Both chime on the hour with the app closed. Here is where they differ, and when to pick the other one.
| Tinny(not) | Hourly Chime in Background | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to download | Free | Free |
| What is free | Hourly chime with five sounds, with no time limit | See its App Store page |
| Intervals | Every hour, 30 or 15 minutes | Every hour, as its description states |
| A different sound per quarter | Yes | Not mentioned |
| Speaking clock | Yes, in any voice installed on the iPhone | Yes, a Speaking Clock sound option |
| Your own notification text | Yes, per quarter mark | Not mentioned |
| Import your own sounds | Yes, up to three at a time, and you can swap them for others whenever you like | Not mentioned |
| Choose the days | Every day, weekdays, weekends or any combination | Not mentioned |
| Interface languages | Nine, including German, French, Spanish and Japanese | English |
| Requires | iOS 17.6 or later, iPhone | iOS 13.0 or later |
| App Store rating (US) | 5.0 from 3 ratings | 4.8 from 5 ratings |
If your iPhone can't run iOS 17.6, choose Hourly Chime in Background: it supports devices back to iOS 13, and Tinny(not) won't install at all.
Tinny(not) is built for people who want the quarter hours, ideally each with its own sound so you can tell them apart by ear. Add a voice of your choosing that reads out the time, your own words in the notification, chimes kept to certain days, and an interface in your own language. There are no ads and no subscription.
For most people, yes. Both play hourly chimes with the app closed, and Tinny(not) adds 30 and 15 minute intervals, a different sound per quarter, a speaking clock in any installed voice, custom notification text and day selection.
Hourly Chime in Background lists iOS 13.0 or later. Tinny(not) needs iOS 17.6 or later.
No. Tinny(not) is free to use, and the extras come in one optional purchase you make once.
Tinny(not) is free, with no ads and no time limit. If you want more, one optional purchase adds quarter hours, the speaking clock, custom text and the other sounds. No subscription.
Get Tinny(not) on the App StoreFacts about Hourly Chime in Background come from its own App Store page (developer Moon Hyuk Kang), checked on October 5, 2026. If something here is out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.