Comparison

Zulu Time vs Julian Clock

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

Head to head
About

Zulu Time

This app displays local and UTC (Zulu) time, along with multiple time zones, on your iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad. It offers widgets for quick access and features for calculating future or past times with offsets, simplifying timezone conversions for various professions.

Highlights
  • Display local and Zulu (UTC) time
  • Multiple time zone display
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Apple Watch complications
  • Future/past time offset calculations
  • Time zone conversion
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

An iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad app to see Local and Zulu time (GMT) or multiple time zones in a single glance. Includes Widgets for both the iPhone and Apple Watch. Useful for pilots in getting weather briefings and filing flight plans, or Ham radio operators to do timezone conversions. No more worrying about getting the timezone offset correct or Daylight Savings Time conversions. Easily convert from different time zones, including times in the future or past. On the iPhone: - Home and Lock Screen widgets - The Zulu Time page gives a quick view of both Zulu and Local times - The Offset Time page allows you to see Zulu and local time either in the future or past by entering an offset via the Offset button. Tapping either Zulu or Local times will allow you to enter a time in the future or past, synchronizing both Local and Zulu times with that offset. The offset only applies to this view (except on the iPad the offset applies to everything on the page) - The Multiple Zones page allows you to add as many time zones as you wish in a scrolling view. Clicking on any Time Zone will allow you to change it. on iPad: All information is combined on one screen. You have user customizable time zones on the right hand side. On the left, you have Zulu and Local time and one customizable time zone. The offset to see future or past time can be done via the Offset button or tapping any of either the Zulu, Local or Custom time buttons on the left. On the Watch: Complications available in all watch faces making for glanceable ZuluTime and access to the app, which gives offset able time computation.

About

Julian Clock

This utility app displays the current Julian Date, time with seconds, military date format, day of the week, and Zulu time (GMT). It's designed for quick access to essential timekeeping information.

Highlights
  • Julian Date display
  • Real-time clock with seconds
  • Military date format
  • Day of the week
  • ZULU time (GMT)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

It's as simple as it gets, a Julian date and clock app built for people who need the numbers fast. Julian Clock shows everything you need at a glance: • Julian date (YJJJ or YYDDD, your choice in Settings) • Local time with running seconds • Date in military format (e.g. 19JUN26) • Day of the week • Zulu time (GMT) New in version 2 • Home Screen widgets — small and medium layouts with Julian date, Zulu, and military date • Lock Screen widgets — circular, rectangular, and inline at-a-glance views • Apple Watch app — Julian date and Zulu on your wrist, plus complications • iPad support — universal layout for desk and EFB use • Historical lookup — pick any date on the calendar to get its Julian day • Eight themes — Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, Dark, and Light Widgets and the Watch app stay in sync with your format and theme choices. This app is for military and DOD personnel who constantly need a quick look at the Julian date and/or Zulu time, on the phone, on the lock screen, on the watch, or on an iPad beside the job.

Screenshots

Zulu Time4 screens
Julian Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Zulu Time at free against Julian Clock's paid. Zulu Time also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 69 months) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 15). Julian Clock's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 79%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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

Zulu Time costs $0.99 and Julian Clock $0.99 up front. 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 — 4.8 for Zulu Time against 4.9 for Julian Clock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zulu Time has 2.6K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Zulu Time's written reviews are positive against 100% of Julian Clock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zulu Time ships an update every 3 months, Julian Clock every 69 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Zulu Time versus Julian Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZulu TimeJulian Clock
Price$0.99$0.99
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings)4.9 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6K — better15
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 69 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#174#133 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDerek SpearsAdam Allard

Customer experience

Zulu Time

All ratings2,609 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.6%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews98 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral10.2%
Negative11.2%

Julian Clock

All ratings15 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Zulu Time

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Complication freezes after a few days
  • Zulu time loses accuracy over time on Apple Watch
  • Widget not updating local time properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add alarm feature
  • Allow landscape mode for bedside clock view
  • Provide option for always-on display
  • Add time zone map for quick reference
  • Show day of year in display

Julian Clock

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Zulu Time

No in-app purchases

None

Julian Clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zulu Time free?
Zulu Time costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Julian Clock free?
Julian Clock costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zulu Time or Julian Clock?
Julian Clock is rated higher. Zulu Time averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Julian Clock averages 4.9 from 15 ratings.
Do Zulu Time or Julian Clock have ads?
Neither Zulu Time nor Julian Clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zulu Time or Julian Clock?
Zulu Time ships an update every 3 months, and Julian Clock every 69 months. Most recently, Zulu Time was updated on November 1, 2026 and Julian Clock on November 1, 2026.
Which is more popular, Zulu Time or Julian Clock?
Zulu Time currently peaks at #174 in the App Store charts, and Julian Clock at #133. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons