Comparison

Hacker Clock vs Desktop Astro Clock

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

Head to head
About

Hacker Clock

Transform your device into a unique clock displaying animated hexadecimal code. Watch green hexadecimal values flow across the screen, simulating complex data processing. Ideal for computer enthusiasts, hackers, and fans of futuristic aesthetics.

Highlights
  • Animated hexadecimal code display
  • Three color variants (green, red, blue)
  • Horizontal and vertical display modes
  • 12- and 24-hour format options
  • Unique clock for geeks and fans
Features
Read full description

Hacker Clock turns your iPhone into a truly unique clock displayed as animated hexadecimal code. The green hexadecimal values constantly move across the screen, making it look as if your phone is processing complex data. This application is perfect for computer geeks, hackers, and matrix fans. If you are using a binary clock, you can throw it away. Once you try this hexadecimal clock, you will never want to use any other. Summary: * A truly unique clock * Animated hexadecimal code * Three color variants: green, red, blue * Horizontal and vertical modes * 12- and 24-hour formats

About

Desktop Astro Clock

This utility app displays time in various formats, including Julian, Sidereal, and GMT. It offers always-on display options, moon and meteor shower information, and customizable clock configurations. Widgets and a watchOS app are also supported for enhanced functionality.

Highlights
  • Multiple time formats (Julian, Sidereal, GMT)
  • Always-on display with battery threshold
  • Moon phase and meteor shower information
  • Customizable display configurations
  • Widget support
  • WatchOS app with specialized displays
Features
Read full description

Desktop Astro Clock (formally known as: yabc - Yet Another Bedside Clock). This is a clock app that is designed to be run at the desktop, bedside or near a star map. It will display the time without turning off until the battery percentage drops below a user specified value. There are ten predefined, and one user defined display configurations. A single tap of the moon and star icon will bring up a red tinted clock showing the local sidereal time. In settings, you can add a moon display, meteor showers display, change colors, and configure the user defined clock display. Widgets are now supported and can be configured via Widget editing. A watchOS app is now included that displays a red tinted Modified Julian date, GMT Sidereal time, Moon, Moon name, and moon age in days. No ads, ever. Lock screen widgets include rectangular (two clock values look good here) and circular (for the current moon) Features: - Time display in various fixed formats - Time display in a user defined format + color - Always on display until a user specified battery level is reached (iOS) - Moon display with moon transit details and full moon names *(4)* - Meteor Shower information (when visible) with star chart locator - Blue moons are known by the tag [blue moon] added to the full moon name and a blue tint to the full moon image - Super moons are known by the tag [super] added to the full moon name Clock Times: - GMT - Greenwich Mean Time - GMST - Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time - Julian Date - Seconds since noon 1st January 4713 B.C. - LMST - Local Mean Sidereal Time *(3)* - Modified Julian Date - Julian Date - 2400000.5 Predefined displays: - Desk Clock - Day, Time, Date - ISO 8901 - yyyy-mm-ssThh:mm:ss+tz - ISO 8901 GMT - yyyy-mm-ssThh:mm:ssZ - Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time - 'HH'h 'mm's 'ss' - Julian - day.time in seconds since noon 1st January 4713 B.C. - Local Mean Sidereal Time - 'HH'h 'mm'h *(3)* - System Default - based on your iOS settings - Time HH:MM:SS, Month, Day - Time HH:MM - Time HH:MM:SS, Day, Month, Year - User Defined - you pick the format! Widgets (One or more): - Meteor Showers *(1)* - Moon - Moon with details - Moon Names *(4)* - Julian Date *(2)* - Sidereal Date *(2)* - User Defined Clock *(2)* WatchOS App: - Black background, Red tint, brightness adjustable with crown, shows Mofidied Julian Date, GMT Sideral Time, Moon face, Moon name, and Moon age *(3)* *(4)* - Corner complication shows Moon, Modified Julian and Local Sidereal time Lock screen Widgets: - Rectangular for clock values (i.e.: Julian date and Sidereal time) - Circular for the current moon *(1) If no Meteor shower is in progress, just an image is shown* *(2) Widgets do not support real time non-system clocks well. Updates will typically be between 15-60 minutes* *(3) If you select Local Sidereal Mean Time display, you'll also need to enable the setting to allow access to your location information (only needs your longitude for the calculations). Default will be Greenwich England* *(4) If you select Moon names, you'll also need to enable the settings to allow access to your location information (only need to check latitude > 0 for Northeren/Southeren hemishpere). Default will be at the equator*

Screenshots

Hacker Clock2 screens
Desktop Astro Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hacker Clock at 4.5 against Desktop Astro Clock's 3.7. Hacker Clock also leads on ratings volume (41 vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Desktop Astro Clock's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hacker Clock holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hacker Clock has 41 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hacker Clock ships an update every 15 months, Desktop Astro Clock every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Hacker Clock versus Desktop Astro Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHacker ClockDesktop Astro Clock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (41 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings41 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB416 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLeszek SzaryBEHR Consulting International

Customer experience

Hacker Clock

All ratings41 ratings
Positive82.9%
Neutral9.8%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral11.5%
Negative34.6%

Desktop Astro Clock

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Hacker Clock

No in-app purchases

None

Desktop Astro Clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hacker Clock free?
Hacker Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Desktop Astro Clock free?
Desktop Astro Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hacker Clock or Desktop Astro Clock?
Hacker Clock is rated higher. Hacker Clock averages 4.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Desktop Astro Clock averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Hacker Clock or Desktop Astro Clock have ads?
Neither Hacker Clock nor Desktop Astro Clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hacker Clock or Desktop Astro Clock?
Hacker Clock ships an update every 15 months, and Desktop Astro Clock every 9 months. Most recently, Hacker Clock was updated on October 14, 2026 and Desktop Astro Clock on September 19, 2026.

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