# Countdown Star vs Elf Cam

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Countdown Star at 59% against Elf Cam's 21%. Countdown Star also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs subscription) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Elf Cam's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (13.0 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 Elf Cam sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Countdown Star holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Countdown Star has 216K ratings behind it against 7K, 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 21% of Elf Cam's.

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, Elf Cam every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Countdown Star | Elf Cam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countdown-star/id576177593/reviews)** | [4.5 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-cam-santas-elf-tracker/id1540065832/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 7K |
| Positive reviews | **59.3% of reviews** | 20.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 55 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joseph Merrill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099488988) | [Scibble LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871451542) |

## 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


### Elf Cam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-cam-santas-elf-tracker/id1540065832)

Capture magical moments with a virtual elf in your home. Design your own unique elf, set it in motion, and record videos with fun filters. Share the festive fun with your children and create lasting holiday memories.

**Highlights:** Place virtual elf in home, Design custom elf characters, Animate elf movements, Record videos with elf, Apply video filters, Share magical videos

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock ElfCam | $1.99 | per year |
| Unlock ElfCam | $2.99 | per year |
| Unlock ElfCam | $3.99 | per year |
| Unlock Elf Cam. Record & share | $3.99 | per year |
| 6 Month Pass | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| Unlock App | $3.99 | per year |
| Monthly Pass | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pass | $7.99 | per year |
| Extra Animations and Filters | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎄 Brings Christmas magic to life
- 🤩 Fun and engaging for kids
- 👍 Easy to use app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription required to use app
- 🙅‍♀️ Limited customization options
- 🤖 Unrealistic elf animations
- 🤔 Doesn't match real-life elf

**Reported bugs**

- Scanning issues
- App crashes and freezes
- Subscription issues

**Requested features**

- More elf outfit options
- Ability to use multiple elves
- Free trial period
- Improved scanning and tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Countdown Star free?

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

### Is Elf Cam free?

Elf Cam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Countdown Star is rated higher. Countdown Star averages 4.8 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while Elf Cam averages 4.5 from 7K ratings.

### Do Countdown Star or Elf Cam have ads?

Both Countdown Star and Elf Cam show ads.

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

Countdown Star ships an update fortnightly, and Elf Cam every 5 days. Most recently, Countdown Star was updated on October 21, 2026 and Elf Cam on October 21, 2026.

---

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