# Countdown to Big Events vs Heel!

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Countdown to Big Events at 90% against Heel!'s 0%. Countdown to Big Events also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (691 vs 5). Heel!'s advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Heel! is free to download; Countdown to Big Events costs $0.99 up front. Countdown to Big Events sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Heel! asks for nothing beyond the download.

Countdown to Big Events holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown to Big Events has 691 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Countdown to Big Events's written reviews are positive against 0% of Heel!'s.

Countdown to Big Events ships an update every 2 months, Heel! every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown to Big Events | Heel! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (691 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-to-big-events/id482358013/reviews)** | [3.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heel/id1316789744/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **691** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **89.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 4 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Tsopanakis](https://appshunter.io/developer/471022214) | [Live Oak Veterinary Equipment and Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1337699660) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown to Big Events

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-to-big-events/id482358013)

Track important dates and events with a visually appealing countdown. Set reminders, sync across devices, and share your progress. Personalize your countdowns with themes, alarms, and notes.

**Highlights:** Unlimited event countdowns, Customizable themes and alarms, iCloud sync across devices, Today widget for quick view, Full-screen countdown display, Event sharing with social media integration, Countdown and count-up functionality

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Colors Pack | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Simple and effective
- 💡 Useful for tracking events
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing
- ⏱️ Precise countdown with seconds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or won't open for some users
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🔔 Frequent rating prompts can be annoying
- 🔋 Drains battery when app is running in the background

**Reported bugs**

- Countdown timer stops working when app is in the background
- Notes field not visible for some users
- Contrast issues with blue on grey background

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync events with calendar
- Option to exclude weekends and holidays
- Looping timer that works even when app is in the background
- Vibration or vibration/sound option for timers
- Timer between intervals for workout routines


### Heel!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heel/id1316789744)

Manage your pet's health with medication and feeding reminders. Connect with your veterinarian to receive prescription updates and track your pet's care schedule. Never miss a dose or appointment again.

**Highlights:** Medication reminders, Feeding time schedules, Exercise reminders, Caretaker contact integration, Veterinarian network, Prescription updates, Dosage tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown to Big Events free?

Countdown to Big Events costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Heel! free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown to Big Events or Heel!?

Countdown to Big Events is rated higher. Countdown to Big Events averages 4.8 out of 5 from 691 ratings, while Heel! averages 3.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Countdown to Big Events or Heel! have ads?

Neither Countdown to Big Events nor Heel! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown to Big Events or Heel!?

Countdown to Big Events ships an update every 2 months, and Heel! every 6 weeks. Most recently, Countdown to Big Events was updated on October 26, 2026 and Heel! 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.*