# Countdown to an Event vs Countdown Widget & Counter

The clearest difference is ads: Countdown Widget & Counter at none against Countdown to an Event's shown. Countdown Widget & Counter also leads on ratings volume (2.4K vs 45) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown to an Event sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Countdown Widget & Counter sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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 — 4.5 for Countdown to an Event against 4.6 for Countdown Widget & Counter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Widget & Counter has 2.4K ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Countdown to an Event's written reviews are positive against 76% of Countdown Widget & Counter's.

Countdown to an Event ships an update every 2 months, Countdown Widget & Counter every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown to an Event | Countdown Widget & Counter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-to-an-event/id363735527/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-and-counter/id1533996161/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 45 | **2.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 59.3% of reviews | **75.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 160 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Philip Bevan](https://appshunter.io/developer/363735530) | [Sovereign Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6784378952) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown to an Event

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-to-an-event/id363735527)

Track upcoming events with a precise countdown. Set your event title, date, and time, and watch the seconds tick down. Personalize each event with a unique background image from your device or camera.

**Highlights:** Real-time countdown, Event title, date, and time entry, Customizable background images, Image selection from device or camera, Second-by-second updates

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Features | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Customizable backgrounds
- ⏱️ Detailed countdown options
- 📆 Tracks multiple events
- 🆓 Free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🕰️ Inaccurate countdown times
- 📱 Compatibility issues with updates
- 🔍 Confusing UI/UX

**Reported bugs**

- Events randomly deleted after updates
- Countdown time off by hours
- Unable to delete events
- Crashes on startup

**Requested features**

- Ability to disable weekends in countdown
- Push notifications for upcoming events
- Option to display years in countdown
- Sync across devices


### Countdown Widget & Counter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-widget-and-counter/id1533996161)

Create customizable widgets to track upcoming events directly on your home screen. Visualize your countdowns with beautiful designs, icons, and color gradients. Receive real-time notifications for important dates.

**Highlights:** Live countdown widgets, Customizable widget templates, Event editor with live preview, Color gradients, Over 50 icons, Real-time push notifications

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Widget Studio PRO | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Widget Studio PRO | $4.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $5.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $7.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $8.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $12.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio PRO | $12.99 | per year |
| Widget Studio Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Widget Studio Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Fantastic for glancing at events
- 👍 Cool app
- 👍 Nice widgets
- 👍 Good countdown app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Extremely buggy
- 🔕 NOT IMPRESSED (no sound)
- 💰 Expensive price
- 💰 Money
- 💰 Only 2 for free

**Reported bugs**

- Time calculation isn't correct
- Widget and in-app display show different days remaining
- Widget goes blank after phone restart
- Countdowns freeze or count up unexpectedly
- Paid version still shows ads

**Requested features**

- Better integration with calendar and reminder API
- Ability to rearrange events in the countdown list
- Option to default 'What's Next' to user's choice
- Larger photo frame in widget
- Ability to group events into categories


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown to an Event free?

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

### Is Countdown Widget & Counter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown to an Event or Countdown Widget & Counter?

Countdown Widget & Counter is rated higher. Countdown to an Event averages 4.5 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Countdown Widget & Counter averages 4.6 from 2.4K ratings.

### Do Countdown to an Event or Countdown Widget & Counter have ads?

Countdown to an Event shows ads; Countdown Widget & Counter does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown to an Event or Countdown Widget & Counter?

Countdown to an Event ships an update every 2 months, and Countdown Widget & Counter every 3 weeks. Most recently, Countdown to an Event was updated on October 16, 2026 and Countdown Widget & Counter on October 18, 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.*