Comparison

Smooth Clock vs NYC Block Check

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

Head to head
About

Smooth Clock

Features
Read full description

Turn your device into a clock with a smoothly animated background. Features: - toggle between day and night mode - choose from 4 different animations - animate random, rainbow or gray colors - 3 different animation speeds - supports the 12 and 24 hour format

About

NYC Block Check

Access real-time New York City data on crime, parking, violations, and local government activity. Explore interactive maps and receive smart notifications about neighborhood changes. Get detailed reports for any address to understand your block better.

Highlights
  • Live NYC map with 9 data layers
  • Address reports with crime trends and violations
  • Smart notifications for neighborhood activity
  • Restaurant grade and school information
  • Local government and city updates
  • Export and share reports
Features
Read full description

Independent app — not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of New York, NYC311, or any government agency. Data from public NYC Open Data. NYC Intel turns New York City's official data into a real-time local awareness app for your block, your commute, and your neighborhood. From overnight street cleaning to live subway alerts, traffic cameras, and crowd build-ups around the city — see what's happening before it affects you. — LIVE NYC MAP — 24+ interactive layers built from official NYC, MTA, and 511NY sources: • Local incident reports (public NYC data) • 311 service requests, live • Construction permits & road closures • Street parking rules, garages, congestion zone tolls • Restaurant grades & street dining • 961 NYC DOT traffic cameras with live snapshots • Subway service alerts & elevator outages • Crowd hotspots (events, film shoots, gathering spikes) • Pedestrian plazas & open streets • 511NY events, alerts, variable message signs • Senior centers, public restrooms, food truck inspections • ADA infrastructure: pedestrian ramps, accessible signals, station entrances • Flood evacuation zones — STREET AWARENESS — Real-time signals for where you are right now: subway alerts on your line, street closures near you, parking action items, neighborhood activity. Built with VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion from day one. — CROWD INTEL — Know about large gatherings before you walk into one. Composed in real time from MTA alerts, public event permits, film permits, DOT closures, and 311 spikes — with venue snapping for stadiums, parks, and transit hubs. — SMART PUSH ALERTS — Notifications that respect your sleep schedule: • Street cleaning reminders for your car • Subway elevator outages on your route • Commute disruptions before you leave • Crowd build-ups near saved addresses • Neighborhood updates with location context — COMMUTE BUILDER — Plan transit + walking routes with optional step-free routing for riders with mobility needs. Get alerts for delays on your specific route, not the whole system. — MY BLOCK — A scrollable snapshot for any saved address: recent activity, 311 activity, parking rules, restaurant grades, building info, and school info — all on one screen. — ADDRESS REPORTS — Generate detailed reports for any NYC address: service requests, permits, inspections, and neighborhood trends. Export and share in seconds. — LOCAL UPDATES — Stay in the loop on the changes shaping your neighborhood, so you always know what's happening on your block. — BUILT FOR NEW YORKERS — • Renters researching apartments • Parents exploring school zones • Commuters who need reliable transit info • Riders with mobility needs • Anyone who wants a clearer picture of the city — ACCESSIBILITY — NYC Intel is built to work for every New Yorker. Full VoiceOver support, Dynamic Type, color-blind safe severity icons, Reduce Transparency and Bold Text honoring, paired color + shape for status signals, and step-free routing in the Commute Builder. — PRIVACY — Your data is never sold or shared. Location is used only for features you enable. Saved addresses stay on your device. — BASIC & PRO — Start free with one saved home address and nearby 311 activity. NYC Intel Pro unlocks unlimited saved addresses, premium maps and push alerts, extended report history, Crowd Intel notifications, and priority data updates. Pro is $2.99/month or $19.99/year; eligible new subscribers may receive a 7-day free trial. Privacy Policy: https://nycintel.app/app-privacy Terms of Use: https://nycintel.app/app-terms

Screenshots

Smooth Clock4 screens
NYC Block Check4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NYC Block Check at Free against Smooth Clock's $0.99. NYC Block Check also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 months). Smooth Clock's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On ads and device support 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

NYC Block Check is free to download; Smooth Clock costs $0.99 up front. NYC Block Check sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Smooth Clock asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smooth Clock ships an update every 11 months, NYC Block Check every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Smooth Clock versus NYC Block Check: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmooth ClockNYC Block Check
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating—4.6 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—26 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPiet JonasDmytro Polokhalo

In-app purchases

None

Smooth Clock

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NYC Block Check

Subscriptions2
  • NYC Intel Pro – Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • NYC Intel Pro – Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Smooth Clock free?
Smooth Clock costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NYC Block Check free?
NYC Block Check is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Smooth Clock or NYC Block Check have ads?
Neither Smooth Clock nor NYC Block Check shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smooth Clock or NYC Block Check?
Smooth Clock ships an update every 11 months, and NYC Block Check every 3 days. Most recently, Smooth Clock was updated on September 28, 2026 and NYC Block Check on September 30, 2026.

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