# The Optimists Books vs Big Clock

The clearest difference is price: Big Clock at Free against The Optimists Books's $0.99. Big Clock also leads on ratings volume (717 vs 26) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). The Optimists Books's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Big Clock is free to download; The Optimists Books costs $0.99 up front. Big Clock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. The Optimists Books asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Optimists Books holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Big Clock has 717 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of The Optimists Books's written reviews are positive against 68% of Big Clock's.

The Optimists Books ships an update every 2 months, Big Clock every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Optimists Books | Big Clock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-optimists-books/id1464944605/reviews)** | [4.0 (717 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-clock-pro-time-widgets/id1495547377/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **717** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 67.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 12 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bryan Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464944604) | [Amit Verma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1219761009) |

## What reviewers say

### The Optimists Books

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-optimists-books/id1464944605)

Access uplifting messages and prayers from two classic books published in the early 1900s. This app provides daily inspiration, allowing you to search, sort, and share messages to foster a more positive outlook.

**Highlights:** Daily inspirational messages, Non-denominational prayers, Search and sort messages, Save favorite messages, Share messages with others, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Big Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-clock-pro-time-widgets/id1495547377)

Transform your iPhone into a stylish bedside clock with interactive widgets for your home screen, lock screen, and Dynamic Island. Enjoy customizable themes and essential information at a glance.

**Highlights:** Interactive iOS widgets, Stand-by mode widget, Dynamic Island support, Lock Screen widget with seconds, Transparent widget option, Full screen digital clock, Gradient themes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Big Clock Pro. | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great clock for nightstand or widget
- 👍 Stylish and complements iOS 26
- 👍 Useful seconds display
- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 👍 Good for presentations and visibility

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Widget doesn't handle daylight saving changes
- 🐛 Widget doesn't always display time correctly
- 🐛 Constant review pop-ups blocking the clock
- 🐛 Occasional time freezing or display issues
- 🔋 Clock goes to sleep when phone does

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not updating time correctly
- Inconsistent time display between app and widget
- Review pop-ups blocking clock functionality

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize font, size, and appearance
- Option to disable seconds display
- Landscape mode support
- More color/theme options
- Ability to tap widget to access settings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Optimists Books free?

The Optimists Books costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Big Clock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Optimists Books or Big Clock?

The Optimists Books is rated higher. The Optimists Books averages 4.8 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Big Clock averages 4.0 from 717 ratings.

### Do The Optimists Books or Big Clock have ads?

Neither The Optimists Books nor Big Clock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Optimists Books or Big Clock?

The Optimists Books ships an update every 2 months, and Big Clock every 4 weeks. Most recently, The Optimists Books was updated on October 24, 2026 and Big Clock on October 29, 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.*