What to Do With Old Phones? 7 Free Web Clocks to Turn Yours Into a Retro Flip Clock

Do you have an old phone or tablet lying in a drawer, gathering dust? Its battery life might not be great, and it can't run the latest apps, but the screen is still perfectly fine. Instead of letting it become e-waste, why not give it a second life?

One of the most elegant and useful ways to repurpose an old device is to turn it into a dedicated, single-purpose display. And what's more classic and stylish than a retro flip clock?

In this guide, we'll explore 7 popular and free online flip clocks. We'll look at their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases to help you find the perfect one for your setup—especially if your goal is to create an always-on display.

Quick Comparison: The Best Online Flip Clocks for Old Phones

For those who want the bottom line, here’s a quick comparison of our findings. We focused on the features that matter most when you're dedicating a screen to a single task.

Feature	Clarity Deck	FlipClock.us	FlipClocker.com	FlipClock.app	FlipClock.online	Flocus.com	Clockface Online
Mobile Friendly	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	⚠️ Partial	❌ No
Ad-Free	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	⚠️ Partial	⚠️ Partial	❌ No
Always-On	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Burn-in Protection	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Best For	🏆 24/7 Device Use	🥈 Desktop Use	Visuals (Desktop)	Basic Mobile Use	Device Use (w/ Ads)	Focus Suites	Simplicity

In-Depth Reviews of the Top 7 Online Flip Clocks

1. FlipClock.us

This is a favorite for its clean, fast, and minimalist interface. It offers the essential settings: 12/24 hour format and an option to show seconds.

• What it does well: It’s completely ad-free and provides a pure, no-fuss clock experience. It's a fantastic choice for quick, temporary use on a desktop or laptop.
• Considerations: It wasn't designed for permanent display, so it doesn't include a feature to prevent the screen from locking. For long-term use on a phone, you'd need to disable the auto-lock feature in your device’s system settings.

Verdict: An excellent, clean option for computers, but requires device-level adjustments for permanent phone use.

2. Clarity Deck - Best Overall for Reusing Old Devices

Clarity Deck is a newer tool designed specifically for the mission of repurposing old screens. Its clean, retro flip clock is the first of many planned widgets, and it excels as a dedicated display.

• What it does well: It’s completely ad-free with a beautiful, high-fidelity flip animation. Its two killer features are Always-On (preventing screen lock) and Burn-in Protection (subtly shifting pixels to protect OLED screens). These are essential for 24/7 use.
• Considerations: To maintain its minimalist focus, it intentionally omits complex configuration options in favor of a zero-setup experience.

Verdict: The ideal choice for anyone serious about turning an old phone or tablet into a reliable, long-term desk clock.

3. FlipClocker.com

If visual authenticity is your main goal, FlipClocker.com is a strong contender. Its animation and design closely mimic a real-life mechanical flip clock.

• What it does well: The retro aesthetic is beautifully executed, making it one of the most visually pleasing options on a large screen.
• Considerations: Its strength is on desktop computers. It isn't optimized for mobile screens and can't be used in full-screen on a phone. It is also supported by display ads.

Verdict: A great-looking clock for desktop users who appreciate a high-fidelity retro look.

4. FlipClock.app

This is a simple, mobile-friendly web clock that gets the job done. It offers basic font size and time format settings.

• What it does well: It works reliably on a phone and can be viewed in full-screen, making it easy to set up.
• Considerations: It is ad-supported, with a banner ad typically visible at the bottom. This might affect the clean aesthetic some users are looking for.

Verdict: A functional mobile option if you don't mind the presence of a small ad banner.

5. FlipClock.online

This is another mobile-friendly option that includes the very useful always-on feature, making it a viable candidate for a dedicated device.

• What it does well: The always-on display toggle is a huge plus. You can set it and forget it without the screen locking.
• Considerations: The free version advertises its own premium features on the clock screen, which can be a bit distracting from the otherwise clean interface.

Verdict: A solid contender for device repurposing, especially if the occasional self-promotion isn't a bother.

6. Flocus.com

Flocus offers a flip clock as part of a broader suite of productivity and focus tools.

• What it does well: The clock is clean, and it's integrated with other tools like timers and Pomodoro trackers, which is great for study sessions.
• Considerations: When used on a mobile device, the top menu bar remains visible even in full-screen mode, which detracts from an immersive experience.

Verdict: A good choice for users who want a clock as part of an all-in-one focus tool suite, but less ideal as a dedicated, full-screen display.

7. Clockfaceonline.co.uk

This is one of the most basic, no-frills flip clocks available on the web. It's simple and straight to the point.

• What it does well: It loads quickly and tells the time. It's a throwback to a simpler web.
• Considerations: It's not designed for mobile devices and is supported by ads. It's best viewed on a desktop computer.

Verdict: A simple, old-school option for desktop use.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Turn Your Old Phone into an Always-On Clock

Ready to give your old device a new purpose? Here’s how to do it in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Prepare Your Device Find your old phone or tablet, a charging cable, and a stand. Place it on your desk or nightstand and connect it to power and Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Choose the Right Web Clock for the Job For a device you plan to leave on permanently, three features are key: an Always-On Display, an Ad-Free Interface, and ideally, Burn-in Protection. As our review shows, this specific combination is rare.

Step 3: Go Full Screen Open your phone's browser and navigate to the website you like. Tap the full-screen icon to get a completely immersive, chrome-free view.

Step 4 (Pro-Tip): Add to Home Screen For a native-app feel, add the site to your home screen. This creates an icon you can tap to launch the clock directly, without needing to type the URL.

• On iPhone: Tap the 'Share' icon in Safari and select 'Add to Home Screen'.
• On Android: Tap the three-dot menu in Chrome and select 'Add to Home screen'.

Step 5: Enjoy Your New Retro Clock! That's it! You've just saved a device from landfill and created a beautiful, functional piece of decor for your workspace.

Looking for a Fliqlo Alternative?

Many people search for a Fliqlo alternative because the original is a screensaver, not a web app. This makes it difficult to use on many devices, especially Chromebooks, tablets, or phones.

If you love the Fliqlo aesthetic but want it in your browser, Clarity Deck is one of the perfect web-based alternatives. It requires no installation, runs on any device with a browser, and is optimized for the exact purpose of being a dedicated clock display.

FAQ

Q1: What are the best things to do with old phones? There are many creative ways to reuse old phones. One of the most popular and aesthetically pleasing uses is to turn your old phone into a dedicated desktop display, such as a full-screen retro flip clock, which can serve as a stylish and functional piece for your desk or nightstand.

Q2: How can I get a retro flip clock display for my desk? The easiest way to get a retro flip clock display is by using a web-based clock. Simply open a website of one of above on any device's browser and set it to full-screen. This gives you an instant vintage flip clock aesthetic without any hassle.

Q3: Is there a good web-based Fliqlo alternative? Yes. If you're looking for a Fliqlo alternative that works directly in your browser without needing to be installed as a screensaver, chosing one of above is an excellent choice. Most of them run on any device with a web browser and provides a clean, full-screen flip clock experience, making them more versatile alternatives to Fliqlo.

Q4: Why does a regular online clock turn off on my phone? Most phones have an automatic screen timeout setting to save battery. To use a phone as a permanent clock, you need an online clock with an 'always on display' feature. This feature uses a special piece of code to signal to the browser that the screen should remain active and not lock itself.

Q5: Can I find a full-screen clock with no ads? Absolutely. Several online clocks offer an ad-free experience. Some of the above websites provide a full-screen view free of advertisements and includes an always-on feature.

Conclusion

Your old phone isn't useless. With the right tool, it can become a stylish and practical part of your daily life.

While there are many online flip clocks, most fail as dedicated displays due to ads, screen-locking issues, or a lack of mobile optimization. Clarity Deck was built from the ground up to solve these problems, making it the clear winner for anyone looking to create a beautiful, always-on retro clock.