# Countdown Buddy vs Countdown Widget + Calendar

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Countdown Buddy at 25K against Countdown Widget + Calendar's 46. Countdown Buddy also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). Countdown Widget + Calendar's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Countdown Widget + Calendar sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Countdown Buddy against 4.5 for Countdown Widget + Calendar. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Buddy has 25K ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Countdown Buddy's written reviews are positive against 50% of Countdown Widget + Calendar's.

Countdown Buddy ships an update every 9 days, Countdown Widget + Calendar monthly. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Buddy | Countdown Widget + Calendar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-buddy/id1534850579/reviews)** | [4.5 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-plus-calendar/id1567964264/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | **67.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 149 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taptics Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1512213514) | [Alex Gameli Heyman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529812783) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-buddy/id1534850579)

Create personalized countdown and count-up widgets for your home and lock screens. Visually track important dates like birthdays, vacations, or deadlines with custom designs, colors, and photos. Stay motivated and make waiting more exciting.

**Highlights:** Personalized countdown widgets, Count-up widgets, Home screen and lock screen support, Customizable designs, Background color options, Photo integration, Font selection

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown + | $3.59 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app overall
- 👍 Customizable widgets and designs
- 🔒 No subscription, one-time purchase
- 📈 Helpful for tracking events and milestones
- 🎨 Visually appealing interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay for more
- 🐛 Widgets not updating properly
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
- 📊 Lack of advanced countdown options (e.g., weeks)

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets disappearing or not working after updates
- Countdown timers not updating correctly
- Inability to add new widgets or countdowns

**Requested features**

- Add ability to display multiple countdowns at once
- Implement automatic countdown reset/repeat functionality
- Allow custom countdown units (e.g., weeks, business days)
- Improve widget handling and update reliability


### Countdown Widget + Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-plus-calendar/id1567964264)

Easily track important events and milestones with beautiful visuals and customizable settings. Stay organized with timely reminders, versatile display formats, and a convenient date calculator. Sync across devices and never miss a special moment.

**Highlights:** Lock Screen Widgets, Quick Glance Widgets, iCloud Sync, Notifications & Reminders, Versatile Display Formats, Personalized Backgrounds, Date and Time Calculator

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown Pro Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Life time access | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coundown lifetime access | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Buddy free?

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

### Is Countdown Widget + Calendar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown Buddy or Countdown Widget + Calendar?

Countdown Buddy is rated higher. Countdown Buddy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while Countdown Widget + Calendar averages 4.5 from 46 ratings.

### Do Countdown Buddy or Countdown Widget + Calendar have ads?

Neither Countdown Buddy nor Countdown Widget + Calendar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown Buddy or Countdown Widget + Calendar?

Countdown Buddy ships an update every 9 days, and Countdown Widget + Calendar monthly. Most recently, Countdown Buddy was updated on September 28, 2026 and Countdown Widget + Calendar on September 28, 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.*