Comparison

The Artclock vs Desktop Mini Clock

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

Head to head
About

The Artclock

This app reimagines your desk clock with a fluid, visual representation of time. It uses dynamic layering and smooth animations to display the passage of hours and minutes through color and motion, offering a calming and aesthetic alternative to traditional timekeeping.

Highlights
  • Fluid representation of time
  • Dynamic color and motion
  • Adjustable transparency and depth
  • Satisfying hour reset animation
  • Visual hourly progress indicator
  • Minimalist customization (numbers/words)
Features
Read full description

Time isn’t just numbers; it’s a living canvas. Reimagine your desk clock. No ticking, no clutter—just color, motion, and time. The Artclock is a high-concept, kinetic timepiece designed for the modern aesthetic. It moves away from the ticking clock and toward a fluid representation of "the now." Experience a clock that breathes. The Artclock transforms the passage of time into a mesmerizing visual journey of light and color. Inspired by the natural rhythms of the day, The Artclock uses dynamic layering and smooth animations to show you exactly where you stand in the current hour. Watch as the minutes "slice" through a foreground of color, gradually revealing the foundation beneath. As the day turns to night, The Artclock follows the sun, shifting its palette to match the world outside your window. Features You’ll Love: Tailored Transparency: Use the custom glassmorphic slider to adjust the depth and intensity of the clock's layers. Fluid Transitions: Watch the hour reset with a satisfying sweep animation that resets the canvas. Visual Hourly Progress: See the hour pass through a growing circular reveal. Always On: Perfect for use as a dedicated desk clock or nightstand display. Minimalist Customization: Switch between numbers and words, and adjust transparency to match your style.

About

Desktop Mini Clock

Read full description

Desktop Mini Clock brings a precision LCD clock to every Apple platform — your Mac desktop, iPhone and iPad Home Screen, and Apple Vision Pro. MAC — ALWAYS-ON FLOATING PANEL A compact clock panel floats above your other windows, exactly where you need it. Lock position, stay always on top, or hide and reveal with a click. Drag anywhere, and the panel automatically stays on screen when your display setup changes. Start at login so the clock is always ready. iPHONE & iPAD — HOME SCREEN WIDGETS From a glanceable Small square to an Extra Large layout that pairs the clock with a full month calendar, pick the size that fits your life. Lock Screen accessories show the time at a glance. Set a personal photo as the widget background. APPLE VISION PRO — SPATIAL CLOCK Place the clock anywhere in your space. Scale from a subtle accent to a bold centerpiece. Hover over the date line to reveal the lunar annotation. Open the calendar or settings window while the clock stays in view. BILINGUAL — ENGLISH & TRADITIONAL CHINESE One tap switches the entire interface: date formats, weekday names, and lunar annotations all follow your language choice. Lunar calendar covers solar terms, traditional holidays, and leap months. CUSTOMIZE SETTINGS · LCD digit color and accent hue · 12 / 24-hour format · Seconds display with smooth progress bar · Date and lunar annotation on or off HONEST BY DESIGN No ads. No tracking. No network access needed.

Screenshots

The Artclock2 screens
Desktop Mini Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Desktop Mini Clock at every 4 days against The Artclock's every 4 months. The Artclock's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Artclock ships an update every 4 months, Desktop Mini Clock every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
The Artclock versus Desktop Mini Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe ArtclockDesktop Mini Clock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRien HealdCHUN CHIEH TSAI

In-app purchases

None

The Artclock

No in-app purchases

None

Desktop Mini Clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Artclock free?
The Artclock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Desktop Mini Clock free?
Desktop Mini Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do The Artclock or Desktop Mini Clock have ads?
Neither The Artclock nor Desktop Mini Clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Artclock or Desktop Mini Clock?
The Artclock ships an update every 4 months, and Desktop Mini Clock every 4 days. Most recently, The Artclock was updated on October 31, 2026 and Desktop Mini Clock on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons