# Countdown Timer vs Countdown

The clearest difference is monetization model: Countdown at free with in-app purchases against Countdown Timer's subscription. Countdown also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (187K vs 371). Countdown Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown Timer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Countdown sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 187K ratings behind it against 371, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Countdown Timer's written reviews are positive against 72% of Countdown's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Countdown Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Countdown every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Timer | Countdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (371 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-timer-count-to-days/id1069060573/reviews) | **[4.8 (187K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown/id1403367428/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 371 | **187K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.9% of reviews** | 72.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#50** |
| Size | 38 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AlgoTwist Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/543053355) | [Find Appiness LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685887104) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-timer-count-to-days/id1069060573)

Track and manage upcoming events with a customizable countdown timer. Organize occasions by category, add personal photos, and stay updated with a home screen widget. Share your excitement with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Unlimited event categories, Customizable photos, Home screen widget, Event reminders, Countdown in various units, Shareable countdowns, iCloud sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Countdown Full Access | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Access | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Access + Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Access + Huge Tip | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Great for remembering events
- 👍 Useful tool
- 👍 Good design
- 👍 Works on Apple Watch

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App doesn't work
- 🐛 Too many bugs
- 🐛 Link to share won't work
- 🐛 Requires payment for more than one countdown
- 🐛 Pictures turn sideways

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work
- Too many bugs
- Link to share won't work
- Pictures turn sideways
- Widget broken

**Requested features**

- Option to choose years, weeks, days, and hours for countdowns
- Event can have multiple pictures like a slideshow
- Ability to set repeat dates for 2 or 3 weeks


### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown/id1403367428)

**Currently charting:** #50 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Easily track important dates and events with a customizable countdown timer. Set reminders, organize events with tags, and view upcoming dates on your home screen or Apple Watch. Syncs across devices and offers various counting options.

**Highlights:** Customizable countdown timer, Event reminders, Home screen widgets, Apple Watch support, Event sharing, iCloud sync, Repeatable countdowns

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start 7-Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Countdown Widget Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Countdown Widget | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Customizable colors and emojis
- ⏰ Accurate countdown tracking
- 🔔 Helpful reminders and notifications
- 💰 One-time payment for premium features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Paid widget feature
- 🔍 Lack of instructions/guidance
- 🔀 Inconsistent countdown display on widget
- 📅 Limited repeat options for events
- 🖼️ No option to use custom photos

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not updating automatically
- Countdown display issues after iOS 14 update
- Inability to delete archived events

**Requested features**

- Add ability to count up from past events
- Provide more date/time format options
- Implement calendar view for all events
- Allow custom backgrounds for widgets
- Add support for weekly/monthly repeating events


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Timer free?

Countdown Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Countdown free?

Countdown is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Countdown Timer or Countdown?

Countdown is rated higher. Countdown Timer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 371 ratings, while Countdown averages 4.8 from 187K ratings.

### Do Countdown Timer or Countdown have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Countdown Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown Timer or Countdown?

Countdown Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Countdown every 5 days. Most recently, Countdown Timer was updated on September 8, 2026 and Countdown on October 1, 2026.

---

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