Tick vs Strobe
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tick
This app helps watch enthusiasts measure and understand the accuracy of their timepieces by analyzing the tick sound. It provides real-time feedback on deviation, beat rate, and consistency, with dedicated modes for mechanical and quartz watches. Users can build a personal library of watches and export detailed reports.
- Real-time accuracy estimation (s/d)
- Beat rate and BPH estimation
- Consistency (σ) measurement
- Two measurement modes (Balance Wheel, Uniform Tick)
- Personal watch library with long-term statistics
- Exportable PDF reports
- Apple Watch companion app
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Tick-O-Meter is a modern accuracy companion for people who genuinely love wristwatches — the quiet ritual of listening, measuring, and understanding how a timepiece behaves in real life. Whether you wear a high-end Swiss automatic, a vintage hand-wound classic, or a trusted daily quartz, Tick-O-Meter listens to the tick sound and estimates the daily deviation in seconds per day. The experience is designed to feel like a refined instrument: fast to use, reassuringly clear, and focused on what matters. FOR ENTHUSIASTS WHO CARE ABOUT PRECISION A great watch deserves careful attention. Tick-O-Meter helps you: - check performance after regulation or service - compare watches in your collection (mechanical, quartz, vintage, modern) - observe the effect of position, wear habits, and environment - gain confidence in everyday accuracy over time REAL-TIME ANALYSIS, CLEAR FEEDBACK During measurement you get live, readable instruments: - Accuracy estimate (s/d) - Beat rate (Hz) + BPH estimation - Consistency (σ) to judge stability - Live signal level (dB) - Clear analog-style gauges and a calm UI (Light + Dark Mode) TWO DEDICATED MEASUREMENT MODES Balance Wheel Mode (default) - For classic mechanical watches with a tick–tock pattern. Uniform Tick Mode - For quartz/electronic watches with identical, regular ticks. YOUR PERSONAL WATCH LIBRARY Save stable results and build structured profiles per watch. Tick-O-Meter automatically calculates long-term statistics per profile: - Average - Best - Worst - Consistency (σ) So the app becomes a long-term companion for your collection — not just a one-off tool. HISTORY, REPORTS, SHARING - Measurement history over time - Export detailed PDF reports - Share results instantly (perfect for documenting regulation changes or comparing positions) APPLE WATCH COMPANION Start/stop measurements remotely and view live status on your wrist — ideal when your phone is placed carefully against a watch or positioned near a clock. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No ads, no accounts, no tracking - Audio analysis happens on-device - No audio recordings are stored - Core features work offline Tick-O-Meter is not a certified timing machine. It’s a thoughtfully engineered helper for enthusiasts who appreciate fine mechanics and want a practical, elegant way to understand watch performance in everyday life. 100% Swiss Made.
Strobe
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Warnung: Diese App erzeugt schnell blitzendes Licht. Wenn du an Epilepsie leidest oder zu Photosensitivität neigst, benutze sie nicht. Bei Schwindel, Übelkeit oder Sehstörungen sofort beenden. Strobe macht aus dem iPhone-Blitz ein präzises Stroboskop. Frequenz und Helligkeit stellst du stufenlos ein, drei Modi decken die häufigsten Anwendungsfälle ab. Funktionen - Frequenz von 0,5 bis 100 Hz, stufenlos einstellbar - Helligkeit von 10 bis 100 Prozent - Modus „Dauerhaft": konstantes Pulsen mit der gewählten Frequenz - Modus „Auf den Beat": das Mikrofon erkennt Musik und blitzt im Takt, Pulse skalieren mit der Beat-Stärke - Modus „Hold": Finger auf das Feld = Blitz an - Sensitivity-Slider für den Beat-Modus - Hintergrund-Modus: läuft weiter, wenn das Display aus ist - Funktioniert komplett offline, keine Konten, keine Tracker Wofür Party und Disco, Long-Exposure-Fotografie, improvisiertes Bühnenlicht, Workout-Intervalle, Sichtbarkeit beim Laufen im Dunkeln. Datenschutz Strobe sammelt nichts. Keine Analytics, keine Werbung, keine Cloud. Audio aus dem Mikrofon wird nur lokal zur Beat-Erkennung verarbeitet und nie aufgezeichnet oder gesendet.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Strobe at Free against Tick's $0.99. Tick's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On 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
Strobe is free to download; Tick costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Tick | Strobe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Philippe Zay | jasper kallfelz |
In-app purchases
Tick
No in-app purchases
Strobe
No in-app purchases









