# Countdown Star vs Dolphin Memories

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown Star at 4.8 against Dolphin Memories's 2.7. Countdown Star also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (216K vs 131). Dolphin Memories's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown Star sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dolphin Memories asks for nothing beyond the download.

Countdown Star holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Star has 216K ratings behind it against 131, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Countdown Star's written reviews are positive against 43% of Dolphin Memories's.

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, Dolphin Memories every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Star | Dolphin Memories |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593/reviews)** | [2.7 (131 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-memories/id1127492896/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 131 |
| Positive reviews | **59.3% of reviews** | 42.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 55 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joseph Merrill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099488988) | [Linda Ortiz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1010354271) |

## What reviewers say

### Countdown Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593)

Track time until or since important life events. Set custom timers for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and more. Personalize with your own photos and share progress with friends.

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

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Customizable backgrounds
- 👍 Helpful for tracking events
- 👍 Useful for long-distance relationships

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Widget not working
- 🐛 Wallpaper feature not working
- 🐛 Countdown inaccuracies
- 🐛 Notifications not working
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not displaying events
- Wallpaper not saving
- Countdown off by one day
- Notifications not working as expected
- Crashes and glitches after updates

**Requested features**

- Add weeks option
- Allow multiple countdowns on one screen
- Provide Apple Watch complications
- Add ability to export/backup data
- Improve wallpaper customization


### Dolphin Memories

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-memories/id1127492896)

Capture and share your cherished moments from unforgettable experiences. This app allows you to easily access and distribute your photos, enhancing your memories.

**Highlights:** Photo capture, Barcode scanner, Easy photo sharing, Download photos at facilities

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast photo downloads
- 👍 Easy to use (sometimes)
- ✨ Great photo quality
- 📸 Ability to create slideshows/videos
- 📶 Works well with store WiFi

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App does not work
- ❌ Cannot download photos
- ❌ Videos do not download
- ❌ Overpriced photos
- ❌ Error messages (connection, processing, expired code)

**Reported bugs**

- App does not work
- Photos do not download
- Videos do not download
- Communication error
- Unable to access photos

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Ensure videos can be downloaded
- Provide better customer support
- Fix website issues
- Improve compatibility with all devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Star free?

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

### Is Dolphin Memories free?

Dolphin Memories is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Countdown Star or Dolphin Memories?

Countdown Star is rated higher. Countdown Star averages 4.8 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while Dolphin Memories averages 2.7 from 131 ratings.

### Do Countdown Star or Dolphin Memories have ads?

Countdown Star shows ads; Dolphin Memories does not.

### Which is updated more often, Countdown Star or Dolphin Memories?

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, and Dolphin Memories every 3 months. Most recently, Countdown Star was updated on October 20, 2026 and Dolphin Memories on October 16, 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.*