# Big Ben vs Sound Effects Boards Pro

The clearest difference is rating: Sound Effects Boards Pro at 4.2 against Big Ben's 3.8. Sound Effects Boards Pro also leads on chart position (#166 vs unranked). Big Ben's advantage is ratings volume (41 vs 5) and device support (4 vs 2). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Big Ben costs $2.99 and Sound Effects Boards Pro $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sound Effects Boards Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Big Ben has 41 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Big Ben's written reviews are positive against 50% of Sound Effects Boards Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Big Ben ships an update every 41 months, Sound Effects Boards Pro every 33 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Big Ben | Sound Effects Boards Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-ben/id301046876/reviews) | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-effects-boards-pro/id433511122/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **41** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **57.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 41 months | **Every 33 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#166** |
| Size | 130 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ettore Software Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289507331) | [iGreenEarth](https://appshunter.io/developer/351081815) |

## What reviewers say

### Big Ben

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-ben/id301046876)

Experience the iconic Big Ben on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Customize your display with digital clock options, a seconds hand, and authentic tick-tock sounds. Enjoy hourly chimes and quarter-hour alerts, even when the app is closed, for a decorative and timely experience.

**Highlights:** Digital clock display, Seconds hand option, Tick-tock sound, Quarter-hour chimes, Hourly tolling, Background notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Authentic Big Ben chimes and sounds
- 💰 Affordable price point (99p)
- ⏰ Accurate time display with working clock
- 🔊 High-quality audio reproduction
- 📱 Works in background (when functioning)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes on various iOS versions
- 📵 Doesn't work when phone is locked/in background
- 🔊 Volume control issues - too quiet or too loud
- ⚙️ Minute hand doesn't move smoothly
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon opening
- Not compatible with iOS 15, iOS 17, iOS 12
- Doesn't chime when phone is locked or in background
- No sound output despite notifications enabled
- App won't launch on iPhone 15.3.1

**Requested features**

- Night mode/silent hours scheduling (9pm-5am)
- Adjustable volume control within app
- Smooth minute hand animation
- Hourly-only chime option (disable quarter chimes)
- Background chimes while phone is locked


### Sound Effects Boards Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-effects-boards-pro/id433511122)

**Currently charting:** #166 Top Paid · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access over 300 humorous sound effects and prank noises organized into more than 50 diverse soundboards. Explore categories like party, comedy, animals, and alarms for endless entertainment and practical jokes.

**Highlights:** Over 300 fun sounds, 50+ entertaining soundboards, Multiple categories (party, comedy, animals, alarms), Prank and joke features, 5 apps in 1 (Fun, Annoying, Scary, Sci Fi, Sound Effects)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Big Ben free?

Big Ben costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sound Effects Boards Pro free?

Sound Effects Boards Pro costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Big Ben or Sound Effects Boards Pro?

Sound Effects Boards Pro is rated higher. Big Ben averages 3.8 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Sound Effects Boards Pro averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Big Ben or Sound Effects Boards Pro have ads?

Neither Big Ben nor Sound Effects Boards Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Big Ben or Sound Effects Boards Pro?

Big Ben ships an update every 41 months, and Sound Effects Boards Pro every 33 months. Most recently, Big Ben was updated on October 31, 2026 and Sound Effects Boards Pro on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*