# The Clocks vs Focus Clock

The clearest difference is monetization model: The Clocks at free with in-app purchases against Focus Clock's subscription. The Clocks also leads on ratings volume (22K vs 20) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Focus Clock's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Clocks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Focus Clock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Clocks holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Clocks has 22K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of The Clocks's written reviews are positive against 69% of Focus Clock's.

The Clocks ships an update every 2 weeks, Focus Clock fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Clocks | Focus Clock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-clocks-alarm-world-clock/id403684793/reviews)** | [4.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-clock/id1521795885/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **78.4% of reviews** | 69.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 21 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Meanterm Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/403684796) | [晓庆 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1268921589) |

## What reviewers say

### The Clocks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-clocks-alarm-world-clock/id403684793)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Clocks Premium Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Add timer and stopwatch functions
- Allow custom alarm sounds/music
- Improve alarm reliability and duration
- Provide more clock face/style options
- Add date display


### Focus Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-clock/id1521795885)

This app helps you concentrate on tasks with a unique focus mode that rewards sustained attention. It offers customizable timers, background operation, and detailed statistics to track your progress. Enjoy an ad-free experience with various visual themes to enhance your study or work sessions.

**Highlights:** Ad-free focus mode, Background timing with notifications, Daily focus statistics, Customizable clock styles and skins, Gesture controls for navigation, Progress bar and color customization

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription member | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Permanent buyout | $1.99 | one-time |
| discounts VIP | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Clocks free?

The Clocks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Focus Clock free?

Focus Clock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Clocks or Focus Clock?

The Clocks is rated higher. The Clocks averages 4.5 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Focus Clock averages 4.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do The Clocks or Focus Clock have ads?

The Clocks shows ads; Focus Clock does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Clocks or Focus Clock?

The Clocks ships an update every 2 weeks, and Focus Clock fortnightly. Most recently, The Clocks was updated on November 8, 2026 and Focus Clock on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
