# TalkingClock vs Countdown Star

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TalkingClock at none against Countdown Star's 1. TalkingClock also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Countdown Star's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 28%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 37 months). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Countdown Star holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Star has 216K ratings behind it against 151, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of TalkingClock's written reviews are positive against 59% of Countdown Star's.

TalkingClock ships an update every 37 months, Countdown Star fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TalkingClock | Countdown Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (151 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talkingclock/id387435816/reviews) | **[4.8 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 151 | **216K** |
| Positive reviews | 27.8% of reviews | **59.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 37 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 14 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Schimera Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/382551348) | [Joseph Merrill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099488988) |

## What reviewers say

### TalkingClock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talkingclock/id387435816)

This app functions as a talking clock, offering various voices and languages. Users can hear the current time by shaking their device or type in custom messages for it to speak.

**Highlights:** Speaks current time, Customizable voices, Multiple languages, Shake to hear time, Type custom messages

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Countdown Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593)

Track time until or since important life events. Set custom timers for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and more. Personalize with your own photos and share progress with friends.

**Highlights:** Add custom events, Customize event visuals, Apple Watch display, Today Widget integration, Set exact event times, Adjust time units, Share event progress

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Customizable backgrounds
- 👍 Helpful for tracking events
- 👍 Useful for long-distance relationships

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Widget not working
- 🐛 Wallpaper feature not working
- 🐛 Countdown inaccuracies
- 🐛 Notifications not working
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not displaying events
- Wallpaper not saving
- Countdown off by one day
- Notifications not working as expected
- Crashes and glitches after updates

**Requested features**

- Add weeks option
- Allow multiple countdowns on one screen
- Provide Apple Watch complications
- Add ability to export/backup data
- Improve wallpaper customization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TalkingClock free?

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

### Is Countdown Star free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TalkingClock or Countdown Star?

Countdown Star is rated higher. TalkingClock averages 4.5 out of 5 from 151 ratings, while Countdown Star averages 4.8 from 216K ratings.

### Do TalkingClock or Countdown Star have ads?

Both TalkingClock and Countdown Star show ads.

### Which is updated more often, TalkingClock or Countdown Star?

TalkingClock ships an update every 37 months, and Countdown Star fortnightly. Most recently, TalkingClock was updated on October 22, 2026 and Countdown Star on October 23, 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.*