Hebcal is a reference app for Apple Watch that displays Hebrew dates and Torah portions as watch-face complications.
Product velocity
Dormant
Daily rank 🇺🇸
—
Reference
Sentiment
4.3
24 reviews
Nemesis
Fragmented field
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Users hire Hebcal for low-friction, glanceable access to religious calendar data that native calendar apps do not provide.
For Jewish individuals seeking to maintain awareness of religious dates and Torah readings through digital calendar integration.
Key features
Displays Hebrew date and weekly Torah portion directly on Apple Watch faces.
Toggles between Sephardic and Ashkenazi transliteration styles.
How much does it cost?
The service operates as a non-profit utility funded by donations, prioritizing accessibility over monetization.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
The app has reached a zombie state, with no updates released in the last 35 months. The last recorded activity was a minor update addressing transliteration errors in September 2023. There is no evidence of ongoing development or feature expansion.
Who built it?
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate integration with watch faces allows users to view the hebrew date and torah portion at a glance and users find the ability to track multiple yartzeits in one location helpful for their daily religious practice.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Integration with watch faces allows users to view the Hebrew date and Torah portion at a glance
- Users find the ability to track multiple yartzeits in one location helpful for their daily religious practice
- Users report the app fails to appear on newer watch models despite showing as purchased in the store
8 of 8 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample · Mixed overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme and 2 user requests, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Hebcal Hebrew Calendar
How's the Reference market?
Hebcal occupies a specialized reference niche with a 4.3-star rating, but the 1,051-day update gap signals a lack of active market defense.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
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Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Hebcal Hebrew Calendar
Where is it heading?
The app is in a zombie state with no active maintenance since 2023. Without a stability release, the user base will continue to decline as hardware compatibility issues persist.
- The 35-month development gap causes installation failures on newer hardware, which erodes the user base as they upgrade devices.
The SWOT
- Watch face complications drive daily glanceable utility
- Adding candle lighting times addresses top user request
Next best moves
Ship stability patch for watchOS compatibility because installation failures are the top complaint → restore install velocity
The counter-intuitive read
The app's silence is its biggest risk…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The app's competitive position has declined due to prolonged development silence, with the analysis now framing the product as abandonware rather than a maintained utility.
Bottom line
Hebcal provides high-utility religious data, but the 35-month update silence is causing hardware-related churn, so the PM must prioritize a stability patch to prevent total user loss.
Unlock 1 critical friction, 1 market threat and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeSources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated