# Dark Sky Meter vs AtomicClock

The clearest difference is price: AtomicClock at Free against Dark Sky Meter's $1.99. AtomicClock also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 40%) and rating (4.8 vs 3.8). Dark Sky Meter's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

AtomicClock is free to download; Dark Sky Meter costs $1.99 up front. AtomicClock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dark Sky Meter asks for nothing beyond the download.

AtomicClock holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AtomicClock has 5.5K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Dark Sky Meter's written reviews are positive against 84% of AtomicClock's.

Dark Sky Meter ships an update every 3 months, AtomicClock every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dark Sky Meter | AtomicClock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-sky-meter/id602989060/reviews) | **[4.8 (5.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomicclock-ntp-time/id1402993049/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **5.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | **84.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#183** | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DDQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/418328467) | [Timo Partl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1387413672) |

## What reviewers say

### Dark Sky Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-sky-meter/id602989060)

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This application utilizes your device's camera to measure the brightness of the night sky. The collected data can be optionally shared with scientific researchers worldwide.

**Highlights:** Measures sky brightness, Uses device camera, Optional data sharing, Contributes to scientific research

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### AtomicClock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomicclock-ntp-time/id1402993049)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Pro Version | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on certain iOS versions
- Occasional freezing of hands
- Countdown timer sound not working

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dark Sky Meter free?

Dark Sky Meter costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AtomicClock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dark Sky Meter or AtomicClock?

AtomicClock is rated higher. Dark Sky Meter averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while AtomicClock averages 4.8 from 5.5K ratings.

### Do Dark Sky Meter or AtomicClock have ads?

AtomicClock shows ads; Dark Sky Meter does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dark Sky Meter or AtomicClock?

Dark Sky Meter ships an update every 3 months, and AtomicClock every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dark Sky Meter was updated on October 17, 2026 and AtomicClock on October 17, 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.*