Comparison

Nocturn vs Always on Display Clock

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

Head to head
About

Nocturn

Features
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Nocturn is the ultimate minimalist nightstand clock designed specifically to look beautiful in the dark while protecting your device's screen. Whether you're charging your phone overnight or just want a distraction-free desk clock, Nocturn delivers a premium, distraction-free experience with a pure, true-black background that saves battery on OLED displays and eliminates harsh glare in dark rooms. Key Features: • Burn-In Protection: The clock face slowly and imperceptibly drifts across your screen to prevent OLED burn-in, keeping your display completely safe during long hours of use. • Dual Modes: Choose between our signature, ultra-crisp digital display or the elegant, minimalist analog clock face featuring sleek tick markers. • Customizable Colors: Match your room's aesthetic or mood with a fully customizable color picker. • Always-On Wakelock: Keep the screen awake indefinitely so the time is always just a glance away. • True Dark Mode: Pure black backgrounds mean the pixels on OLED screens actually turn off, saving battery and keeping your room dark. • 12 & 24 Hour Formats: Easily toggle your preferred time format. Elegant, functional, and completely safe for your screen. Upgrade your nightstand with Nocturn.

About

Always on Display Clock

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into a stunning always-on clock. AOD Clock – StandBy fills your screen with live, animated backgrounds and a big, easy-to-read time, perfect for your nightstand while you charge, your desk while you work, or anywhere you want the time at a glance. LIVE ANIMATED BACKGROUNDS Every clock face sits on a smooth, moving backdrop, rendered live on your device: • Fluid Pastels – soft, drifting color that reacts to your touch • Gradient Grid – rich, flowing gradients • Eclipse – a glowing ring of light • Drifting Contours – slow-moving topographic lines • Paint Flow, Synthesis and more MAKE IT YOURS • Pick your own colors for every background • Adjust animation speed, from calm and slow to lively • Choose a layout: Wide Card, Center Stack, Bottom Row, Minimal, Glass Flip, Glass Ribbon or a classic Analog dial • Choose a font: System, Rounded, Serif or Monospaced • Choose a text style: Normal, Tinted, Liquid or Liquid Glass BUILT FOR ALWAYS-ON USE • Fullscreen clock view with no distractions • Keep Screen Awake option so your clock stays on • 12-hour or 24-hour time • Dark, low-glare design that's easy on the eyes at night HOW TO USE Pick a clock, customize it, and tap Preview Clock. Set your iPhone on a stand or charger, and you have an elegant bedside or desk clock that's always on. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, no ads, no tracking. Your clocks and settings stay on your device.

Screenshots

Nocturn4 screens
Always on Display Clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nocturn at none against Always on Display Clock's 1. Nocturn also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.1). Always on Display Clock's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Always on Display Clock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nocturn asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nocturn ships an update every 5 months, Always on Display Clock every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
Nocturn versus Always on Display Clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNocturnAlways on Display Clock
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAPPXIDIAN LABSAjul Raj

In-app purchases

None

Nocturn

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Always on Display Clock

One-time1
  • AOD Clocks Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Nocturn free?
Nocturn is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Always on Display Clock free?
Always on Display Clock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nocturn or Always on Display Clock have ads?
Neither Nocturn nor Always on Display Clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nocturn or Always on Display Clock?
Nocturn ships an update every 5 months, and Always on Display Clock every 2 days. Most recently, Nocturn was updated on October 31, 2026 and Always on Display Clock on November 6, 2026.

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