# Visual Countdown Timer vs Hungry Caterpillar Play School

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Visual Countdown Timer at 80% against Hungry Caterpillar Play School's 38%. Visual Countdown Timer also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2). Hungry Caterpillar Play School's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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 Hungry Caterpillar Play School sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40K and 24K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Visual Countdown Timer's written reviews are positive against 38% of Hungry Caterpillar Play School's.

Visual Countdown Timer ships an update monthly, Hungry Caterpillar Play School every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Visual Countdown Timer | Hungry Caterpillar Play School |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (40K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-countdown-timer/id541364004/reviews)** | [4.2 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hungry-caterpillar-play-school/id1318671922/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **40K** | 24K |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 38.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 185 MB | 463 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fehners Software LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/395357584) | [StoryToys Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/326301831) |

## 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


### Hungry Caterpillar Play School

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hungry-caterpillar-play-school/id1318671922)

This app provides a Montessori-inspired learning environment for children aged 2-6, featuring hundreds of books, activities, and games. It encourages independent learning through art, music, math, science, and problem-solving, with a focus on digital wellness and offline play.

**Highlights:** Montessori-inspired activities, Hundreds of books, games, and songs, Child-centric learning, Eric Carle art style, Early learning for ages 2-6, Offline play, Meditations for wellness

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Special Offer | $2.99 | per month |
| Learning - Pay Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Start learning  – Pay monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Learning - Pay Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $9.99 | per month |
| Limited Offer - Pay Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Learning - Pay Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual - Best Value | $49.99 | per year |
| Learning - Pay Yearly - Save! | $59.99 | per year |
| Big Savings - Pay Annually | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging and educational
- 👍 Great for young kids
- 👍 Variety of games and activities
- 👍 Calming and relaxing
- 👍 Visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound issues
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Misleading pricing and trial
- 🤬 Deceptive subscription practices

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in
- Freezing and crashing
- Unresponsive touch controls
- Content not unlocking after purchase

**Requested features**

- Improved accessibility options
- Better navigation and organization
- More reading and spelling activities
- Family sharing support
- Ability to cancel subscription easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Visual Countdown Timer free?

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

### Is Hungry Caterpillar Play School free?

Hungry Caterpillar Play School is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Visual Countdown Timer or Hungry Caterpillar Play School?

Visual Countdown Timer is rated higher. Visual Countdown Timer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 40K ratings, while Hungry Caterpillar Play School averages 4.2 from 24K ratings.

### Do Visual Countdown Timer or Hungry Caterpillar Play School have ads?

Visual Countdown Timer shows ads; Hungry Caterpillar Play School does not.

### Which is updated more often, Visual Countdown Timer or Hungry Caterpillar Play School?

Visual Countdown Timer ships an update monthly, and Hungry Caterpillar Play School every 5 weeks. Most recently, Visual Countdown Timer was updated on October 14, 2026 and Hungry Caterpillar Play School on October 14, 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.*