BirdClock vs Amitabha Sutra
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BirdClock
This analog clock app uses bird sounds to tell the time. Customize your time signals with 19 different bird voices and enjoy ambient forest sounds. Bring the tranquility of nature into your space.
- Analog clock display
- Bird voice time announcements
- 19 types of bird voices
- Customizable time signals
- Ambient forest sounds
- Chorus of birds
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BirdClock is an analog clock application that tells you time using voice of birds. This application contains 19 kinds of voices of birds and you can customize time signals as you like. And you can enjoy chorus of birds and sound of stream while this application is running. Please enjoy the sounds of forest in your room.
Amitabha Sutra
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Just trace with your finger. That alone quiets your mind. Sutra copying often brings to mind gathering tools, grinding ink, sitting in seiza—this app skips all that and lets you do shakyo with just your smartphone. Trace the model characters shown on the screen with your finger. It feels like coloring. Stroke order mistakes or poor handwriting don’t matter—because you’re tracing, errors don’t occur in the first place. That removes the pressure to “write well,” letting you focus only on moving your finger. Included text: the Amitabha Sutra. About 280 characters, taking roughly 15–30 minutes to complete—neither too short nor too long, just enough to make your mind feel clear. Main features - Auto-advance: when you finish tracing a character, it automatically moves to the next one. No need to tap the screen, so you can stay immersed. You can switch to manual advance in settings if you prefer. - Furigana on all kanji: readings are shown for every character, so old or unfamiliar forms won’t slow you down. - Plain-language translation: check a modern-Japanese translation of the Amitabha Sutra anytime. Knowing the meaning gives each character you trace more weight. - Shakyo history: date, time, and counts are recorded automatically, helping you track and keep up your practice. Who it’s for Honestly, it’s for people who tried meditation or mindfulness but found “just sitting and doing nothing” hard. Tracing gives your attention a clear place to rest, making it much easier for many people than silent sitting meditation. Common uses: - Turning off your brain before sleep - Centering yourself before work or study - Calming persistent anxiety or restlessness - Jump-starting focus for those who struggle to concentrate - Learning the proper readings and meaning of the Amitabha Sutra How to use Open the app and tap “Start,” then trace the displayed characters with your finger. Beginning with gassho (palms together) helps mark the transition. Use recitation audio or silence—your choice. When you finish, the app returns to the menu and records the session. Experience the calm after completing a shakyo. Terms of use (Apple standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Amitabha Sutra at Free against BirdClock's $0.99. Amitabha Sutra also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months). BirdClock's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On 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
Amitabha Sutra is free to download; BirdClock costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BirdClock ships an update every 14 months, Amitabha Sutra every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BirdClock | Amitabha Sutra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.8 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 93 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tahito Aoki | QOOQ inc. |
In-app purchases
BirdClock
No in-app purchases
Amitabha Sutra
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BirdClock free?
Is Amitabha Sutra free?
Do BirdClock or Amitabha Sutra have ads?
Which is updated more often, BirdClock or Amitabha Sutra?
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