# Countdown vs Pendulum

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown at 4.7 against Pendulum's 4.2. Countdown also leads on ratings volume (3K vs 16) and review sentiment (82% vs 67%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Pendulum sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 3K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pendulum's.

Countdown ships an update every 2 weeks, Pendulum every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Pendulum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-pretty-progress/id1597616326/reviews)** | [4.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pendulum-pen-pal-tracker/id6444290573/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **81.5% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 183 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [keinois OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1597616328) | [Benjamin Cardy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588708175) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-pretty-progress/id1597616326)

Visually track important dates and goals with customizable widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen. Set up countdowns and count-ups for personal milestones, habits, or deadlines. Sync across devices and receive timely notifications.

**Highlights:** Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, Count up and down timers, Recurrent event tracking, Calendar and Reminders synchronization, Customizable designs and templates, iCloud synchronization, Notifications for key dates

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited access | $1.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $2.99 | per month |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $5.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $8.99 | per year |
| Pretty Progress Pro (Annual) | $14.99 | per year |
| Pretty Progress Pro (Annual) | $24.99 | per year |
| Pretty Progress Pro (Annual) | $24.99 | per year |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Lifetime) | $29.99 | one-time |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Lifetime) | $34.99 | one-time |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Lifetime) | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pretty Progress PRO (Lifetime) | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Handy and useful app
- 🚀 Helpful for tracking goals and projects
- 💡 Great customization options
- 👍 Sleek and visually appealing design
- 👍 Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version
- 💰 Paid features can be expensive for some users
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches reported
- 🔒 Restricted customization options without paying

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch for some users
- Widgets not updating in real-time as expected
- Countdown data resetting unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- More customization options for widgets
- Ability to track non-time-based progress
- Improved recurring event management
- Notification/alarm feature when countdown ends
- Wider range of color and font options


### Pendulum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pendulum-pen-pal-tracker/id6444290573)

This app helps you manage your pen pal relationships by tracking correspondence. Record when you send and receive letters, note writing materials, and set reminders to stay in touch. Sync your data across devices for seamless management.

**Highlights:** Track sent and received letters, Record pen, ink, and paper used, Set reminders to write and post, Monitor letter delivery times, iCloud sync across devices

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra Fine Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fine Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Broad Tip | $5.99 | one-time |
| Stub Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Pendulum free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Pendulum?

Countdown is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Pendulum averages 4.2 from 16 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Pendulum have ads?

Neither Countdown nor Pendulum shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Pendulum?

Countdown ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pendulum every 9 days. Most recently, Countdown was updated on September 22, 2026 and Pendulum on September 10, 2026.

---

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