# Countdown vs Countdown Buddy

The clearest difference is ads: Countdown Buddy at none against Countdown's shown. Countdown Buddy also leads on ratings volume (25K vs 51) and review sentiment (68% vs 52%). Countdown's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, 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 Countdown Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown Buddy holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Buddy has 25K ratings behind it against 51, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 68% of Countdown Buddy's.

Countdown ships an update every 2 weeks, Countdown Buddy every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown | Countdown Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-time-since/id458980758/reviews) | **[4.6 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-buddy/id1534850579/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 51 | **25K** |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **68.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 123 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [oWorld Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/291192797) | [Taptics Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1512213514) |

## 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 |


### Countdown Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-buddy/id1534850579)

Create personalized countdown and count-up widgets for your home and lock screens. Visually track important dates like birthdays, vacations, or deadlines with custom designs, colors, and photos. Stay motivated and make waiting more exciting.

**Highlights:** Personalized countdown widgets, Count-up widgets, Home screen and lock screen support, Customizable designs, Background color options, Photo integration, Font selection

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown + | $3.59 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app overall
- 👍 Customizable widgets and designs
- 🔒 No subscription, one-time purchase
- 📈 Helpful for tracking events and milestones
- 🎨 Visually appealing interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay for more
- 🐛 Widgets not updating properly
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
- 📊 Lack of advanced countdown options (e.g., weeks)

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets disappearing or not working after updates
- Countdown timers not updating correctly
- Inability to add new widgets or countdowns

**Requested features**

- Add ability to display multiple countdowns at once
- Implement automatic countdown reset/repeat functionality
- Allow custom countdown units (e.g., weeks, business days)
- Improve widget handling and update reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown free?

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

### Is Countdown Buddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown or Countdown Buddy?

Countdown Buddy is rated higher. Countdown averages 4.4 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Countdown Buddy averages 4.6 from 25K ratings.

### Do Countdown or Countdown Buddy have ads?

Countdown shows ads; Countdown Buddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown or Countdown Buddy?

Countdown ships an update every 2 weeks, and Countdown Buddy every 9 days. Most recently, Countdown was updated on September 24, 2026 and Countdown Buddy on September 25, 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.*