Little Ben vs SmartCuckoo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Little Ben
This app simulates a mechanical clock with Westminster chimes every quarter hour and hourly strikes. It features a ticking minute hand, adjustable volume for chimes and strikes, and a silence function. It runs in the background and is accessible with VoiceOver.
- Westminster chimes every quarter hour
- Hourly strikes
- Ticking minute hand
- Adjustable volume
- Silence function
- Background operation
- VoiceOver accessibility
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Little Ben is a mechanical clock that chimes every quarter hour with the Westminster chime and also strikes on the hour for each hour, even when the app is not running. If you look closely you can even see the minute hand move as the pendulum and escapement make the clock tick. Slide your finger or tap a button to turn On / Off and set the volume level of the quarterly chimes, hourly strikes, and the ticking. You can set Little Ben to only strike on the hour without the quarterly chimes. Tap the silence button to silence all quarterly chimes and hourly strikes for up to 12 hours. With Slide Over in iOS 9 open a second app as Little Ben runs on your iPad. As Little Ben chimes quarterly and strikes hourly you can browse the web using Safari, check your Calendar, or discover what's new on your Twitter Timeline and respond back to your followers. If you are playing songs with Apple's Music app or iTunes Radio your music will continue to play in the background as Little Ben runs. We worked on Accessibility to make all of the features of Little Ben accessible to everyone. Try VoiceOver with gesture based control and navigation, just triple-click the Home button to access it. You will hear a description of everything happening on the screen. Little Ben runs on your iPhone, iPod touch, and also your iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini.
SmartCuckoo
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Introducing the SmartCuckoo series, a range of WiFi and Bluetooth connected Digital Alarm Clocks explicitly designed for elderly individuals. These innovative alarm clocks incorporate a variety of critical functions to enhance the overall experience and cater to the unique needs of seniors. Here are the features of the SmartCuckoo series: Elderly Care: The SmartCuckoo alarm clocks are designed with the elderly in mind, considering their specific requirements and making daily life more convenient. Health: These alarm clocks provide features that promote health and well-being and activity reminders. Soothing Soundscapes: Enjoy a variety of soothing soundscapes that help create a calming atmosphere, promoting relaxation and better sleep. White Noise Playback: Block out disruptive noises and create a peaceful environment with the built-in white noise playback feature. Natural Voice Reminders: The SmartCuckoo alarm clocks offer natural voice reminders for medication schedules, important appointments, and daily tasks, making it easier for the elderly to stay organized. Ambient Music: Listen to various ambient music tracks that can help improve focus, concentration, and relaxation. Smart Alarm Clock: The alarm clocks have intelligent features, allowing you to set multiple alarms, customize alarm tones, and wake up gradually with progressive alarm sounds. Sleep Timer: Set a sleep timer to automatically turn off music or soundscapes after a specific duration, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep. App-Controlled: Control and customize your SmartCuckoo alarm clock using a dedicated mobile app, which provides a user-friendly interface and additional functionality. Progressive Alarm: Wake up gently with the advanced alarm feature that gradually increases the volume of the alarm sound, easing you into the day. Intelligent Wake-Up: These alarm clocks utilize innovative wake-up technology, considering factors like sleep stages and optimal waking times to ensure a refreshed start to your day. AM/FM Radio: Enjoy listening to your favourite radio stations with the built-in AM/FM radio tuner.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SmartCuckoo at Free against Little Ben's $1.99. SmartCuckoo also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months). Little Ben's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 11.0). 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
SmartCuckoo is free to download; Little Ben costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Little Ben ships an update every 9 months, SmartCuckoo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Little Ben | SmartCuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.6 (15 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 25 MB | 114 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Curved Design, LLC | Shenzhen Guiqi Technology Co., Ltd. |
In-app purchases
Little Ben
No in-app purchases
SmartCuckoo
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Little Ben free?
Is SmartCuckoo free?
Do Little Ben or SmartCuckoo have ads?
Which is updated more often, Little Ben or SmartCuckoo?
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