# Countdown vs Looking FWD

The clearest difference is monetization model: Countdown at free with in-app purchases against Looking FWD's subscription. Countdown also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and device support (4 vs 2). Looking FWD's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (63% vs 52%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and Looking FWD sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.29 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 32 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 63% of Looking FWD's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Looking FWD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-time-since/id458980758/reviews)** | [4.0 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/looking-fwd-event-countdown/id1232672943/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **52** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 123 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [oWorld Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/291192797) | [John Mackay](https://appshunter.io/developer/993038359) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-time-since/id458980758)

Easily track upcoming events and deadlines. Set a date and name for any occasion to see the remaining time in months, weeks, and days. Never forget important dates again with this helpful reminder tool.

**Highlights:** Track upcoming events, Count down time remaining, Display time in months, weeks, days, Remember important dates, Set custom event names

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown Pro - days Counter | $4.99 | per year |
| LifeTime access | $12.99 | one-time |


### Looking FWD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/looking-fwd-event-countdown/id1232672943)

Track upcoming events with a customizable countdown. Add photos, emojis, and checklists to your events. View upcoming events on your home screen with widgets. Syncs securely across devices via iCloud.

**Highlights:** Customizable event countdowns, Event reminders, Home screen widgets, Photo and emoji customization, Checklists for events, iCloud sync across devices

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Looking FWD | $0.29 | per 7 days |
| Unlock Looking FWD | $0.79 | per month |
| Unlock Looking FWD | $7.99 | per year |
| Unlock Looking FWD | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Looking FWD free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Looking FWD?

Countdown is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.4 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Looking FWD averages 4.0 from 32 ratings.

### Do Countdown or Looking FWD have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Looking FWD does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Looking FWD?

Countdown ships an update every 2 weeks, and Looking FWD every 2 weeks. Most recently, Countdown was updated on October 29, 2026 and Looking FWD 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.*