Comparison

Emerald Observatory for iPad vs Clock Widget Creator

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

Head to head
About

Emerald Observatory for iPad

This app provides a comprehensive astronomical display on a single screen, offering detailed information about celestial bodies and timekeeping. It features a heliocentric orrery, rise and set times, twilight information, and moon phase details. Users can navigate through time and set alarms for astronomical events.

Highlights
  • Astronomical information display
  • Heliocentric orrery
  • Rise and set times for Sun, Moon, planets
  • Twilight times
  • Moon phase and orientation
  • World map of day/night regions
  • Eclipse simulator
Features
Read full description

Emerald Observatory displays a wealth of astronomical information all on one screen, in a unique but understandable format. Information includes: - 12- and 24-hour ordinary clock time - Times of rise and set for the Sun, the Moon, and the 5 classical planets - Times of the beginning and ending of twilight - Heliocentric orrery (display of the planets in orbit around the Sun) - Altitude and azimuth for the same bodies (one body at a time) - Current phase and apparent orientation and relative size of the moon - Current regions of day and night on a world map - The Equation of Time, solar time, UTC time, and sidereal time - Month, day, year, and leap-year indicator - Daily alarm (delivered as local notification if app is not running) - Eclipse simulator - Displayed times are synchronized via NTP to "atomic clock" standard, or can be set manually - Uses iPad location, or the latitude and longitude may be set manually A setting is available to allow the display to stay on continuously. 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 but we can't fix it if you don't report it (and we have no way to respond to Customer Reviews on the App Store). (NTP requires Internet access. Like all apps Emerald Observatory can not change the device's internal clock.)

About

Clock Widget Creator

Design and personalize modern clock widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen. Choose from various styles like analog, digital, LCD, and flip clocks, and customize colors, time formats, and time zones. Enjoy a clutter-free experience with no ads.

Highlights
  • Design custom clock widgets
  • Modern clock face collection
  • Customize colors and time format
  • Set preferred time zone
  • Home Screen and Lock Screen support
  • Pro features unlock full library and sync
Features
Read full description

Clock Widget Creator lets you design and customize modern clock widgets that look great on your Home Screen and Lock Screen. • Choose from a growing collection of modern clock faces • Customize colors, numerals, and time format • Set your preferred time zone Save up to 3 clocks free. For unlimited clocks, choose a monthly or yearly subscription, or get Lifetime Access with a one-time purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Clock Widget Creator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Emerald Observatory for iPad at 99% against Clock Widget Creator's 0%. Emerald Observatory for iPad also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Clock Widget Creator's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Clock Widget Creator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Emerald Observatory for iPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Emerald Observatory for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Emerald Observatory for iPad has 102 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 99% of Emerald Observatory for iPad's written reviews are positive against 0% of Clock Widget Creator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Emerald Observatory for iPad ships an update every 4 months, Clock Widget Creator every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Emerald Observatory for iPad versus Clock Widget Creator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmerald Observatory for iPadClock Widget Creator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (102 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews98.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings102 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBjorn Freeman-BensonRemi Herbiet

Customer experience

Emerald Observatory for iPad

All ratings102 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral2.0%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews149 reviews
Positive98.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.3%

Clock Widget Creator

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Emerald Observatory for iPad

Requested features

14 requests
  • Port to screen wallpaper
  • Large wall clock version
  • Apple TV version
  • Support for Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
  • iPhone and Apple Watch versions
Show 9 more
  • Alarm functionality
  • Screen dimming for night use
  • Numeric display of values
  • Switch altitude/azimuth by touching planet
  • Push notifications for specific events
  • Custom chime sounds for events
  • Round earth display to match moon display
  • iPad version of Chronometer iPhone app
  • Tutorial mode or on-screen help

Clock Widget Creator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Emerald Observatory for iPad

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Clock Widget Creator

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Pro$1.991 Month
  • Clock Widget Pro$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Clock Widget Pro Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Emerald Observatory for iPad free?
Emerald Observatory for iPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Clock Widget Creator free?
Clock Widget Creator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Emerald Observatory for iPad or Clock Widget Creator?
Emerald Observatory for iPad is rated higher. Emerald Observatory for iPad averages 4.9 out of 5 from 102 ratings, while Clock Widget Creator averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Emerald Observatory for iPad or Clock Widget Creator have ads?
Neither Emerald Observatory for iPad nor Clock Widget Creator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Emerald Observatory for iPad or Clock Widget Creator?
Emerald Observatory for iPad ships an update every 4 months, and Clock Widget Creator every 5 weeks. Most recently, Emerald Observatory for iPad was updated on November 13, 2026 and Clock Widget Creator on November 11, 2026.

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