# MGS Codec vs Phantom Countdown

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MGS Codec at none against Phantom Countdown's 5. MGS Codec also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). Phantom Countdown's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (276 vs 60). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phantom Countdown sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. MGS Codec asks for nothing beyond the download.

MGS Codec holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 276 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of MGS Codec's written reviews are positive against 83% of Phantom Countdown's.

MGS Codec ships an update every 9 months, Phantom Countdown every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MGS Codec | Phantom Countdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mgs-codec/id1404930853/reviews)** | [4.6 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phantom-countdown/id1549294840/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 60 | **276** |
| Positive reviews | **89.7% of reviews** | 82.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 22 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Salvatore Boemia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626825955) | [Matthew Sinex](https://appshunter.io/developer/1549294842) |

## What reviewers say

### MGS Codec

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mgs-codec/id1404930853)

This fanmade dialer emulates the iconic 'CODEC' style for making calls. Users can input numbers directly or select contacts from their address book to initiate calls using the custom interface. The app also features customizable themes and a fun element of discovering hidden frequencies.

**Highlights:** CODEC style dialer interface, Call contacts from address book, Customizable themes, Shake to change theme, Discover hidden frequencies

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Phantom Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phantom-countdown/id1549294840)

This free utility app helps fans of a popular JRPG series track upcoming events. Create and customize multiple countdowns, display them on your home screen with widgets, and choose from built-in or custom themes. Countdowns update daily, offering flexible tracking by date, number of days, or unknown dates.

**Highlights:** Multiple countdown creation, Home screen widgets, Customizable themes, Automatic daily updates, Flexible date tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 1 Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level 5 Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Level 25 Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Level 50 Tip | $24.99 | one-time |
| Level 99 Tip | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Persona-themed countdown
- 👍 Customizable themes and colors
- 🎨 Stylish and visually appealing
- 📆 Helpful for tracking deadlines and events
- 🎮 Captures the Persona aesthetic

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with widget functionality
- 🔧 Issues with changing themes and colors
- 🔒 Lack of transparency in background
- 📊 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Countdowns disappearing or not saving
- Widgets not displaying properly
- App freezing when changing notification settings
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add countdown to lock screen
- Integrate with calendar app
- Ability to set custom countdown sounds
- Automatic countdown rotation
- More detailed Persona-themed design


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MGS Codec free?

MGS Codec is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Phantom Countdown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MGS Codec or Phantom Countdown?

MGS Codec is rated higher. MGS Codec averages 4.8 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Phantom Countdown averages 4.6 from 276 ratings.

### Do MGS Codec or Phantom Countdown have ads?

Neither MGS Codec nor Phantom Countdown shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MGS Codec or Phantom Countdown?

MGS Codec ships an update every 9 months, and Phantom Countdown every 2 months. Most recently, MGS Codec was updated on September 3, 2026 and Phantom Countdown on September 18, 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.*