# Visual Countdown Timer vs Writing Wizard

The clearest difference is ads: Writing Wizard at none against Visual Countdown Timer's shown. Visual Countdown Timer's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (40K vs 5K). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Visual Countdown Timer sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Writing Wizard sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Visual Countdown Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Visual Countdown Timer has 40K ratings behind it against 5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Visual Countdown Timer's written reviews are positive against 74% of Writing Wizard's.

Visual Countdown Timer ships an update monthly, Writing Wizard every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Visual Countdown Timer | Writing Wizard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (40K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-countdown-timer/id541364004/reviews)** | [4.4 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-wizard-learn-to-write/id1305242235/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **40K** | 5K |
| Positive reviews | **80.6% of reviews** | 73.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 185 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fehners Software LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/395357584) | [Pierre Abel](https://appshunter.io/developer/367460664) |

## What reviewers say

### Visual Countdown Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-countdown-timer/id541364004)

This app uses a visual countdown to help children understand time and complete tasks. A picture is revealed as time elapses, and an exciting animation and sound reward completion. It aims to turn daily struggles into fun and encourage quicker task completion.

**Highlights:** Visual countdown from green to red, Picture revealed as time elapses, Exciting sound and animation reward, Customizable background images, User-selected reveal images, Adaptable for various tasks

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ocean Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Transport Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Animal Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cartoon Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mask Maker | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for classroom/special needs use
- 👍 Simple and visual design
- 👍 Customizable pictures and sounds
- 👍 Helps with transitions and routines
- 👍 Motivates kids to complete tasks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔊 Loud ticking sound
- 🔒 Ads in free version
- 🔒 Can't pause or stop timer

**Reported bugs**

- Custom pictures load rotated
- Timer stops working when app is in background

**Requested features**

- Option to set timer to countdown to a specific time
- Ability to adjust timer in smaller increments
- Option to keep picture displayed after timer ends
- Background timer functionality
- Custom sound/music options


### Writing Wizard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-wizard-learn-to-write/id1305242235)

This app helps children learn to trace letters, numbers, and words with a fun, motivating system. It offers customizable tracing practice, interactive games, and progress reports for parents and educators.

**Highlights:** Trace letters, numbers, and words, Customizable tracing practice, Interactive games and animated stickers, Create custom word lists with audio, Progress reports for tracking, Printable PDF worksheets

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access - Monthly | $2.49 | per month |
| All Letters and Numbers | $5.99 | one-time |
| Add Your Words and Word Lists | $5.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Full Access | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Engaging animations
- 💡 Customizable word lists
- 👍 Helpful for children with special needs
- 👍 Effective for improving handwriting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Paid version not working as expected
- 💰 Expensive for the limited features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to access locked features
- Purchased content not unlocking properly
- Inconsistent letter formation guidance

**Requested features**

- Add more letters, numbers, and shapes
- Allow recording of custom voice instructions
- Improve compatibility with stylus/digital pens
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Visual Countdown Timer free?

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

### Is Writing Wizard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Visual Countdown Timer or Writing Wizard?

Visual Countdown Timer is rated higher. Visual Countdown Timer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 40K ratings, while Writing Wizard averages 4.4 from 5K ratings.

### Do Visual Countdown Timer or Writing Wizard have ads?

Visual Countdown Timer shows ads; Writing Wizard does not.

### Which is updated more often, Visual Countdown Timer or Writing Wizard?

Visual Countdown Timer ships an update monthly, and Writing Wizard every 4 months. Most recently, Visual Countdown Timer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Writing Wizard on September 22, 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.*