# Cuckoo vs Chimes

The clearest difference is rating: Chimes at 4.2 against Cuckoo's 3.4. Chimes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cuckoo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Chimes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chimes holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chimes has 290 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Cuckoo's written reviews are positive against 66% of Chimes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cuckoo ships an update every 3 months, Chimes fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cuckoo | Chimes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuckoo/id414022497/reviews) | **[4.2 (290 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chimes-clock-chime/id1103571756/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **290** |
| Positive reviews | **68.0% of reviews** | 66.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Toshihiko Tambo](https://appshunter.io/developer/406777331) | [HN Tech Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1094162332) |

## What reviewers say

### Cuckoo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuckoo/id414022497)

This utility app simulates a cuckoo clock, chiming every hour and half-hour. Users can toggle the cuckoo sound on or off and customize alarm modes. Additional sounds and background images are available for purchase, along with an option to remove ads.

**Highlights:** Hourly and half-hourly cuckoo chimes, Customizable alarm modes, Add-on purchases for sounds and backgrounds, Ad removal option, Toggleable cuckoo sound

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cuckoo Premium Feature | $0.99 | one-time |


### Chimes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chimes-clock-chime/id1103571756)

This app provides a variety of clock sounds, including cuckoo, church bells, and Big Ben chimes. It offers hourly time reports with customizable sounds and multi-language voice options. Users can also record their own voice for custom reminders and manage notifications easily.

**Highlights:** Cuckoo Clock sounds, Clock Chime, Church Bell sounds, Big Ben sounds, Hourly time report, Customizable sound tips, Record custom voice tips

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⏰ Useful hourly chime
- 🔔 Variety of sound options
- 🕰️ Customizable chime settings
- 🕰️ Helpful for staying on schedule
- 🎶 Enjoyable chime sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent chime functionality
- 🤔 Confusing setup process
- 🔇 Chimes not audible in some cases
- 🔍 Unclear instructions
- 💰 Paid features not worth the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Chimes not working after iOS updates
- App crashing or freezing
- Notifications not triggering as expected
- Purchased features not unlocking properly

**Requested features**

- Add ability to import custom sounds
- Implement quarter-hour chimes
- Allow more granular time customization
- Integrate with Apple Watch
- Improve volume control options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cuckoo free?

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

### Is Chimes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cuckoo or Chimes?

Chimes is rated higher. Cuckoo averages 3.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Chimes averages 4.2 from 290 ratings.

### Do Cuckoo or Chimes have ads?

Cuckoo shows ads; Chimes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cuckoo or Chimes?

Cuckoo ships an update every 3 months, and Chimes fortnightly. Most recently, Cuckoo was updated on October 17, 2026 and Chimes on October 12, 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.*