Comparison

Retrotick vs RiseNow

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

Head to head
About

Retrotick

This app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a visually appealing split-flap clock, mimicking the mechanical flip of classic station displays. Enjoy authentic animations, customizable themes, and widgets for your Home and Lock Screens, all designed with a modern aesthetic.

Highlights
  • Authentic split-flap animation
  • Liquid Glass design
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Live Activities and Dynamic Island support
  • 12/24 hour format with optional seconds
  • Multiple digit fonts
  • Gallery of premium themes
Features
Read full description

Retrotick turns your iPhone and iPad into a beautiful split-flap clock, the satisfying mechanical flip of a classic station and bedside display, rebuilt for iOS with Apple's Liquid Glass design. Set it on your nightstand, your desk, or your Home and Lock Screens and watch the digits flip on every tick. FEATURES • Authentic split-flap animation that flips on every second • Liquid Glass design with clear, black, and white backdrops • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets in multiple sizes • Live Activities and Dynamic Island to keep the time glanceable while you use other apps • 12- or 24-hour time, with optional seconds • Multiple digit fonts to match your style • A gallery of themes, from minimal to bold, with a free set to start • A countdown timer with a split-flap duration picker that rings through silent and Focus • Optional flip sound and haptics for the mechanical tick THEMES Unlock premium themes your way. Buy any theme once and keep it forever, or subscribe to Retrotick Plus to unlock every theme while your subscription is active. Preview any theme before you decide, and your purchases stay with your Apple ID. DESIGNED FOR iOS Built in SwiftUI for iOS 26, Retrotick looks right on every device size and adapts to portrait and landscape automatically. No accounts. No ads. No tracking. Just a gorgeous clock. Retrotick Plus is an auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. It renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://makekamac.github.io/retrotick/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://makekamac.github.io/retrotick/privacy/

About

RiseNow

This alarm app requires users to solve math problems to turn it off, ensuring they are fully awake. It offers customizable challenges, a variety of sounds, and progress tracking to build consistent morning routines.

Highlights
  • Solve math missions to stop alarm
  • Adjustable difficulty and mission length
  • Library of alarm sounds
  • Schedule one-time or repeating alarms
  • Build morning streak
  • Track progress and records
  • Test alarm functionality
Features
Read full description

Your alarm should wake up more than your body. RiseNow keeps ringing until you complete a math mission, helping your brain switch on before you can fall back asleep. No more silencing your alarm without remembering it. No more setting five backup alarms. RiseNow makes waking up an active decision. With RiseNow, you can: • Complete math missions to stop your alarm • Choose your preferred difficulty and mission length • Pick from a library of peaceful, classic, and intense sounds • Schedule one time or repeating alarms • Build a consistent morning streak • Track your progress and personal records • Test your alarm before depending on it Whether you struggle with sleep inertia, automatic snoozing, or simply getting your mind moving in the morning, RiseNow gives you a smarter reason to get out of bed. Set your alarm. Turn your brain on. Start your morning. RiseNow includes an optional free trial. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription through your Apple ID settings. RiseNow. The alarm that turns your brain on. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Retrotick3 screens
RiseNow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: RiseNow at every 5 days against Retrotick's every 3 weeks. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Retrotick sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and RiseNow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Retrotick against 5.0 for RiseNow. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Retrotick ships an update every 3 weeks, RiseNow every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Retrotick versus RiseNow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetrotickRiseNow
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEkam SinghAaron Treinish

Customer experience

Retrotick

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

RiseNow

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Retrotick

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Annual$14.991 Year
One-time10
  • Midnight$1.99
  • Retro Flip$1.99
  • Forest Pine$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Sunset Ember$1.99
  • Neon Dusk$1.99
  • Aurora$1.99
  • Liquid Glass$1.99
  • Retro LCD$1.99
  • Synthwave$2.99
  • Gold Luxe$2.99
3 purchases

RiseNow

Subscriptions3
  • RiseNow Weekly$6.997 Days
  • RiseNow Annual Promotion$14.991 Year
  • RiseNow Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Retrotick free?
Retrotick is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RiseNow free?
RiseNow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Retrotick or RiseNow?
Retrotick and RiseNow are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Retrotick or RiseNow have ads?
Neither Retrotick nor RiseNow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Retrotick or RiseNow?
Retrotick ships an update every 3 weeks, and RiseNow every 5 days. Most recently, Retrotick was updated on October 19, 2026 and RiseNow on October 13, 2026.

Other comparisons