# Countdown vs Focus Clock

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown at 4.8 against Focus Clock's 4.1. Countdown also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (186K vs 16). Focus Clock's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (83% vs 72%). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Focus Clock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 186K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 83% of Focus Clock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Countdown ships an update every 4 days, Focus Clock fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Focus Clock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (186K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown/id1403367428/reviews)** | [4.1 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-clock/id1521795885/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **186K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 71.9% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | — |
| Size | 40 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Find Appiness LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685887104) | [晓庆 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1268921589) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

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

**Currently charting:** #30 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


### Focus Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-clock/id1521795885)

This app helps you concentrate on tasks with a unique focus mode that rewards sustained attention. It offers customizable timers, background operation, and detailed statistics to track your progress. Enjoy an ad-free experience with various visual themes to enhance your study or work sessions.

**Highlights:** Ad-free focus mode, Background timing with notifications, Daily focus statistics, Customizable clock styles and skins, Gesture controls for navigation, Progress bar and color customization

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription member | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Permanent buyout | $1.99 | one-time |
| discounts VIP | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Focus Clock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Focus Clock?

Countdown is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.8 out of 5 from 186K ratings, while Focus Clock averages 4.1 from 16 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Focus Clock have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Focus Clock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Focus Clock?

Countdown ships an update every 4 days, and Focus Clock fortnightly. Most recently, Countdown was updated on September 25, 2026 and Focus Clock on September 1, 2026.

---

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