# Countdown Star (Ad vs Countdown App

The clearest difference is price: Countdown App at Free against Countdown Star (Ad's $1.99. Countdown App also leads on ratings volume (36K vs 3.7K) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Countdown Star (Ad's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On device support there is nothing between them.

Countdown App is free to download; Countdown Star (Ad costs $1.99 up front. Countdown App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Countdown Star (Ad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Countdown Star (Ad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown App has 36K ratings behind it against 3.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Countdown Star (Ad's written reviews are positive against 47% of Countdown App's.

Countdown Star (Ad ships an update fortnightly, Countdown App every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Star (Ad | Countdown App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star-ad-free/id569371565/reviews)** | [3.0 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-app/id1481006495/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3.7K | **36K** |
| Positive reviews | **56.3% of reviews** | 46.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 53 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Joseph Merrill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099488988) | [Ryan Boyling](https://appshunter.io/developer/1313437414) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown Star (Ad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star-ad-free/id569371565)

Track time until or since important events with customizable timers. Set up countdowns for birthdays, holidays, and vacations, or count up from anniversaries and special dates. Share your event timers with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Add custom events, Customize event visuals, Apple Watch display, Today Widget integration, Set exact event times, Adjust time units, Share event timers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Customizable backgrounds
- 🚀 Simple and functional
- 🎨 Nice visual design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable widget functionality
- 🔍 Limited event management options
- 💰 Paid version doesn't import free version data
- 🔧 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Custom wallpapers not saving
- Countdown not updating correctly
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Notification system not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Recurring event support
- Ability to exclude weekends/holidays from countdown
- Multiple event display on main screen
- Improved widget functionality
- Sync across devices


### Countdown App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-app/id1481006495)

This app predicts your remaining time, inspired by a horror movie. It uses vibrations, sound, and your device's torch for an intense experience. For entertainment purposes only, results are not to be taken seriously.

**Highlights:** Predicts remaining time, Horror movie inspired, Vibrations and sound effects, Uses device torch, Entertainment purposes

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Countdown 2.0 Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Countdown 2.0 Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Exactly like the movie app
- 🤡 Fun and entertaining
- 😆 Funny experiences
- 👍 Creepy vibes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Drains phone battery
- 🔒 Potential security/privacy issues
- 😱 Scary and unsettling
- 🙅‍♀️ Not recommended for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Glitchy behavior, like uncontrolled flashlight and app crashing
- Timer/countdown not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Option to disable camera/flashlight effects
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Star (Ad free?

Countdown Star (Ad costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Countdown App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Countdown Star (Ad or Countdown App?

Countdown Star (Ad is rated higher. Countdown Star (Ad averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Countdown App averages 3.0 from 36K ratings.

### Do Countdown Star (Ad or Countdown App have ads?

Countdown App shows ads; Countdown Star (Ad does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown Star (Ad or Countdown App?

Countdown Star (Ad ships an update fortnightly, and Countdown App every 6 weeks. Most recently, Countdown Star (Ad was updated on September 23, 2026 and Countdown App on September 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.*