarm (1-8 bells), Foreground active only, No data saving or transmission

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Essential Sci

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-sci-fi-channel/id1635437392)

Stream a vast library of science fiction movies and TV shows for free. Subscribe monthly to enjoy an ad-free viewing experience and access premium content.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of hours of sci-fi content, Free streaming, Monthly ad-free subscription, Watch on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Essential Sci-Fi Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Essential Sci-Fi Yearly Sub | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Combat Clock 1a free?

Combat Clock 1a costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Essential Sci free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Combat Clock 1a or Essential Sci?

Essential Sci is rated higher. Combat Clock 1a averages 3.9 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Essential Sci averages 4.5 from 33 ratings.

### Do Combat Clock 1a or Essential Sci have ads?

Essential Sci shows ads; Combat Clock 1a does not.

### Which is updated more often, Combat Clock 1a or Essential Sci?

Combat Clock 1a ships an update every 2 months, and Essential Sci every 6 weeks. Most recently, Combat Clock 1a was updated on October 17, 2026 and Essential Sci on October 21, 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.*