# Hourly Chime in Background vs Chime

The clearest difference is rating: Hourly Chime in Background at 4.8 against Chime's 4.2. Hourly Chime in Background also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Chime's advantage is ratings volume (820 vs 5) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 25 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hourly Chime in Background holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chime has 820 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Hourly Chime in Background's written reviews are positive against 45% of Chime's.

Hourly Chime in Background ships an update every 25 months, Chime every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hourly Chime in Background | Chime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourly-chime-in-background/id393704915/reviews)** | [4.2 (820 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-speaking-clock/id1369098015/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **820** |
| Positive reviews | **51.3% of reviews** | 45.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 25 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 23 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Moon Hyuk Kang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1538843419) | [Reeba Sebastian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281813035) |

## What reviewers say

### Hourly Chime in Background

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hourly-chime-in-background/id393704915)

This utility app provides gentle hourly reminders to help you stay on track throughout the day. Customize your schedule, choose alert sounds, and let it run quietly in the background to improve focus and build routines.

**Highlights:** Customizable hourly schedule, Multiple alert sound options, Speaking Clock feature, Reliable background operation, Simple and clean interface, Respects device volume and silent mode

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-speaking-clock/id1369098015)

Set personalized alerts and time announcements with customizable sounds and repeat intervals. Features include night mode and automatic weekend disabling for uninterrupted rest.

**Highlights:** Personalized alerts, Flexible chime intervals, Preference saving, Night mode, Customizable time ranges, Do Not Disturb on weekends

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective
- 🚀 Helpful for productivity
- 🔒 Accessible for blind users
- 💡 Useful for time awareness

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work with latest iOS updates
- 🔊 Loud volume issues
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🔧 Difficult setup process

**Reported bugs**

- Chime not working after iOS updates
- Can't change Do Not Disturb settings
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Setup process gets stuck

**Requested features**

- Add custom sound options
- Allow adjusting chime volume
- Provide option to disable ads
- Expand chime interval options
- Add Apple Watch support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hourly Chime in Background free?

Hourly Chime in Background is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chime free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hourly Chime in Background or Chime?

Hourly Chime in Background is rated higher. Hourly Chime in Background averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Chime averages 4.2 from 820 ratings.

### Do Hourly Chime in Background or Chime have ads?

Neither Hourly Chime in Background nor Chime shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hourly Chime in Background or Chime?

Hourly Chime in Background ships an update every 25 months, and Chime every 5 months. Most recently, Hourly Chime in Background was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chime on November 6, 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.*