# Xmas Countdown! vs PonderLock

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Xmas Countdown! at none against PonderLock's 3. Xmas Countdown! also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and device support (3 vs 1). PonderLock's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 9 months). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PonderLock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Xmas Countdown! asks for nothing beyond the download.

Xmas Countdown! holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PonderLock has 16 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Xmas Countdown! ships an update every 9 months, PonderLock weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Xmas Countdown! | PonderLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xmas-countdown/id1531199155/reviews)** | [4.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ponderlock-lds-prayer-and-pause/id6763971850/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 66 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Devon LaFrance](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506267340) | [TURBULENCE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895580840) |

## What reviewers say

### Xmas Countdown!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xmas-countdown/id1531199155)

Instantly know how many days, hours, minutes, or seconds remain until Christmas. Never miss the festive season with this quick and easy timer.

**Highlights:** Real-time countdown, Seconds, minutes, hours, days, Instant updates, Christmas-specific timer

**In-app purchases:** none


### PonderLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ponderlock-lds-prayer-and-pause/id6763971850)

This app helps you build a more intentional relationship with your phone by gently pausing you with a prayer or scripture prompt before you open distracting apps. It offers a grace-filled approach to reclaiming your attention for what matters most.

**Highlights:** App blocking with prayer prompts, Customizable app selection, Streak tracking for intentional pauses, Grace-filled emergency unlock, Scripture or prayer prompts, Uses Apple Screen Time for privacy

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PonderLock Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| PonderLock Annual (Special Offer) | $24.99 | per year |
| PonderLock Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Xmas Countdown! free?

Xmas Countdown! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PonderLock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Xmas Countdown! or PonderLock?

Xmas Countdown! is rated higher. Xmas Countdown! averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while PonderLock averages 4.6 from 16 ratings.

### Do Xmas Countdown! or PonderLock have ads?

Xmas Countdown! shows ads; PonderLock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Xmas Countdown! or PonderLock?

Xmas Countdown! ships an update every 9 months, and PonderLock weekly. Most recently, Xmas Countdown! was updated on October 24, 2026 and PonderLock on October 24, 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.*