# Countdown Star vs Countdown App

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown Star at 4.8 against Countdown App's 3.0. Countdown Star also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (60% vs 47%). Countdown App's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Countdown Star sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Countdown App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown Star holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Star has 216K ratings behind it against 36K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Countdown Star's written reviews are positive against 47% of Countdown App's.

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, Countdown App every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Star | Countdown App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593/reviews)** | [3.0 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-app/id1481006495/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 36K |
| Positive reviews | **59.6% of reviews** | 46.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 55 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

[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


### 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 free?

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

### Is Countdown App free?

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

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

Countdown Star is rated higher. Countdown Star averages 4.8 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while Countdown App averages 3.0 from 36K ratings.

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

Both Countdown Star and Countdown App show ads.

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

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, and Countdown App every 6 weeks. Most recently, Countdown Star was updated on September 24, 2026 and Countdown App on September 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*