# CDTimer + vs Penjo

The clearest difference is rating: Penjo at 4.7 against CDTimer +'s 4.0. Penjo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (277 vs 1). CDTimer +'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (100% vs 74%). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penjo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. CDTimer + asks for nothing beyond the download.

Penjo holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penjo has 277 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of CDTimer +'s written reviews are positive against 74% of Penjo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CDTimer + ships an update every 5 weeks, Penjo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CDTimer + | Penjo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdtimer-plus/id1503690277/reviews) | **[4.7 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **277** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 74.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 2 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [touru tsuruta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1084745827) | [Zafer ARICAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1118422608) |

## What reviewers say

### CDTimer +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdtimer-plus/id1503690277)

This multi-countdown timer app offers an enhanced experience beyond the standard iPhone timer. It's designed for intuitive use, making it a comprehensive tool for managing multiple countdowns simultaneously.

**Highlights:** Multi-countdown timer, Intuitive design, Exceeds standard timer functionality, Easy to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Penjo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076)

This app combines journaling, planning, and note-taking with a pencil-first interface. It offers powerful handwriting search, creative image tools, and seamless integration with calendars and reminders. Organize your thoughts and tasks with flexible layouts and personalized tools.

**Highlights:** Pencil-first writing and sketching, Handwriting search and text conversion, Calendar and reminders integration, Creative image editing tools, Customizable pen and tool picker, Flexible page layouts, iCloud sync across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✍️ Excellent Apple Pencil integration and handwriting experience
- 📅 Seamless calendar and reminders integration
- 💰 One-time lifetime purchase option (no subscriptions)
- 🎨 Clean, minimalist, and intuitive user interface
- ⚡ Fast and responsive performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable cloud sync across multiple devices
- 💳 Confusing payment model and paywall messaging
- 🔐 Missing security features like screen lock
- 📱 Limited macOS support (Intel Macs incompatible)
- 🎨 Limited customization options for colors and themes

**Reported bugs**

- Cloud sync not working across devices despite paid subscription
- App crashes when using photo effects
- Calendar not syncing or displaying properly
- Notebooks disappearing or becoming unopenable
- Text boxes misaligning after app closure

**Requested features**

- Dark mode or black background option
- Screen lock/page lock to prevent accidental writing
- Apple Pencil advanced features (highlighter, squeeze, double-tap)
- Text formatting options (resize, color change for selected text)
- More page layout templates and line spacing options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CDTimer + free?

CDTimer + is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Penjo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CDTimer + or Penjo?

Penjo is rated higher. CDTimer + averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Penjo averages 4.7 from 277 ratings.

### Do CDTimer + or Penjo have ads?

CDTimer + shows ads; Penjo does not.

### Which is updated more often, CDTimer + or Penjo?

CDTimer + ships an update every 5 weeks, and Penjo every 2 weeks. Most recently, CDTimer + was updated on October 4, 2026 and Penjo on October 13, 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.*