Comparison

Clockwork vs Ratekeeper

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

Head to head
About

Clockwork

This app allows you to measure the accuracy of your watches using your phone's camera. It compares an image of your watch to an atomic clock to calculate its timekeeping offset. Track accuracy over time with graphs and store detailed watch information.

Highlights
  • Measure accuracy using images
  • Atomic clock synchronization
  • Accuracy over time graphs
  • Store detailed watch information
  • Dark mode support
  • Digital and analog atomic clock
Features
Read full description

Measure the accuracy of your watches today! Clockwork includes several useful features. You can store watch information, measure watch accuracy, and set your watch using a clock synchronized with atomic time. Check it out now! _MEASUREMENTS USING IMAGES_ Most other watch measurement apps require either third-party equipment or that you press a button at a specific time. Additional equipment is often expensive, and timing a button press is difficult to do precisely. Clockwork solves this by letting you take a picture of your watch and indicate the time shown in the image. We then synchronize the image capture time with atomic time before comparing it with the time shown on the watch to calculate an offset. Taking measurements over time provides a real-world view of your watch's accuracy. _GRAPHS_ Watch your measurements over time on a beautifully crafted graph. The graph shows how your watch's accuracy changes over time and offers several modes to help you understand its performance. _WHY MEASURE?_ Knowing the accuracy of your watch is interesting on its own, but it also has several practical uses. It can indicate when it is time for a service, and documented accuracy could increase resale value, especially for vintage watches. _STORE DETAILED INFORMATION_ In case of theft or accidents, it will always help to have your information stored in a secure place. _ATOMIC CLOCK, DARK MODE AND MUCH MORE!_ Clockwork includes an atomic clock in both digital and analog formats to help you set your watch as precisely as possible. Powerful settings such as Dark or Light mode, separate day and date formats, and different ways to sort your watches let you customize the app to your liking. // Appfred AS © 2026

About

Ratekeeper

Measure the daily accuracy of your mechanical watch without specialized equipment. Simply tap when your watch's second hand aligns with true time, and the app calculates its rate. Track historical data, compare against specifications, and analyze performance by resting position.

Highlights
  • Measures watch rate in seconds per day
  • Historical data tracking and charting
  • Comparison against specified accuracy bands
  • Analysis of rate by resting position
  • Standalone true-time reference clock
  • Export readings to CSV
Features
Read full description

Every mechanical watch has a rate: a few seconds gained or lost each day, as personal to the movement as a fingerprint. Ratekeeper tells you what yours is, exactly, without a timing machine or a trip to the watchmaker. The method is a five-second pleasure. Set your watch to true time. A day or two later, tap the screen the instant the second hand crosses twelve. Ratekeeper compares that tap to atomic network time (accurate to hundredths of a second) and, from two readings, works out the watch's rate in seconds per day. Gaining or losing, and by exactly how much. That's the whole thing. No microphone, no cradle, no gear. Just your watch, your phone, and a tap. WHAT YOU SEE • The rate, plainly. "+5.4 spd". In words, "gains 5.4 seconds a day," so the sign never has to be decoded. • A history that reads like a story. Every reading is grouped into runs (a run begins each time you set the watch) and charted so you can watch a rate settle in as a fresh service beds down, or drift as it comes due for one. • Against a band, if you want one. Hold a watch to −4/+6 seconds a day, or the tighter 0/+5, and see at a glance whether it's keeping to spec. • By resting position. Dial up, crown down, on the wrist: a mechanical watch runs differently in each. Ratekeeper breaks the rate down position by position and even suggests how to rest it tonight to bring it closer to true. • A true-time reference clock. A standalone screen showing network time to the tenth of a second, so you can set any watch against it. BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT WATCHES • Manual, automatic, quartz, or something else: each is measured on its own terms. • Gentle reminders on your rhythm, so readings land a few days apart the way the math wants. • Export every reading to CSV whenever you like. The data is yours to keep. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No account. No sign-up. No ads. Your watches and readings live on your device and sync across your own devices through your own private iCloud. We can't see them, and nobody is building a profile out of your collection. Find out how your watches really run. Every one of them has a rate. This is how you learn it. Have questions? We're here to help. Email us at hello@slowsundaysoftware.com Terms of Use: https://slowsundaysoftware.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://slowsundaysoftware.com/privacy

Screenshots

Clockwork4 screens
Ratekeeper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ratekeeper at 100% against Clockwork's 43%. Ratekeeper also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Clockwork's advantage is ratings volume (24 vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.5). On price, ads, 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. Clockwork sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Ratekeeper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ratekeeper holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Clockwork has 24 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Clockwork's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ratekeeper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Clockwork ships an update every 3 weeks, Ratekeeper every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Clockwork versus Ratekeeper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClockworkRatekeeper
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (24 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size242 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAppfred ASSlow Sunday Software LLC

Customer experience

Clockwork

All ratings24 ratings
Positive79.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral10.7%
Negative46.4%

Ratekeeper

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Clockwork

One-time1
  • Clockwork Premium$5.99
1 purchases

Ratekeeper

One-time1
  • Unlock the entire app$4.99

Questions

Is Clockwork free?
Clockwork is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ratekeeper free?
Ratekeeper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Clockwork or Ratekeeper?
Ratekeeper is rated higher. Clockwork averages 4.4 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Ratekeeper averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Clockwork or Ratekeeper have ads?
Neither Clockwork nor Ratekeeper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Clockwork or Ratekeeper?
Clockwork ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ratekeeper every 3 days. Most recently, Clockwork was updated on October 11, 2026 and Ratekeeper on October 7, 2026.

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