StartWatch vs Countdown Stopwatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
StartWatch
This app allows you to start a stopwatch instantly and then convert it into a timer. You can run multiple timers and stopwatches simultaneously, with options to customize display and track past events. It offers advanced features like markers and live activities for efficient time management.
- Instant stopwatch start
- Convert stopwatch to timer
- Run multiple timers/stopwatches
- Customize display units
- History and undo functionality
- Markers for elapsed time
- Live Activities with Dynamic Island
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Start the stopwatch instantly, then turn it into a timer. Most timers are inaccurate because it takes 5 to 30 seconds to set the timer while time slips away. With StartWatch, you start the timer like a stopwatch, then you can take as much time as you need to set the alarm. Features Include: Run multiple stopwatches and timers. Convert a stopwatch to a timer and back to a stopwatch. Stopwatch continues to count after the timer is finished. Set a timer based on the time the stopwatch began, or the current time. Change a timer without losing the start time. Customize how the StartWatch is displayed. For example you can choose to show in weeks, days, or years. History - Undo an accidentally stopped StartWatch or change the start time of any event. Markers - Mark a moment in time on a running StartWatch. View how much time has elapsed from the previous Marker. Icon Badges - View how many StartWatches are running at a glance. Live Activities with support for Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro Watch Features: Complications for timers and stopwatches. Run timers and stopwatches in the background.
Countdown Stopwatch
This utility app provides a customizable stopwatch with a countdown start feature. Users can adjust the countdown duration and the starting phrase. It also keeps a history of recent timing sessions.
- Adjustable countdown start duration
- Customizable start phrase
- Recent history list
- Stopwatch functionality
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The countdown start can be adjusted to the desired length and the start phrase can be changed. View recent times in the recent history list.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: StartWatch at Free against Countdown Stopwatch's $1.99. StartWatch also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (49 vs 2). Countdown Stopwatch's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (16.2 vs 26.0). On ads and in-app purchases 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
StartWatch is free to download; Countdown Stopwatch costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Countdown Stopwatch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StartWatch has 49 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
StartWatch ships an update every 3 weeks, Countdown Stopwatch every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | StartWatch | Countdown Stopwatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (49 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 49 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 16.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Apostol & Hall | Kristofer Shamloo |
Customer experience
StartWatch
Countdown Stopwatch
In-app purchases
StartWatch
No in-app purchases
Countdown Stopwatch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is StartWatch free?
Is Countdown Stopwatch free?
Which has better reviews, StartWatch or Countdown Stopwatch?
Do StartWatch or Countdown Stopwatch have ads?
Which is updated more often, StartWatch or Countdown Stopwatch?
Other comparisons
