# Countdown to an Event vs Big Timer

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown to an Event at 4.5 against Big Timer's 3.0. Countdown to an Event also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 20%) and ratings volume (45 vs 6). Big Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown to an Event sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Big Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Countdown to an Event holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown to an Event has 45 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Countdown to an Event's written reviews are positive against 20% of Big Timer's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown to an Event | Big Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-to-an-event/id363735527/reviews)** | [3.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-timer-simple/id1619061460/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **59.3% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 6 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Philip Bevan](https://appshunter.io/developer/363735530) | [Ryouhei Azuma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353297781) |

## 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


### Big Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-timer-simple/id1619061460)

This utility app features large, easy-to-read text for simple stopwatch and countdown timer functions. It's designed for quick visibility from a distance, making it ideal for straightforward timekeeping needs.

**Highlights:** Large, easy-to-read display, Stopwatch functionality, Countdown timer functionality, Simple interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown to an Event free?

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

### Is Big Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown to an Event or Big Timer?

Countdown to an Event is rated higher. Countdown to an Event averages 4.5 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Big Timer averages 3.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Countdown to an Event or Big Timer have ads?

Both Countdown to an Event and Big Timer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown to an Event or Big Timer?

Countdown to an Event ships an update every 2 months, and Big Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Countdown to an Event was updated on October 16, 2026 and Big Timer on October 7, 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.*