# Countdowns ※ vs Countdown Widget & Counter

The clearest difference is update cadence: Countdown Widget & Counter at fortnightly against Countdowns ※'s every 27 months. Countdown Widget & Counter also leads on ratings volume (2.4K vs 23). Countdowns ※'s advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdowns ※ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Countdown Widget & Counter sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Countdowns ※ against 4.6 for Countdown Widget & Counter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Widget & Counter has 2.4K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Countdowns ※'s written reviews are positive against 76% of Countdown Widget & Counter's.

Countdowns ※ ships an update every 27 months, Countdown Widget & Counter fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdowns ※ | Countdown Widget & Counter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdowns/id1086514260/reviews) | [4.6 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-and-counter/id1533996161/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **2.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 75.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iReka Soft](https://appshunter.io/developer/430308890) | [The Good App Company, Limited Liability Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1086171798) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdowns ※

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdowns/id1086514260)

Create stylish countdowns to important events like vacations, birthdays, or concerts. Customize units from years to seconds and use your own photos as backgrounds. Receive notifications and share your countdowns easily.

**Highlights:** Customizable countdown units (years to seconds), Personalized photo backgrounds, Event notifications, Screenshot sharing, Multiple sharing platforms

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extras Awesomeness | $1.99 | one-time |


### Countdown Widget & Counter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-and-counter/id1533996161)

Create customizable widgets to track upcoming events directly on your home screen. Visualize your countdowns with beautiful designs, icons, and color gradients. Receive real-time notifications for important dates.

**Highlights:** Live countdown widgets, Customizable widget templates, Event editor with live preview, Color gradients, Over 50 icons, Real-time push notifications

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Widget Studio PRO | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Widget Studio PRO | $4.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $5.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $7.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $8.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $12.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $12.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Widget Studio Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Fantastic for glancing at events
- 👍 Cool app
- 👍 Nice widgets
- 👍 Good countdown app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Extremely buggy
- 🔕 NOT IMPRESSED (no sound)
- 💰 Expensive price
- 💰 Money
- 💰 Only 2 for free

**Reported bugs**

- Time calculation isn't correct
- Widget and in-app display show different days remaining
- Widget goes blank after phone restart
- Countdowns freeze or count up unexpectedly
- Paid version still shows ads

**Requested features**

- Better integration with calendar and reminder API
- Ability to rearrange events in the countdown list
- Option to default 'What's Next' to user's choice
- Larger photo frame in widget
- Ability to group events into categories


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdowns ※ free?

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

### Is Countdown Widget & Counter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdowns ※ or Countdown Widget & Counter?

Countdowns ※ and Countdown Widget & Counter are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 23 and 2.4K ratings respectively.

### Do Countdowns ※ or Countdown Widget & Counter have ads?

Neither Countdowns ※ nor Countdown Widget & Counter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdowns ※ or Countdown Widget & Counter?

Countdowns ※ ships an update every 27 months, and Countdown Widget & Counter fortnightly. Most recently, Countdowns ※ was updated on September 12, 2026 and Countdown Widget & Counter on September 24, 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.*