Comparison

The Clocks vs AtomicClock

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

Head to head
About

The Clocks

This app offers a variety of clock styles including flip, digital, and analog. It features customizable alarms with music options, a world clock for multiple locations, and several user-friendly controls for brightness, touch lock, and flashlight activation.

Highlights
  • Flip, Digital, and Analog clock types
  • In-app music alarms
  • World clock with 500+ cities
  • Customizable clock appearance
  • Adjustable snooze interval
  • Flashlight by shaking
Features
Read full description

The Clocks of Simplicity. Three fundamental clock types featuring in-app music alarms and a world clock. Clock Types: • Flip Clock • Digital Clock • Analog Clock • Detailed customization options for each clock Alarm Clock: • Supports up to 5 alarms • Adjustable snooze interval • Use your own iPod music as alarm sounds (while the app is running in the foreground) World Clock: • Displays times for 6 locations • Supports over 500 cities and countries Miscellaneous: • Touch lock • Intuitive gestures • Burn-in protection • Activate flashlight by shaking • User-friendly button interface • Adjustable brightness, scale, and position

About

AtomicClock

This app displays the exact current time synchronized with NTP servers, offering a customizable clock view for precise time checks. It's ideal for setting watches, verifying timestamps, or comparing local and network time.

Highlights
  • Precise time from NTP servers
  • Customizable clock faces
  • Select or add time servers
  • Local and UTC views
  • 12/24 hour modes
  • Customizable time format
  • Acoustic ticking
Features
Read full description

Check precise NTP reference time at a glance. AtomicClock helps you set watches, wall clocks, cameras, and other devices, compare local time with UTC, and follow moments when every second matters. Clear analog and digital time AtomicClock displays current time from NTP servers that reference atomic clocks. Choose a predefined server or add your own, then view local or UTC time in a clean analog or digital clock. Customize your reference clock • Switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time • Customize the time format • Choose from multiple clock faces and hands • Use a smooth, fluid second hand • Add acoustic ticking or the Greenwich Time Signal • Tap the screen to hide information and controls, freeze the display, or mute ticking Details for precise time checks View technical NTP information, including round-trip time and server stratum. Whether you are checking a timestamp, preparing a camera, aligning a wall clock, or setting a watch by hand, the seconds remain clear and easy to follow. AtomicClock is free to use. AtomicClock Pro is available as a one-time purchase with no subscription. It unlocks your preferred clock face, hands, and font, removes ads, and includes upcoming Pro features. AtomicClock displays NTP reference time for comparison and does not change your device’s system time. Results can vary with the selected server, network conditions, and device behavior.

Screenshots

The Clocks4 screens
AtomicClock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AtomicClock at 4.8 against The Clocks's 4.5. The Clocks's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 5.6K) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. The Clocks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and AtomicClock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AtomicClock holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 5.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of The Clocks's written reviews are positive against 84% of AtomicClock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Clocks ships an update every 2 weeks, AtomicClock monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
The Clocks versus AtomicClock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe ClocksAtomicClock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (22K ratings)4.8 (5.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.4% of reviews84.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22K — better5.6K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeanterm Inc.Timo Partl

Customer experience

The Clocks

All ratings22,013 ratings
Positive87.8%
Neutral3.9%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews870 reviews
Positive78.4%
Neutral6.1%
Negative15.5%

AtomicClock

All ratings5,568 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews242 reviews
Positive84.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative12.4%

User reviews

The Clocks

From 22K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Excellent clock app
  • ⏰ Great for alarms and timers
  • 🎨 Customizable clock faces and styles
  • 🔍 Large, easy-to-read display
  • 🌙 Dimmable screen for nighttime use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Alarm issues (doesn't always sound, short duration)
  • 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data access
  • 🔄 Orientation/rotation problems
  • 🔆 Brightness changes can be disruptive
  • 💲 Paid upgrade may be required for some features

AtomicClock

From 5.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate time
  • 👍 Highly customizable
  • 🚀 Precise to the second
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Helpful for setting watches

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Server connection issues
  • 🔍 Limited time zone options
  • 💰 Ads diminish clock view
  • 🔍 Lacks some advanced features
  • 🔍 Redundant for some users

Bugs and requests

The Clocks

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Clock style randomly changes
  • Alarm doesn't work when device is locked
  • App freezes or crashes occasionally
  • Time displayed on home screen is incorrect

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add timer and stopwatch functions
  • Allow custom alarm sounds/music
  • Improve alarm reliability and duration
  • Provide more clock face/style options
  • Add date display
Show 2 more
  • Improve orientation/rotation controls
  • Adjust brightness changes to be less disruptive

AtomicClock

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on certain iOS versions
  • Occasional freezing of hands
  • Countdown timer sound not working

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add GMT/dual time display
  • Implement widget support
  • Add different second hand sounds
  • Allow setting background color to match watch
  • Include alarm/timer functionality

In-app purchases

1 purchases

The Clocks

One-time1
  • The Clocks Premium Upgrade$3.99
1 purchases

AtomicClock

One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro Version$6.99

Questions

Is The Clocks free?
The Clocks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AtomicClock free?
AtomicClock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, The Clocks or AtomicClock?
AtomicClock is rated higher. The Clocks averages 4.5 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while AtomicClock averages 4.8 from 5.6K ratings.
Do The Clocks or AtomicClock have ads?
Both The Clocks and AtomicClock show ads.
Which is updated more often, The Clocks or AtomicClock?
The Clocks ships an update every 2 weeks, and AtomicClock monthly. Most recently, The Clocks was updated on November 1, 2026 and AtomicClock on October 29, 2026.

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