Digital Japanese Clock vs Hourly Beep
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Digital Japanese Clock
Experience the Edo period's unique timekeeping with this digital clock. It simulates the indefinite time method, dividing days and nights into variable lengths. Customize sounds, displays, and backgrounds for an immersive historical experience.
- Indefinite time method simulation
- Customizable bell sounds (drums, cannons, cuckoo)
- Multiple display options (zodiac, numerals, emojis)
- Adjustable background color and font
- Optional modern sub-clock display
- Settings for time methods and display elements
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A wadokei is a mechanical clock made in Japan during the Edo period. At that time, Japan used a unique time system called the "indefinite time method". It is a method of dividing the day into day and night and then dividing each into equal parts. The common people of the Edo period began their day's activities by listening to the "dawn six bells" about 30 minutes before sunrise and ended their activities by listening to the "dusk six bells" about 30 minutes after sunset. Naturally, the time of sunrise and sunset varied with the seasons, so the time of bell ringing and the length of the unit of time, ittoki, between day and night also changed greatly. But not only was this perfectly acceptable at the time, it was also an eco-friendly way of living that suited their body rhythms very well. This app is a digital representation of this indefinite time method. The hour bells can be switched not only to the sound of bells, but also to drums, cannons, cuckoo, pillar clocks, etc. The main display can be selected from zodiac signs, numerals, and emojis. You can open the settings screen by tapping twice on the main display or by tapping the settings icon. You can change the background color, font, time methods, show/hide sub-clock, etc. here. The sub-clock in the lower left corner of the screen can also display a modern clock. You can switch the display between 24 hours, 12 hours, numerals, and zodiac signs with each tap. Please use this application and experience the rhythm of life in the Edo period. Perhaps you will discover something good.
Hourly Beep
This app provides gentle audio cues to help you stay mindful of time passing throughout your day. It offers customizable hourly chimes or interval alerts, even when your phone is locked, promoting focus and breaks.
- Hourly chimes and interval alerts
- Customizable sound options
- Voice time announcements
- Works while phone is locked
- Scheduled work hours
- Multiple sound effects
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Hear every hour — even with your phone locked. Hourly Beep plays a short sound on the hour — or, with Pro, at any interval you choose. A quiet way to feel time pass while you work, rest or focus. STAY ON TRACK • A nudge every 25 minutes — or any interval from 1 minute to 4 hours (Pro) • Only during work hours: start and end to the minute, pick your weekdays • Sound without banners, so it never breaks your flow • Keeps ringing, even with beeps every few minutes (Pro) PAUSE EVERY HOUR • A soft chime or a Tibetan singing bowl (Pro) as your cue to stop and breathe • No courses, no streaks, no sign-up — just the bell THE BEEP YOU GREW UP WITH • A retro LCD watch face • With Pro: the iconic F-91W chirp, cuckoo, Westminster chimes and a bell that strikes the hour, 1 to 12 VOICE (PRO) • A natural voice tells you the time — on the hour, every quarter hour or even every five minutes • At night it whispers, during hours you choose in Settings • 7 languages, 12- or 24-hour format 37 SOUNDS Beeps, bells, clocks, alarms, ambient and nature — real recordings and crafted synthesis. Preview any sound before you choose. FREE AND PRO Free: one hourly schedule and four sounds. Pro is a one-time purchase: every sound, including Voice, unlimited schedules, any interval. No subscription, no ads. IPHONE AND IPAD • Runs on iPhone and iPad — in portrait, landscape and next to other apps • Schedules carry over between devices through iCloud, and each device rings on its own. You can turn sync off in Settings PRIVACY No tracking, no ads, no account. Languages: English, Polish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese. Made by an indie developer. If something doesn't work, write to me — I'll fix it.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hourly Beep at 100% against Digital Japanese Clock's 0%. Hourly Beep also leads on rating (4.4 vs 2.0) and ads (none vs shown). Digital Japanese Clock's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Digital Japanese Clock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hourly Beep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Hourly Beep holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hourly Beep has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Digital Japanese Clock's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hourly Beep's.
Digital Japanese Clock ships an update every 6 weeks, Hourly Beep fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Digital Japanese Clock | Hourly Beep |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (1 ratings) | 4.4 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 16 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mihoko Araki | Adam Rozynski |
Customer experience
Digital Japanese Clock
Hourly Beep
In-app purchases
Digital Japanese Clock
- No Ads$1.99
Hourly Beep
- Hourly Beep Pro$7.99
Questions
Is Digital Japanese Clock free?
Is Hourly Beep free?
Which has better reviews, Digital Japanese Clock or Hourly Beep?
Do Digital Japanese Clock or Hourly Beep have ads?
Which is updated more often, Digital Japanese Clock or Hourly Beep?
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