# Cuckoo VO vs Chime

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Chime at 815 against Cuckoo VO's 5. Chime also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 17 months). Cuckoo VO's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 45%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Cuckoo VO against 4.2 for Chime. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chime has 815 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of Cuckoo VO's written reviews are positive against 45% of Chime's.

Cuckoo VO ships an update every 17 months, Chime every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cuckoo VO | Chime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuckoo-vo/id623673664/reviews) | [4.2 (815 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-speaking-clock/id1369098015/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **815** |
| Positive reviews | **55.6% of reviews** | 45.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 8 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | 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 VO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuckoo-vo/id623673664)

This app functions as a cuckoo clock, announcing the time with cuckoo sounds every hour and half-hour. It offers voice-over support for accessibility and allows direct in-app settings adjustments. Notifications are managed through the iOS notification system.

**Highlights:** Hourly and half-hourly time announcements, Cuckoo sound notifications, Voice-over accessibility, Direct in-app settings, iOS notification integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 VO free?

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

### Is Chime free?

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

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

Cuckoo VO and Chime are both rated 4.2 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 815 ratings respectively.

### Do Cuckoo VO or Chime have ads?

Neither Cuckoo VO nor Chime shows ads.

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

Cuckoo VO ships an update every 17 months, and Chime every 5 months. Most recently, Cuckoo VO was updated on October 9, 2026 and Chime on October 18, 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.*