# Countdown vs Special Dates

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown at 4.8 against Special Dates's 4.0. Countdown also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (118 vs 5). Special Dates's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Special Dates sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 118 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 63% of Special Dates's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Countdown ships an update every 10 days, Special Dates every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Special Dates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-days-until/id1500141836/reviews)** | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/special-dates/id1532853488/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **118** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 57.9% of reviews | **63.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 29 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Days Until LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1224814198) | [Ernesto Fernández Calles](https://appshunter.io/developer/548312732) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-days-until/id1500141836)

Easily track and get excited about all your upcoming events. Personalize your countdowns with custom backgrounds and styles. Perfect for holidays, birthdays, vacations, exams, and any special occasion.

**Highlights:** Track upcoming events, Count remaining days, Customize background, Personalize countdown style, Organize by occasion

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Days until plus monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Days until plus monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Days until plus yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Days until plus yearly | $11.99 | per year |
| Days Until Plus | $19.99 | per year |


### Special Dates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/special-dates/id1532853488)

Easily save and track important dates with a minimalist countdown widget. This app helps you remember upcoming events like birthdays or bills, syncing them across your devices.

**Highlights:** Save important dates, Track days remaining, Periodic event saving, Birthday reminders, Bill tracking, iOS 14 widget support, Cross-device syncing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coffee | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cake | $2.99 | one-time |
| Party | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Special Dates free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Special Dates?

Countdown is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.8 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Special Dates averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Special Dates have ads?

Neither Countdown nor Special Dates shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Special Dates?

Countdown ships an update every 10 days, and Special Dates every 4 months. Most recently, Countdown was updated on September 28, 2026 and Special Dates on September 19, 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.*