# Countdown Star vs Countdown

The clearest difference is rating: Countdown Star at 4.8 against Countdown's 3.7. Countdown Star also leads on ratings volume (216K vs 150) and review sentiment (60% vs 40%). Countdown's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Countdown Star holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Star has 216K ratings behind it against 150, 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 40% of Countdown's.

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, Countdown every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Star | Countdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593/reviews)** | [3.7 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-when-will-i-die/id1489090933/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 150 |
| Positive reviews | **59.6% of reviews** | 40.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 55 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Joseph Merrill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099488988) | [长金 胡](https://appshunter.io/developer/1528253434) |

## 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 page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-when-will-i-die/id1489090933)

This app calculates your predicted lifespan for entertainment purposes. It also tracks your time alive with second-level accuracy. The goal is to encourage healthier habits and a greater appreciation for time.

**Highlights:** Predict lifespan (for entertainment), Calculate time alive (accurate to seconds), Encourages health awareness, Promotes efficient time use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Star free?

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

### Is Countdown free?

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

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

Countdown Star is rated higher. Countdown Star averages 4.8 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while Countdown averages 3.7 from 150 ratings.

### Do Countdown Star or Countdown have ads?

Both Countdown Star and Countdown show ads.

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

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, and Countdown every 3 weeks. Most recently, Countdown Star was updated on September 25, 2026 and Countdown on September 25, 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.*