# Shipmate vs Cruise Countdown Timer

The clearest difference is rating: Shipmate at 4.8 against Cruise Countdown Timer's 3.5. Shipmate also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (51K vs 6). Cruise Countdown Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Shipmate holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shipmate has 51K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shipmate ships an update every 5 weeks, Cruise Countdown Timer weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shipmate | Cruise Countdown Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (51K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shipmate-plan-and-track-cruises/id380449520/reviews)** | [3.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cruise-countdown-timer/id6761128404/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **51K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 74.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 117 MB | 192 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cruiseline.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/809063892) | [Austin Garlick](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829816182) |

## What reviewers say

### Shipmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shipmate-plan-and-track-cruises/id380449520)

This app helps you plan, track, and enhance every aspect of your cruise journey. Discover deals, book excursions, connect with fellow travelers, and access detailed ship and port information. It's your comprehensive companion from pre-cruise planning to post-voyage memories.

**Highlights:** Cruise planning and tracking, Meet fellow cruisers, Write cruise reviews, Find cruise deals, Book port excursions, Cruise countdown, Ship and port information

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app to track cruises
- 👍 Helpful for planning and researching cruises
- 💡 Useful features like price alerts and countdown
- 👍 Informative reviews and photos from other cruisers
- 👍 Ability to connect with fellow cruisers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Outdated or missing cruise information
- 🐛 Technical issues like login problems and photo uploads
- 🐛 Lack of customization options
- 🐛 Confusing or cluttered user interface
- 🐛 Irrelevant or inappropriate user content

**Reported bugs**

- Cruise itinerary details not accurate
- Cruise tracking and ship information not up-to-date
- Issues with accessing and sharing content

**Requested features**

- Add ability to remove cabin numbers for privacy
- Improve search and filtering options
- Integrate more cruise line and excursion booking capabilities
- Enhance social features like user profiles and messaging


### Cruise Countdown Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cruise-countdown-timer/id6761128404)

This app provides a visually engaging countdown to your next cruise vacation. It features a live, second-by-second timer, customizable backgrounds, and smart notifications for key milestones. Share your excitement with friends and family through generated countdown cards.

**Highlights:** Live second-by-second countdown, Home screen widget, Smart milestone notifications, Customizable cruise-inspired wallpapers, Trip planning and naming, Shareable countdown cards

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shipmate free?

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

### Is Cruise Countdown Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shipmate or Cruise Countdown Timer?

Shipmate is rated higher. Shipmate averages 4.8 out of 5 from 51K ratings, while Cruise Countdown Timer averages 3.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do Shipmate or Cruise Countdown Timer have ads?

Shipmate shows ads; Cruise Countdown Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shipmate or Cruise Countdown Timer?

Shipmate ships an update every 5 weeks, and Cruise Countdown Timer weekly. Most recently, Shipmate was updated on October 26, 2026 and Cruise Countdown Timer on October 24, 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.*