CalAdvent vs Big Countdown
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CalAdvent
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Countdown to Christmas or any other date you want with this app. By default the app is configured for your Advent Calendar needs, but the end date, number of days and themes can be changed to match your countdown needs. For up to 31 days before the target date, one ornament will be unlocked a day allowing it to be placed on the tree/display. You can admire or rearrange the ornaments at anytime. You can even shake the device to trigger a celebration that can change the countdown scene into a snow globe. This application can use custom themes created with “CalAdvent Plus” (which is only available in the U.S.) and comes with the built-in Theme Packs: Grandma, Nativity Scene, 8-bit Christmas, Easter, Emoji, Halloween; and the Display Theme: 16-bit Tree.
Big Countdown
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Big Countdown is your ultimate companion for tracking the days leading up to your significant events. Whether it's a birthday, holiday, or special occasion, stay informed and excited right on your iPad/iPhone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Big Countdown at every 2 days against CalAdvent's every 4 months. Big Countdown also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CalAdvent ships an update every 4 months, Big Countdown every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CalAdvent | Big Countdown |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eric Smith | Pierre Ramoin |
In-app purchases
CalAdvent
No in-app purchases
Big Countdown
No in-app purchases
