Comparison

Desktop Astro Clock vs Starlight Clock

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

Head to head
About

Desktop Astro Clock

This utility app displays time in various formats, including Julian, Sidereal, and GMT. It offers always-on display options, moon and meteor shower information, and customizable clock configurations. Widgets and a watchOS app are also supported for enhanced functionality.

Highlights
  • Multiple time formats (Julian, Sidereal, GMT)
  • Always-on display with battery threshold
  • Moon phase and meteor shower information
  • Customizable display configurations
  • Widget support
  • WatchOS app with specialized displays
Features
Read full description

Desktop Astro Clock (formally known as: yabc - Yet Another Bedside Clock). This is a clock app that is designed to be run at the desktop, bedside or near a star map. It will display the time without turning off until the battery percentage drops below a user specified value. There are ten predefined, and one user defined display configurations. A single tap of the moon and star icon will bring up a red tinted clock showing the local sidereal time. In settings, you can add a moon display, meteor showers display, change colors, and configure the user defined clock display. Widgets are now supported and can be configured via Widget editing. A watchOS app is now included that displays a red tinted Modified Julian date, GMT Sidereal time, Moon, Moon name, and moon age in days. No ads, ever. Lock screen widgets include rectangular (two clock values look good here) and circular (for the current moon) Features: - Time display in various fixed formats - Time display in a user defined format + color - Always on display until a user specified battery level is reached (iOS) - Moon display with moon transit details and full moon names *(4)* - Meteor Shower information (when visible) with star chart locator - Blue moons are known by the tag [blue moon] added to the full moon name and a blue tint to the full moon image - Super moons are known by the tag [super] added to the full moon name Clock Times: - GMT - Greenwich Mean Time - GMST - Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time - Julian Date - Seconds since noon 1st January 4713 B.C. - LMST - Local Mean Sidereal Time *(3)* - Modified Julian Date - Julian Date - 2400000.5 Predefined displays: - Desk Clock - Day, Time, Date - ISO 8901 - yyyy-mm-ssThh:mm:ss+tz - ISO 8901 GMT - yyyy-mm-ssThh:mm:ssZ - Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time - 'HH'h 'mm's 'ss' - Julian - day.time in seconds since noon 1st January 4713 B.C. - Local Mean Sidereal Time - 'HH'h 'mm'h *(3)* - System Default - based on your iOS settings - Time HH:MM:SS, Month, Day - Time HH:MM - Time HH:MM:SS, Day, Month, Year - User Defined - you pick the format! Widgets (One or more): - Meteor Showers *(1)* - Moon - Moon with details - Moon Names *(4)* - Julian Date *(2)* - Sidereal Date *(2)* - User Defined Clock *(2)* WatchOS App: - Black background, Red tint, brightness adjustable with crown, shows Mofidied Julian Date, GMT Sideral Time, Moon face, Moon name, and Moon age *(3)* *(4)* - Corner complication shows Moon, Modified Julian and Local Sidereal time Lock screen Widgets: - Rectangular for clock values (i.e.: Julian date and Sidereal time) - Circular for the current moon *(1) If no Meteor shower is in progress, just an image is shown* *(2) Widgets do not support real time non-system clocks well. Updates will typically be between 15-60 minutes* *(3) If you select Local Sidereal Mean Time display, you'll also need to enable the setting to allow access to your location information (only needs your longitude for the calculations). Default will be Greenwich England* *(4) If you select Moon names, you'll also need to enable the settings to allow access to your location information (only need to check latitude > 0 for Northeren/Southeren hemishpere). Default will be at the equator*

About

Starlight Clock

Features
Read full description

This is a digital and analog clock application with a starry sky motif. The constellation changes every hour. You can also set events in which locomotives appear at 10, 15, 20, 30, and 60 minute intervals. Sometimes shooting stars also stream. ***** The time text, analog clock, and constellations can be moved with the fingers. The analog clock and constellations can be zoomed in and out with two fingers. Seconds can also be displayed. Touching the time character switches to setting mode. The date and time can be changed to various formats by touching it in the setting mode. The display can be switched between 12-hour and 24-hour formats. Screen rotation in portrait and landscape orientation is also supported. By pressing buttons such as "2X" and "3X," the font size can be adjusted in steps. You can choose from 24 different constellations. The order of the constellations can be set to change randomly as well as in a predetermined order. The time signal can be set to one of 79 different tones.

Screenshots

Desktop Astro Clock4 screens
Starlight Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Desktop Astro Clock at none against Starlight Clock's 1. Desktop Astro Clock also leads on ads (none vs shown). Starlight Clock's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price 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

Both are free to download. Starlight Clock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Desktop Astro Clock asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Desktop Astro Clock ships an update every 9 months, Starlight Clock every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and July 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Desktop Astro Clock versus Starlight Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesktop Astro ClockStarlight Clock
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size416 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBEHR Consulting InternationalMihoko Araki

In-app purchases

None

Desktop Astro Clock

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Starlight Clock

One-time1
  • Starlight Clock with no ads$2.99

Questions

Is Desktop Astro Clock free?
Desktop Astro Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Starlight Clock free?
Starlight Clock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Desktop Astro Clock or Starlight Clock have ads?
Starlight Clock shows ads; Desktop Astro Clock does not.
Which is updated more often, Desktop Astro Clock or Starlight Clock?
Desktop Astro Clock ships an update every 9 months, and Starlight Clock every 3 months. Most recently, Desktop Astro Clock was updated on June 5, 2026 and Starlight Clock on July 28, 2026.

Other comparisons