Comparison

Emerald Chronometer vs Liubai

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

Head to head
About

Emerald Chronometer

Experience highly detailed mechanical watch faces with advanced astronomical and clock complications. Track celestial events, manage time with precision, and explore historical and future dates with interactive displays. Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch.

Highlights
  • Accurate astronomical data (4000 BCE - 2800 CE)
  • Sun, Moon, and planet rise/set times
  • Mechanical display of Moon phases
  • Precise local and UTC time
  • Chronograph with split timer
  • World-time and calendar watches
  • Interactive time-travel simulation
Read full description

These models of high-end mechanical watch faces contain many of the most complex "complications" found in real watches, plus refinements found nowhere else. All displays maintain the look and feel of real mechanical objects, but with the time and location accuracy of the iPhone. NOTE: This app (Emerald Chronometer) is optimized for the iPhone and iPod touch. Please also see Emerald Chronometer HD, a separate product optimized for the iPad. Astronomy features: - Highly accurate data from 4000 BCE to 2800 CE - Times of rise and set for the Sun, the Moon, and the 5 classical planets - The correct shape and orientation of the Moon in all phases but still using a mechanical display - Relative positions of the Sun, Moon, 6 planets and the constellations of the zodiac - "Compass functions" show the elevation and azimuth of the Sun, the Moon, and the 5 planets - The Equation of Time, solar time and sidereal time - Eclipse predictor (lunar node indicators and separation indicator) - User settable geographic location and timezone using an 80,000 city database - A unique face showing the rise and set times of all 5 classical planets plus the Sun and the Moon at once Clock features: - Day/date/month/year indicators, using mechanical wheels - Local and UTC time - Chronograph (stopwatch) with split timer, 1/10 sec accuracy - Alarm clock and interval timer; notifications are delivered in iOS 4 if the app is not running** - World-time watch with 24-city ring on one side and 4 subdials on the other - Calendar watch with rotating wheels showing a full month at a time - Most watches with 1/5 sec or 1/10 sec precision - Synchronized with standard atomic clocks via NTP There are 16 watches in all, with 27 total watch faces (including front and back sides). A setting is available to allow the display to stay on only when plugged in. Play with the watches by tapping on the crown and moving the hands, or press and hold on a date window to zoom through time to see the effect on the heavens. Then just use them to show you when it's time for a break. A complete description of each application feature can be found in the built-in Help screens and on the Emerald Sequoia LLC Web Site, which also includes a demo movie. A developer's blog may also be found at http://emeraldsequoia.com/esblog/ . If you are having any trouble with the application whatsoever, please see our FAQ on the support page listed below and then contact us through that page if your problem is not resolved. We take pride in responding promptly to all support email requests. **NTP accuracy is not guaranteed for alarm delivery if the app is not running. (NTP requires Internet access. Like all apps Emerald Chronometer can not change the device's internal clock.)

About

Liubai

This private writing app allows you to capture your thoughts and choose their fate. Options include making text disappear, encrypting it until a specific time, or creating a sealed count. Your writing remains securely on your device without requiring an account or uploading content.

Highlights
  • Private writing space
  • Text disappearance option
  • Timed local encryption
  • Sealed text count
  • 30-second pause feature
  • No account required
  • Offline content storage
Features
Read full description

Liubai is a private writing app for moments you do not want to face right away. Write what is on your mind, then choose what happens next. You can let the text disappear, keep it locally encrypted until a chosen time, seal it so only a count remains, or take a quiet 30-second pause. Your writing stays on your device. Liubai does not require an account, does not upload your content, and does not include social features, ads, or in-app purchases.

Screenshots

Emerald Chronometer4 screens
Liubai3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Liubai at free against Emerald Chronometer's paid. Liubai also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 22 months). Emerald Chronometer's advantage is ratings volume (121 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Emerald Chronometer against 5.0 for Liubai. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Emerald Chronometer has 121 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Emerald Chronometer ships an update every 22 months, Liubai every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Emerald Chronometer versus Liubai: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmerald ChronometerLiubai
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (121 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews96.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings121 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 22 monthsEvery 4 months — better
Ads—No
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size311 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScapa Flow, LLCBeijing Black & White Network Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Emerald Chronometer

All ratings96 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive96.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative0.0%

Liubai

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Emerald Chronometer

No in-app purchases

None

Liubai

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Emerald Chronometer free?
Emerald Chronometer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Liubai free?
Liubai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Emerald Chronometer or Liubai?
Liubai is rated higher. Emerald Chronometer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 121 ratings, while Liubai averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Which is updated more often, Emerald Chronometer or Liubai?
Emerald Chronometer ships an update every 22 months, and Liubai every 4 months. Most recently, Emerald Chronometer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Liubai on October 5, 2026.

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