Countdown vs Big Red Clock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Countdown
A minimalist, full-screen timer app designed for high visibility. It offers stopwatch, timer, and clock modes with customizable alerts and advanced control options. Ideal for events and games where a clear time display is essential.
- Full-screen countdown timer
- Stopwatch, timer, and clock modes
- Customizable chime or air horn alerts
- Adjustable countdown duration up to 10 hours
- Color-coded time display
- Optional tenths of a second display
- Bluetooth keyboard control
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Replace the old sand timer in your favorite game with one that packs a punch! The countdown takes center stage in this app as a full-screen timer counts down the seconds. Run silently, or play a chime or air horn sound to let everyone know that time is up! Perfect for TV broadcasts, classrooms, debates, game shows, sporting events, or anywhere a highly visible stopwatch, timer, or clock with a streamlined appearance is needed. Features: + Beautiful design, maximizing countdown visibility + Tap anywhere to start or stop the countdown + Three modes - stopwatch, timer, or clock + Set a countdown up to 10 hours + Display the time in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple Advanced features: + Optionally show tenths of a second during the last minute for extra excitement + Optionally flash during the last ten seconds + Optionally play an air horn or a chime sound when time is up + Optionally show elapsed time after the timer reaches 0:00 (double-tap or long-press the Timer icon on the settings screen to choose) + The device will not sleep while the timer is running + Background notifications make sure you know when your timer ends + Double-tap the time on the settings screen to switch between 1, 5, and 15-second increments Super-advanced features: + Control the timer remotely using a Bluetooth keyboard: The space bar starts/stops, escape resets, and you can change the countdown time by typing a number followed by enter. + Display the timer on an external screen using AirPlay mirroring, while keeping the controls visible only on your device! + Use side-by-side with other apps on iPad in slide-over or split-view mode
Big Red Clock
This app provides a large, easily readable digital clock with both 12-hour and 24-hour formats. It also includes a countdown timer and a stopwatch function for various timekeeping needs.
- Large digital clock display
- 12-hour and 24-hour formats
- Countdown timer
- Stopwatch functionality
- Red color theme
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The perfect BIG NUMBER digital clock ...and red is just the beginning! Features: 12 hour or 24 hour Clock / Timer / Stopwatch Premium features (with subscription): Time Zone Assistant / Learn 24 Hour Time / Learn 12 Hour Time / Multi-Timer / Multi-Stopwatch Delightful set of colors and fonts to choose from Big Red Clock uses the standard Apple Terms of Use End User License Agreement (EULA): http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Big Red Clock at Free against Countdown's $1.99. Big Red Clock also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Countdown's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#140 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Big Red Clock is free to download; Countdown costs $1.99 up front. Big Red Clock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Countdown asks for nothing beyond the download.
Big Red Clock holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Big Red Clock has 231 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Countdown's written reviews are positive against 77% of Big Red Clock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Countdown ships an update every 2 months, Big Red Clock every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | Countdown | Big Red Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (41 ratings) | 4.6 (231 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews — better | 77.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 41 | 231 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #140 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BitBit Apps | Single Sail Software, LLC |
Customer experience
Countdown
Big Red Clock
Bugs and requests
Countdown
Reported bugs
4 issues- App cannot be quit on iOS 12.4
- Phone heats up and slows down (reported once)
- AirPlay/external display rotation issues (upside down/cut off)
- Screen turns off after timer ends, requiring unlock
Requested features
24 requests- Show elapsed time after countdown ends
- Airhorn as an option to start a countdown
- European clock format (24h)
- Countdown to a specific date and time
- Add seconds to the clock display
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- Fully hide menu/iPhone switchbar
- Six-digit format
- Multiple timers open simultaneously
- Changeable background colors
- Selectable/longer horn sound
- Control from Apple Watch
- Timer visible in other apps/home screen
- Beep chime for the last 3 seconds
- Flash color matching clock color
- Prevent screen from shutting off when app is open
- Option for alarm to repeat
- Customizable 'countdown to start' feature
- More sound variations
- Visual clue for count-up feature
- Count up screen background white only if flash is on
- Tap twice anywhere to reset
- Second, non-air horn, pleasant chime sound
- Option to show seconds for clock display
- Portrait mode option
Big Red Clock
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Countdown
No in-app purchases
Big Red Clock
- Monthly1 Month trial$0.991 Month
- Yearly1 Month trial$5.991 Year
