# StartWatch vs Countdown Stopwatch

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | StartWatch | Countdown Stopwatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startwatch-instant-timers/id1537732824/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-stopwatch/id6446262141/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 19 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apostol & Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/320592318) | [Kristofer Shamloo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1122330979) |

## What reviewers say

### StartWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startwatch-instant-timers/id1537732824)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Countdown Stopwatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-stopwatch/id6446262141)

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.

**Highlights:** Adjustable countdown start duration, Customizable start phrase, Recent history list, Stopwatch functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StartWatch free?

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

### Is Countdown Stopwatch free?

Countdown Stopwatch costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StartWatch or Countdown Stopwatch?

Countdown Stopwatch is rated higher. StartWatch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Countdown Stopwatch averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do StartWatch or Countdown Stopwatch have ads?

Neither StartWatch nor Countdown Stopwatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StartWatch or Countdown Stopwatch?

StartWatch ships an update every 3 weeks, and Countdown Stopwatch every 6 months. Most recently, StartWatch was updated on November 3, 2026 and Countdown Stopwatch on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*