# Cuckoo vs Chime

The clearest difference is rating: Chime at 4.2 against Cuckoo's 3.4. Chime also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). Cuckoo's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 46%). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cuckoo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chime asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chime holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chime has 815 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 46% of Chime'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, Chime every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cuckoo | Chime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuckoo/id414022497/reviews) | **[4.2 (815 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-speaking-clock/id1369098015/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **815** |
| Positive reviews | **68.0% of reviews** | 45.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Toshihiko Tambo](https://appshunter.io/developer/406777331) | [Reeba Sebastian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281813035) |

## 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 |


### 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 Cuckoo free?

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

### Is Chime free?

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

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

Chime is rated higher. Cuckoo averages 3.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Chime averages 4.2 from 815 ratings.

### Do Cuckoo or Chime have ads?

Cuckoo shows ads; Chime does not.

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

Cuckoo ships an update every 3 months, and Chime every 5 months. Most recently, Cuckoo was updated on October 9, 2026 and Chime 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.*