# Big Day Lite vs Countdown

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown at 4.8 against Big Day Lite's 4.0. Countdown also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (186K vs 35). Big Day Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Big Day Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown has 186K ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Big Day Lite's written reviews are positive against 72% of Countdown's.

Big Day Lite ships an update every 2 months, Countdown every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Big Day Lite | Countdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-day-lite-event-countdown/id303102667/reviews) | **[4.8 (186K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown/id1403367428/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 35 | **186K** |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews | **72.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#36** |
| Size | 44 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [whatisid](https://appshunter.io/developer/295759192) | [Find Appiness LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685887104) |

## What reviewers say

### Big Day Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-day-lite-event-countdown/id303102667)

Easily track important upcoming events with visually appealing widgets for your home screen. Customize backgrounds with your own photos and enjoy a simple, intuitive interface. Get timely reminders and share your special days with friends.

**Highlights:** Home screen widgets, Customizable photo backgrounds, Event sharing, Notification alarms, Color theme customization, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🖼️ Ability to add custom background image
- 💡 Counts up after event has passed
- 🕰️ Useful for tracking important dates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited to only one countdown event in free version
- 🔀 Difficulty rearranging/sorting multiple events
- 🔍 Lack of detailed countdown information (hours, minutes, seconds)

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect date changes when crossing international date line
- Widget option disappearing for some users

**Requested features**

- Allow multiple countdown events in free version
- Add option to display countdown on home/lock screen
- Provide more countdown details (hours, minutes, seconds)


### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown/id1403367428)

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Easily track important dates and events with a customizable countdown timer. Set reminders, organize events with tags, and view upcoming dates on your home screen or Apple Watch. Syncs across devices and offers various counting options.

**Highlights:** Customizable countdown timer, Event reminders, Home screen widgets, Apple Watch support, Event sharing, iCloud sync, Repeatable countdowns

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start 7-Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Countdown Widget Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Countdown Widget | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Customizable colors and emojis
- ⏰ Accurate countdown tracking
- 🔔 Helpful reminders and notifications
- 💰 One-time payment for premium features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Paid widget feature
- 🔍 Lack of instructions/guidance
- 🔀 Inconsistent countdown display on widget
- 📅 Limited repeat options for events
- 🖼️ No option to use custom photos

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not updating automatically
- Countdown display issues after iOS 14 update
- Inability to delete archived events

**Requested features**

- Add ability to count up from past events
- Provide more date/time format options
- Implement calendar view for all events
- Allow custom backgrounds for widgets
- Add support for weekly/monthly repeating events


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Big Day Lite free?

Big Day Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Big Day Lite or Countdown?

Countdown is rated higher. Big Day Lite averages 4.0 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Countdown averages 4.8 from 186K ratings.

### Do Big Day Lite or Countdown have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Big Day Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, Big Day Lite or Countdown?

Big Day Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Countdown every 4 days. Most recently, Big Day Lite was updated on August 31, 2026 and Countdown 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.*