TimeWave vs Tick Sync
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TimeWave
This app simulates radio-controlled clock signals to help your watch synchronize its time when terrestrial signals are unavailable. It offers guides for popular watch brands and checks environmental conditions before transmission.
- Radio-controlled clock signal simulation
- Support for multiple international time signals
- Environment pre-check and recommendations
- Smart output tuning for various audio paths
- Local time mode for overseas watches
- Watch-specific synchronization guides
- Live signal visualization and sync history
Read full descriptionHide full description
TimeWave is a professional time-signal simulator designed for radio-controlled watches and clocks. When your watch cannot reliably receive a terrestrial time signal, TimeWave can generate a compatible time code through your iPhone or iPad speaker, wired headphones, or supported Bluetooth audio devices. This helps your watch perform manual reception and synchronize its time wherever you are. No ads. No account required. No personal data uploaded. Core synchronization features work offline. SUPPORTED TIME SIGNALS • BPC — China • JJY40 / JJY60 — Japan • WWVB — United States • MSF — United Kingdom • DCF77 — Germany KEY FEATURES ENVIRONMENT PRE-CHECK Before transmission begins, TimeWave checks device volume, battery level, ambient noise, and magnetic-field conditions. It then provides practical recommendations to help reduce common synchronization failures. SMART OUTPUT TUNING TimeWave adjusts signal parameters for different audio output paths, including the built-in speaker, wired headphones, and supported Bluetooth audio devices, helping maintain a stable transmission. LOCAL TIME MODE Designed for imported and overseas watch models. Generate a compatible time signal using your selected local time zone, making it easier to synchronize watches that do not support your local transmitter. WATCH-SPECIFIC GUIDES Follow step-by-step guides for popular radio-controlled watches from Casio G-Shock and Multiband 6, Citizen Eco-Drive, Seiko, Junghans, Braun, and more. Guides may include: • Manual reception instructions • Antenna-position diagrams • Recommended watch placement • Reception-status indicators • Troubleshooting suggestions Actual compatibility depends on the watch model and the time-signal standard it supports. MULTIPLE PLACEMENT METHODS View clear diagrams for positioning your watch near an iPhone or iPad speaker, wired headphone cable, or supported audio device. OUTPUT PROTECTION TimeWave controls signal amplitude according to the selected output path and provides warnings when device conditions may be unsuitable for transmission. LIVE SIGNAL VISUALIZATION Watch the current time code and transmission waveform in real time, with a clear view of progress and remaining time. SYNC HISTORY Save synchronization sessions and record whether each attempt succeeded or failed. Review previous attempts to compare stations, placement methods, and device settings. PRIVATE AND OFFLINE TimeWave does not require an account and does not upload your personal data. Core time-signal generation and watch guides are available offline. HOW TO USE 1. Choose a supported time-signal station or enable Local Time Mode. 2. Put your watch into manual reception mode. On some G-Shock models, this may be shown as RC, RX, or GET. 3. Position the watch antenna close to your iPhone or iPad speaker, wired headphone cable, or supported audio device, following the in-app diagram. 4. Increase the volume and keep both the watch and device still. 5. Start transmission and wait approximately 2–10 minutes. Check the reception indicator on your watch to confirm the result. TIPS FOR BETTER RECEPTION • Keep the watch and device away from chargers, power adapters, computers, televisions, speakers, and other sources of electromagnetic interference. • Watch reception depends on the model, antenna direction, volume, output device, placement, and surrounding environment. • If your imported watch does not support your local transmitter, select a compatible signal standard and use Local Time Mode when needed. • For the best results, select your watch brand or model in TimeWave and follow the recommended placement guide. TimeWave is an independent utility and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any watch manufacturer or time-signal authority. Brand and product names are used only to describe compatibility. Questions or suggestions? Contact: [fish2next@gmail.com](mailto:fish2next@gmail.com)
Tick Sync
Read full descriptionHide full description
When standard time radio signals do not reach your area, or walls and interference prevent your watch from receiving them—Tick Sync provides another path to the correct time. Start with radio-controlled watch assistance. Place the watch near the built-in speaker of your iPhone or iPad and begin manual reception. Tick Sync generates time codes for JJY 40/60, WWVB, MSF, DCF77, and BPC, helping the watch attempt synchronization over a very short distance. For explicitly compatible Bluetooth watches, pair and connect the watch, wait until it is ready to sync, and then send the current local time manually. With Advanced Features, Tick Sync can maintain an eligible Bluetooth connection in the background. When the watch reconnects and becomes ready, Tick Sync normally obtains a fresh NTP correction and sends the time automatically, reducing the need to open the app for every sync. Background timing is determined by iOS or iPadOS and watch connection events rather than an exact schedule. Your time source is not limited to the device’s system clock. Free Single NTP mode queries a server you choose. Multi-NTP mode compares at least three independent sources, finds a majority-agreed time range, rejects inconsistent responses, and displays estimated uncertainty. HIGHLIGHTS • Very-short-range JJY 40/60, WWVB, MSF, DCF77, and BPC radio-controlled watch assistance • Manual and background automatic Bluetooth time sync for explicitly compatible watches • System Time, Single NTP, and Multi-NTP sources • NTP server management, optional location preselection, outlier rejection, and uncertainty estimates • Watch battery level display • No account required Radio assistance, manual Bluetooth time sync, System Time, and Single NTP are free. Background automatic Bluetooth sync and Multi-NTP features require an auto-renewing annual Advanced Features subscription. Tick Sync is an independent utility and is not affiliated with any watch manufacturer. Bluetooth compatibility depends on the watch model and firmware, while background operation depends on iOS or iPadOS and watch connection events. A successful Bluetooth write does not guarantee that the watch applied or displayed the new time. An iPhone or iPad does not transmit a normal 40–77.5 kHz longwave broadcast. Radio-assisted results vary with the device, watch hardware, volume, placement, and interference. Always verify the final time independently before relying on it. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Supplemental Terms of Use: https://ticksync.dishangti.com/legal/en/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://ticksync.dishangti.com/legal/en/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: TimeWave at 15.0 against Tick Sync's 17.0. 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
Both are free to download. TimeWave sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Tick Sync sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TimeWave | Tick Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (18 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | 毅 何 | JIFENG LUO |
In-app purchases
TimeWave
- Buy Me a Coffee$0.99
- Lifetime Membership$3.99
Tick Sync
- Tick Sync Advanced$1.991 Year








