# Countdown Timer vs Countdown Buddy

The clearest difference is ads: Countdown Buddy at none against Countdown Timer's shown. Countdown Buddy also leads on ratings volume (25K vs 1.4K) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). Countdown Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown Timer sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Countdown Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Countdown Timer against 4.6 for Countdown Buddy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Buddy has 25K ratings behind it against 1.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Countdown Timer's written reviews are positive against 68% of Countdown Buddy's.

Countdown Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Countdown Buddy every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Timer | Countdown Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-timer-clock-widget/id1123159300/reviews) | **[4.6 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-buddy/id1534850579/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **25K** |
| Positive reviews | 59.9% of reviews | **68.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 103 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ZipoApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1671444635) | [Taptics Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1512213514) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-timer-clock-widget/id1123159300)

Track upcoming events and past memories with a simple, elegant timer. Count down to special occasions or count up from significant dates. Enjoy a distraction-free interface and seamless syncing across Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Countdown to future events, Count up from past events, Minimalistic and intuitive interface, Track birthdays, holidays, and deadlines, Syncs across Apple devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited access | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $9.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $49.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $1.95 | one-time |


### Countdown Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-buddy/id1534850579)

Create personalized countdown and count-up widgets for your home and lock screens. Visually track important dates like birthdays, vacations, or deadlines with custom designs, colors, and photos. Stay motivated and make waiting more exciting.

**Highlights:** Personalized countdown widgets, Count-up widgets, Home screen and lock screen support, Customizable designs, Background color options, Photo integration, Font selection

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown + | $3.59 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app overall
- 👍 Customizable widgets and designs
- 🔒 No subscription, one-time purchase
- 📈 Helpful for tracking events and milestones
- 🎨 Visually appealing interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay for more
- 🐛 Widgets not updating properly
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
- 📊 Lack of advanced countdown options (e.g., weeks)

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets disappearing or not working after updates
- Countdown timers not updating correctly
- Inability to add new widgets or countdowns

**Requested features**

- Add ability to display multiple countdowns at once
- Implement automatic countdown reset/repeat functionality
- Allow custom countdown units (e.g., weeks, business days)
- Improve widget handling and update reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Timer free?

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

### Is Countdown Buddy free?

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

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

Countdown Buddy is rated higher. Countdown Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Countdown Buddy averages 4.6 from 25K ratings.

### Do Countdown Timer or Countdown Buddy have ads?

Countdown Timer shows ads; Countdown Buddy does not.

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

Countdown Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Countdown Buddy every 9 days. Most recently, Countdown Timer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Countdown Buddy 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.*