Comparison

Desktop Astro Clock vs Custom Digital 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

Custom Digital Clock

Display a stylish digital clock on your smartphone. Personalize the clock's appearance with custom coloring options to match your style.

Highlights
  • Stylish digital clock display
  • Customizable coloring
  • Smartphone integration
  • Personalized appearance
Features
Read full description

Stylish digital clock displayed on your smartphone. Customize the coloring freely.

Screenshots

Desktop Astro Clock4 screens
Custom Digital Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Desktop Astro Clock at 3.7 against Custom Digital Clock's 1.0. Desktop Astro Clock also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Custom Digital Clock's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Desktop Astro Clock holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Desktop Astro Clock versus Custom Digital Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesktop Astro ClockCustom Digital Clock
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 9 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size416 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBEHR Consulting Internationaltadashi endo

Customer experience

Desktop Astro Clock

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Custom Digital Clock

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Desktop Astro Clock

No in-app purchases

None

Custom Digital Clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Desktop Astro Clock free?
Desktop Astro Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Custom Digital Clock free?
Custom Digital Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Desktop Astro Clock or Custom Digital Clock?
Desktop Astro Clock is rated higher. Desktop Astro Clock averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Custom Digital Clock averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Desktop Astro Clock or Custom Digital Clock have ads?
Custom Digital Clock shows ads; Desktop Astro Clock does not.
Which is updated more often, Desktop Astro Clock or Custom Digital Clock?
Desktop Astro Clock ships an update every 9 months, and Custom Digital Clock every 9 months. Most recently, Desktop Astro Clock was updated on September 19, 2026 and Custom Digital Clock on October 2, 2026.

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