# Alarms vs XP Soundboard

The clearest difference is review sentiment: XP Soundboard at 77% against Alarms's 31%. XP Soundboard also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (66 vs 12). Alarms's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. XP Soundboard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Alarms asks for nothing beyond the download.

XP Soundboard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: XP Soundboard has 66 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Alarms's written reviews are positive against 77% of XP Soundboard's.

Alarms ships an update every 4 months, XP Soundboard every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alarms | XP Soundboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarms/id381340782/reviews) | **[4.6 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-soundboard/id383673896/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **66** |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **76.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Ritz Acme Ltd Liability Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/952868106) | [DSP](https://appshunter.io/developer/383673904) |

## What reviewers say

### Alarms

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarms/id381340782)

This app provides a variety of fun alarm sounds for all ages, including car, fire, and smoke alarms. It's a self-contained novelty app that doesn't require an internet connection and features interactive gravity-based controls.

**Highlights:** Variety of alarm sounds, Interactive gravity controls, No internet required, Suitable for all ages, Novelty and entertainment focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### XP Soundboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-soundboard/id383673896)

Experience the classic sounds of Windows XP with this soundboard app. It features 36 authentic system sounds, perfect for pranks, meme creation, or evoking 90s nostalgia. Discover hidden easter eggs and enjoy a retro interface.

**Highlights:** 36 Classic System Sounds, Startup, Shutdown & Logon Sounds, Error Notifications & Alerts, Hardware Connection Sounds, Hidden Blue Screen of Death, Retro XP-Styled Interface

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Nostalgic Windows XP sounds
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🎵 Great variety of iconic sounds
- ⚡ Works immediately without crashes
- 🎮 Fun for pranks and entertainment

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Many sounds don't play or are non-functional
- 📢 Persistent ads even after paying for removal
- 🔇 Sounds don't play when phone is on silent
- ❌ Some buttons have no sound assigned
- 🔧 Widget broken on iOS 14

**Reported bugs**

- Non-functional sound buttons with no audio files
- Sounds fail to play despite visible buttons
- Ad removal purchase not working properly
- Widget crashes on iOS 14
- Silent mode prevents all sound playback

**Requested features**

- Add missing sounds (Print Complete, Ringin, Ringout)
- Ability to customize and change sounds
- Use sounds as ringtones and alarms
- Windows 7, Vista, 95, 98 sound options
- Export sounds to iMovie


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alarms free?

Alarms is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is XP Soundboard free?

XP Soundboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Alarms or XP Soundboard?

XP Soundboard is rated higher. Alarms averages 4.3 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while XP Soundboard averages 4.6 from 66 ratings.

### Do Alarms or XP Soundboard have ads?

Both Alarms and XP Soundboard show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alarms or XP Soundboard?

Alarms ships an update every 4 months, and XP Soundboard every 3 months. Most recently, Alarms was updated on November 1, 2026 and XP Soundboard 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.*