# Barcode Alarm Clock vs Alertcal

The clearest difference is price: Barcode Alarm Clock at Free against Alertcal's $1.99. Barcode Alarm Clock also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). Alertcal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Barcode Alarm Clock is free to download; Alertcal costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Barcode Alarm Clock ships an update every 4 months, Alertcal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Alarm Clock | Alertcal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-alarm-clock/id699437630/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 77 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jarig Duval](https://appshunter.io/developer/539738096) | [Scott Foster](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678898392) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Alarm Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-alarm-clock/id699437630)

This app is a loud alarm clock designed for heavy sleepers. It requires scanning a barcode to turn off, forcing you out of bed. Features include customizable loud ringtones, lockable alarms, and a 'don't wake my spouse' option.

**Highlights:** Barcode scan to stop alarm, Blaringly loud ringtones, Impossible to mute alarms, Lockable alarms to prevent cheating, Bedtime reminder and enforcer, Don't wake my spouse button, Customizable themes and clock faces

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective at waking up
- 👍 Innovative concept
- 🚀 Forces you to get out of bed
- 👍 Helps with sleep disorder

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 🔒 Easy to bypass alarm
- 🔒 Alarm doesn't work on silent

**Reported bugs**

- Alarm doesn't go off sometimes
- Barcode scanner not working properly
- Constant background crash notifications

**Requested features**

- Add option to disable 'Plan B' feature
- Allow importing custom ringtones
- Improve stability and reduce crashes
- Ensure alarm works even on silent mode


### Alertcal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alertcal/id6759479765)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Alarm Clock free?

Barcode Alarm Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Alertcal free?

Alertcal costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Barcode Alarm Clock or Alertcal have ads?

Barcode Alarm Clock shows ads; Alertcal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Alarm Clock or Alertcal?

Barcode Alarm Clock ships an update every 4 months, and Alertcal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Alarm Clock was updated on October 14, 2026 and Alertcal on October 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*